With the arrival of good weather, high temperatures also make their appearance and, with it, the concern of caregivers to keep their cat well away from the dangers of heat. To achieve this, in this article on our site we are going to collect the best tips to protect cats from the heat
In this way, in addition to maintaining your well-being, we will prevent you from suffering the dreaded and potentially fatal heat stroke. Prevention is the basic tool, as we will see, to avoid taking unnecessary risks. Keep reading!
1. Heat stroke prevention
Do cats like it hot? Yes, of course, They love to lie in the sun taking advantage of any rays or the heat of a radiator, as we can see if we live with them. But when temperatures are high, they also need to protect themselves from the sun, as excessive heat can cause serious complications, such as heat stroke, which is a life-threatening problemfor our cat. As a result of exposure to high temperatures, hyperthermia occurs, that is, the increase in body temperature, which triggers a series of reactions in the body that can end in death.
A cat that is suffering from heat stroke will show symptoms such as panting, breathing difficulties, intense red discoloration of the mucous membranes, fever, vomiting, bleeding, and even shock that can lead to death. We must seek urgent veterinary attention.
In addition to heat stroke, direct exposure to the sun can cause, as occurs in humans, burns, especially on the nose and ears and in cats with white fur. To avoid these serious consequences, in the following sections we will explain tips to protect cats from the heat.
two. Provide the cat with a fresh environment
The ideal temperature for cats, that is, their normal body temperature is somewhat higher than that of humans, but their difficulties in self-cooling must be taken into accountWhat we humans do easily through sweat, for cats is more complex because they must lick themselves to cool off with their saliva. They can also sweat but only from the pads.
That's why we don't need to ask ourselves how much temperature a cat can withstand, because it will be similar to what we can withstand. Thus, the ideal temperature for a cat will also be the ideal temperature for us, both in summer and winter. For the case at hand, here are some extra tips to protect cats from the heat that we can apply to their environment:
- The cat will do well with any measure we take to maintain a comfortable temperature in our home, which may include the use of resources such as air conditioning or fans.
- It is a good idea to keep the blinds down or the curtains drawn in rooms where the sun is shining the most.
- It is advisable to open the windows to ventilate and cool the house. Having cats is essential to take precautions to prevent them from falling, since it is common for cats to jump out of windows and balconies. In fact, it is so common that it is known as parachute cat syndrome and can result in serious consequences and even death, which is why it is vital to install protections on windows like mosquito nets
- Whenever we leave our cat alone, it should have a shady place with access to fresh water. The bathroom is usually a good place as the tiles stay cool and it's not uncommon to see cats sleeping in places like the sink or bidet as well.
- If the cat has the possibility to go outside in an area that we control, such as a patio or garden, we must also ensure the possibility of shade and water.
- Finally, let's avoid exercising, horseplay or racing in times of maximum heat.
3. Ensuring adequate hydration
Among the tips to protect cats from the heat the role of water is fundamental to cool a cat in summer. Sometimes cats are reluctant to drink, so it is important that we encourage them to drink water. It is known that they are attracted to moving water, such as that which runs from the tap or from the fountains special for them that can be used as drinking fountains.
In the hot season we must make sure that the water stays fresh, for which we can change it several times a day. Some cats like to play with ice cubes, which can also be a trick to cool them down and drink more water. Offering them wet food or broths to drink can also help them maintain their hydration, especially important in cats with kidney problems or smaller, elderly, brachycephalic or sick cats, by constitute a more vulnerable population.
4. Cat baths in summer
The coat of our animals plays an important role when it comes to protecting them from the sun, for this reason, in the advice to protect cats from the heat, those related to the care of their hair cannot be missing. As we say, the fur helps them insulate themselves from the heat and protects the skin from sunburn. Although cats maintain a scrupulous grooming routine, we can help them with frequent brushing In this way we help them remove dead hair.
We can also bathe our cat in the summer but it can be more refreshing if we just pass him a wet towel with fresh water (which not frozen) or our own hand for the loin and the head. In this way the water will act as if it were your own saliva and the evaporation on your body will help you feel fresh.
Also, if our cat likes water we can offer him a basin or small pool with a few centimeters of water, so that cover only the lower part of the legs, so they can play with the water and cool off as they see fit. We will place this pool, which can be small, on a balcony or patio or even inside the bathtub or shower tray, if we want to prevent it from wetting the floor.
5. Summer trips
Finally, if we travel in the hot season with our cat, even if it is only to take him to the vet, we must follow some tips to protect cats from the heat, such astravel in the coolest hours of the day , that is, early in the morning, late in the afternoon or at night.
If the trip is long we must stop every so often to offer him water and/or refresh him If we go with him on vacation we have to write down the telephone numbers of veterinarians in the area, including those that offer emergency services. It is also essential that we never leave our cat alone in the car when the temperature is high, as it could die from heat stroke, as we have explained.
