Summer hasn't officially started yet, but around here summer has definitely arrived early!! This week it's hit 38°C some days and 36.6°C on others...
I was wondering what kind of temperatures a cat can actually cope with, as mine spends all day outside (he's got a bowl of water out, obviously).
And at night, it’s between 26 and 28°C in the flat since I don't have air con.
If anyone has any advice, please let me know! :)
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
If you've got any fans, you can put damp cloths over them (or put your clothes airer in front, to kill two birds with one stone). It helps cool the air passing through, and the whole room as well :)
Hi there!
Okay, I’ll try using a damp flannel! He’s already on wet food because his gums are sore, and yes, he’s sleeping in his own spot now instead of snuggling up to us, and he's heading into the bathroom (where it’s a bit cooler!).
And no, he's never left alone in the car; the only trips we take with the cat are to the vet, which is only 10 minutes away :)
Thanks for all the advice and have a lovely day!
Hi everyone,
Recently, during a visit to the vet, they gave me a few tips to help my cats cope better with the rising temperatures:
- Get them to drink more (using a water fountain) and pop an ice cube in the water tank.
- Wipe them down all over with a damp flannel. As the water evaporates, it helps them feel much cooler. Apparently, that’s what cats do during a heatwave—they lick themselves more. The problem is, they can actually get dehydrated by doing that. So, wetting them down helps prevent them from getting even more dehydrated.
- Stick to wet food.
- Avoid naps in direct sunlight and encourage them to find shade or cool spots. My cats have actually been sprawling out on the floor tiles, which are much cooler, instead of staying on their cushions or rugs.
- Be extremely careful during car journeys; you can put a damp towel over the pet carrier. And of course, never leave an animal alone in a car, even for a short time... the temperature shoots up so fast and the car becomes like an oven... it's fatal!
Have a lovely day!
Hi Whina,
It’s worth noting that cats handle high temperatures much better than we do (and much better than dogs!). Let's not forget that their ancestors were desert dwellers!
Plus, their normal temperature is 38°C–38.5°C (which would be considered a fever for us!), so they have a higher tolerance threshold than we do. Unlike us, cats don’t sweat (except for a tiny bit between their ears and on their paw pads). They regulate their temperature by panting, although you usually only see them doing that after a lot of exertion. Often, to keep themselves going, cats will just rest; they sleep more than usual and run around less (or for shorter bursts). Basically, they listen to their bodies, and they’re quite right to do so!
Outdoors, he’ll know exactly how to find the perfect spot to rest. Don’t worry at all!
Have a great weekend,
Le
thanks so much for your reply!! :)
It’s worth noting that cats handle high temperatures much better than we do (and even more so than dogs!).
Don't forget that their ancestors were desert animals!
Plus, their normal temperature is 38°C–38.5°C (which would be considered a fever for us!), so they have a higher tolerance threshold than ours. Unlike us, cats don't sweat (except for a little bit between their ears and on their paw pads). They regulate their temperature by panting, although most of the time you only see them doing it after a lot of physical exertion. Often, to keep themselves going, cats will just rest; they sleep more than usual and run around less (or for shorter bursts)—basically, they listen to their bodies, and they're quite right to do so!
If they're outside, they'll know how to find the perfect spot to rest. Have no fear!
Have a good weekend.
Le
+1
I’d add that cats have another advantage over us: their fur. You’d think they’d be roasting under that thick coat, but it actually helps them regulate their temperature. (Some people shave their pets thinking they’re helping them cope with the heat, but they’re actually doing more harm than good.)
So there’s no need to worry :) Of course, the heat isn't pleasant for anyone, including them—you only have to see them hunting for cool spots (you can’t beat a tiled floor!). But that’s as far as it goes; just make sure he has plenty of fresh water available.
Hi there,
During a recent trip to the vet, they gave me a few tips to help my cats cope better with the heat:
- Encourage them to drink more (a water fountain is great) and pop an ice cube in their water bowl.
- Wipe them down with a damp flannel. As the water evaporates, it gives them a nice cooling sensation. Apparently, that’s what cats do during a heatwave—they groom themselves more to stay cool—but the problem is they can get dehydrated by licking so much. So, wetting them yourself helps prevent that.
- Give them wet food.
- Make sure they avoid napping in direct sunlight and stick to the shade or cool spots. My cats have been sprawling out on the floor tiles lately as they're much cooler than their cushions or rugs.
- Be really careful during car journeys; you can drape a damp towel over the carrier. And of course, never leave a pet alone in a car, even for a short while... the temperature rises so quickly and the car becomes like an oven... it's lethal!
Have a good day!
