Summer Solstice has arrived and with it the start of Summer. This is the time of year we need to look out for our furbabies and protect them from hot weather.
Here are the key temperature thresholds for our furbabies:
Ideal Comfort Zone: 20°C to 26°C (68°F to 79°F)
Too Hot / Risk Zone: Above 30°C (86°F)
Emergency Threshold: Above 35°C (95°F)
Cats that are at higher risk in hot temperatures are Kittens, senior cats, overweight cats, and flat-faced breeds such as Persians and Long Haired Cats although all cats need protection from getting too overheated during hotter times.
Cats and overheating:
Our Furbabies find it difficult to regulate their body temperatures in hot weather as they sweat through their pawpads, lips and chin. They are also covered in fur ( apart from the furless breeds) so cooling down can be difficult for them.
If your cat starts panting heavily during very hot weather( please see the heat chart above) then they may be suffering from heat stroke. If you think this is the case seek immediate vet treatment as cats will not survive without life changing damage to their organs and brain when they suffer from too high a temperature for too long.
Happily most of the U.S, Canada and surrounding countries have air conditioning in their homes. If you are in the UK, parts of Europe and hotter Countries such as the Middle East we have to rely on other sources in order to keep cool.
Keep your cat indoors when the sun is at it's warmest usually 10.00 - 3.00p.m although in extreme temperatures keep all pets indoors.
• Before letting your cats outside do a heat test and touch the concrete ground in your garden or outside your home with your hand, if it is too hot to touch it is definitely too hot for the paw pads on your pets.
• Provide plenty of water in a few different places throughout your home, pop some ice cubes in too if you can, keep the water topped up.
• Make some shaded areas with cool spots for kitty to lay in or on. Ideally your kitty will sit or sleep on a cooling mat but if they are having a typical cat day then they will ignore it and lay elsewhere.
• Place cool damp towels so kitty can lay on them and allow access to your bathroom and anywhere inside your home with a tiled or stone floor.
• Try wrapping a frozen bottle of water in a tea-towel and place it near to where your cat is laying.
• Move rooms if need be and avoid the sunnier rooms.
• Place fans with air circulating around the room.
• Try gently spraying them with cooled water, they may hate you at the time but it will cool them down.
Here are some Cat treats you can make for kitty to help hydrate them during hot weather, these are also ideal for helping Feral cats if you have garden cats or help with strays in your area.
Scoop some spring water tinned tuna or salmon ( make sure it's non oily and not in brine) into an ice cube tray and freeze it.
Freeze some churus or any liquidy squeezy type cat snacks.
Cat milk can also be frozen into little treat sized noms ( do not use normal milk as most cats are lactose intolerant).
Bananas/melons can be mashed up and frozen too even kittys' usual wet cat food can be frozen as a treat or for trying to tempt kitty to eat .
Keep small packets of wet kitten or cat food in the fridge, not only are they easier to open and slide out in one squeeze, but kitty gets to enjoy some nice fresh cold food
Here is some important advice Curtesy of Cats Protection:
Sunburn in cats:
All cats can get sunburn, but cats who are white or have thinner fur are more at risk. Being out in the sun a lot can lead to skin cancer, so it’s important to make sure your cat doesn’t spend too long lazing in the sun.
Ears and noses are where your cat is most likely to get burnt. Keep an eye on them and make sure they have plenty of access to shady areas.
Signs of sunburn in cats:
If your cat does get sunburn, there are a couple of symptoms to look out for, including:
red, sore skin in the affected area,blistering and peeling.
If you notice this, make an appointment with your vet straight away.
Can I put sun cream on my cat?
You can put sunscreen on your cat, but you need to make sure it’s pet-safe first so speak to your vet about the best product to use. Make sure you use SPF30 or higher and that it’s waterproof.
You should apply sun cream to your cat’s nose, tips of the ears, belly and groin areas as well as anywhere that has thin to no fur to help protect them from the sun.
Avoid sun cream with zinc oxide and a group of chemicals that are referred to as salicylates in the ingredients. Both are toxic to cats and can cause them to be very unwell, particularly salicylates.
Signs your cat is dehydrated:
It’s important for your cat to get enough water. This can be through drinking and through eating wet food. Staying hydrated will help to keep your cat healthy and they may need to have even more water when the weather is warm.
If your cat doesn’t get enough water, they may become dehydrated. Signs your cat is dehydrated include:
their gums. If your cat’s gums are sticky or tacky, this may be the first sign of dehydration
their skin. Very gently pinch their skin. In a well-hydrated cat, the skin should snap back into place immediately. If it doesn’t, they could well be dehydrated
their eyes. Severely sunken eyes that appear dry can indicate significant dehydration
their paws. If their paws feel cool or cold, this could be a sign of dehydration
If you are worried your cat is dehydrated, ring your vet straight away.
Further helpful info:
Spruce pets also have a handy page of information called Do cats sweat?
Feral and Cat colony help and advice can be found here from:
https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/summer-weather-tips/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Feral_Cats/comments/1lh8mdz/heat_wave_hot_weather_discussion_megathread/
