SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
Protect
Your Cat from The Heat and Hot Temperatures
Cats are very susceptible to becoming overheated. Think about
it for a minute – they spend their entire day walking around
inside a heavy fur coat, even on very hot days. A cat that
is not accustomed to the outdoors is particularly susceptible
to becoming overheated. If this happens, the cat runs the
risk of having a heatstroke.
A cat that is acclimated to the outdoors is more likely to
be able to handle excessive heat. Nonetheless, all cats can
have problems if the weather becomes to hot and they don’t
have a means to cool down.
Signs of Heat Problems
Cats show many different signs of trouble when they become
overheated. For example, a cat may begin panting rapidly. Eventually,
it may even become unresponsive. In addition, the cat’s gums
may turn bright red when it becomes too hot. If the cat begins
to vomit excessively or have diarrhea, it may be overheated.
To test for heat trouble on a cat, the pet owner can gently
pinch the scruff of the neck. If the scruff stays in an upright
position after being pinched, it is getting dehydrated.
If a cat is experiencing heat stroke, it may also be lethargic
and have difficulty getting up and down. In addition, its body
temperature may become very high. A cat that is experiencing
heat stroke may even have seizures or seem depressed.
Treating an Overheated Cat
The best way to treat an overheated cat is prevention. If,
however, it does become overheated and shows any of these discussed
symptoms, it should be taken to the vet immediately. While
the cat is being transported to the vet, a damp towel should
be wrapped around it to help cool it down. In addition, a water
bottle with a mixture of water and Bach’s rescue remedy is
good to have on hand. This mixture should be sprayed on the
cat if it begins to have a heat stroke because it will help
to lessen the cat’s stress.
Before taking the cat to the vet, it might be a good idea
to bring it inside and give it cool water to drink and a cool
bath to initially bring its body temperature down. With true
heat stroke, it can be difficult to reverse the physiological
effects. In many cases, the cat will require an IV of fluids
and intensive monitoring and treatment.
Preventing Overheating
The main way to prevent overheating for outdoor cats is to
be sure plenty of fresh water is available and that shaded
areas are accessible to the cat. Fresh water is particularly
important for cats, as they generally have little trouble finding
a shaded area.
For indoor cats, temperatures can still become excessive.
Of course, the best option is to have air conditioning in the
home in order to keep both the owner and the cat cool. If this
isn’t a possibility, indoor fans can offer the ventilation
necessary to keep the cat cool. Ceiling fans are ideal, as
cats can knock down floor fans. In addition, cats can usually
easily stick their paws through the screen of floor fans. If
a floor fan is the only option, it should be secured in some
fashion and placed in an area difficult for the cat to reach,
such as being mounted to the wall.
For both indoor and outdoor cats with long hair, it might
be a good idea to trim the cat’s fur in the summer to help
keep it cool. In addition, a black cat is at greater risk of
overheating than a white cat because the black fur absorbs
heat.
In addition to having several dishes of water available for
outside cats, it can also be a good idea to place piles of
ice cubes or chips outside for the cat to eat. Or, ice cubes
or chips can be placed inside the water bowls to help make
the water more refreshing and to encourage the cat to drink.
A cup of Gatorade added to the bowl of water can also be helpful
in keeping the cat’s electrolytes level high and preventing
dehydration.
Indoor cats should have a cool place to relax. It can be helpful
to leave a little water inside bathtubs or sinks so the cat
can play in the water to cool off. Even though the cat is indoors,
it is a good idea to leave more than one water bowl inside
for it to drink from in order to cool down. Also, the shades
should be kept drawn to prevent outside heat from the sun from
coming in.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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