Practical Strategies for Maintaining Your Feline's Comfort at Home During Hot Weather (Leveraging Common Household Items)
Keeping Cats Cool in Summer: Expert Advice from Dr. Joanna Woodnutt
Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, a qualified vet with 9 years of experience, has shared her top 5 ways to keep cats cool during hot weather, but there are additional strategies to prevent heatstroke in our feline friends.
Creating Cool, Accessible Spaces Indoors
Provide your cat with comfortable resting spots by setting up cool, well-ventilated areas indoors. Consider using damp blankets, cool mats, or marble tiles to create a refreshing surface for your cat to rest on.
Offering Multiple Sources of Fresh, Cool Water
Encourage hydration by providing multiple sources of fresh, cool water. You can add ice cubes to the water bowl or invest in a water fountain to keep the water fresh and enticing.
Adjusting Your Cat’s Daily Routine
Schedule playtime and exercise during the cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or late evenings, and avoid intense activity when temperatures are high.
Grooming Cats Regularly
Regular grooming is essential, especially for long-haired breeds. Regular grooming helps remove excess fur and prevents heat retention. However, avoid shaving unless a vet advises, as a cat's coat protects them from both heat and cold.
Keeping Cats Indoors or in Shaded, Well-Ventilated Areas
Keep your cat indoors or in shaded, well-ventilated areas during extreme heat, avoiding hot spaces like attics or verandas. Never leave cats in vehicles where temperatures can rise dangerously fast.
Using Damp Cloths for Cooling
Use damp cloths on less fur-covered areas such as under the belly, armpits, and inside thighs to help cool the cat’s body without soaking the entire coat, since a wet fur coat can trap heat.
For Community Cats
For community cats, locate feeding stations and shelters in shaded, cool places. Use light-colored bowls to reduce heat absorption, and prevent insect contamination of food to maintain appetite and hydration.
Additional Cooling Solutions
In addition to the above strategies, there are various products available to help keep cats cool. A portable handheld turbo fan has 100 speed settings that can be adjusted to suit a cat's preferences. Making homemade frozen treats using drained tuna and water can be a cost-effective solution. Silicone popsicle molds are suitable for cats and can be used to make and store homemade frozen treats. Choolip Squeeze Vita Stick Lickable Treats are suitable for freezing and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Using a pet-specific cooling mat can help keep cats cool during hot weather. These mats are scratch- and chew-resistant and made from supramolecular PP fiber, which is naturally cool to the touch.
Heatstroke Prevention and Treatment
In case of heatstroke, soak the cat's fur thoroughly with water, keep them in a cool room next to a fan or air conditioning, and call the vet immediately. Never wrap a pet in a wet towel, but offering a frozen towel on the floor for a cat to lie on is acceptable.
These supplementary strategies complement fundamental heatstroke prevention efforts by focusing on cooling environments, promoting hydration, regulating activity, and attentive grooming to help cats cope with hot weather effectively. All of these recommendations come from veterinary and animal welfare sources emphasizing the seriousness of heatstroke and the need for proactive care.
[1] PDSA (2021) Hot weather advice for pets. Available at: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/news-and-opinion/media-centre/press-releases/hot-weather-advice-for-pets
[2] Blue Cross (2021) Keeping pets safe in hot weather. Available at: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/keeping-pets-safe-hot-weather
[3] RSPCA (2021) Hot weather advice for pets. Available at: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/hotweatheradvice
[4] ASPCA (2021) Heatstroke in pets. Available at: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-behavior/dog-behavior/heatstroke-in-pets
[5] Alley Cat Allies (2021) Keeping community cats safe in hot weather. Available at: https://www.alleycat.org/resources/keeping-community-cats-safe-in-hot-weather/
- Offer your dog treats as a reward for good behavior during the hot weather, but ensure they are suitable for its diet and lifestyle.
- Regular veterinary check-ups should be part of every pet's routine, including cats and dogs, to ensure they are receiving proper nutrition and care, especially during the summer months.
- When feeding your cat or dog, consider providing their meals in home-and-garden suitable bowls placed in shaded, cool areas to prevent food from getting too hot.
- Train your dog to walk on a harness during hot weather to avoid putting unnecessary strain on its throat and lungs while panting.
- In the case of severe heatstroke in pets, it's crucial to seek emergency veterinary care, and offering cooling treatments such as damp cloths and water baths can help until help arrives.
- Just like cats, dogs also need access to cool, fresh water throughout the day, so consider using a water fountain or adding ice cubes to their water bowl to keep it refreshing.
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