As summer brings warmer days, you might be wondering how to keep your cats cool when temperatures soar. It’s during heatwaves that many owners start to wonder if cats innately know how to keep themselves comfortable or if helpful interventions are needed.
VetUK is here to help. We’ll use our extensive cat healthcare experience to break down just what to do to help your feline friend out in the summer.
How do cats maintain their temperature?
You might be wondering what cats can do to help themselves when the temperature starts to rise, and if it’s enough. Here’s how cats stay cool naturally:
- Grooming – You might spot your cat grooming themselves more than usual in hot weather. As their saliva evaporates from their fur, it creates a cooling effect similar to how sweating works for humans.
- Seeking out cool surfaces – Cats instinctively seek out cooler surfaces to lie down against, such as bathroom tiles and kitchen floors.
- Sweating through paw pads – Cats do sweat to help them cool down, but only through the pads of their paws. This helps them lose some heat.
- Reducing activity – Smart cats naturally become less active during the hottest parts of the day so that they can conserve energy and stop themselves from overheating.
However, when the temperatures start to get more extreme, these natural cooling mechanisms aren’t always enough.
How to keep your cats cool in summer
Here’s how you can step in as a cat owner and help your kitty.
- Make sure they’re drinking enough
Keep water bowls topped up with fresh, cool water in multiple spots throughout your home, especially if you have more than one cat.
Some cats can be fussy about how, where and what they drink. Some cats will only drink from certain types of bowls or fountains or only drink in certain rooms. Experiment with your set-up to find out what they like.
If your cat is refusing to drink, a good tip is to move their water bowl away from their food. It’s a common phenomenon that cats like them to be separate.
Add some ice cubes to their water bowl on hot days or make ice cubes from the spring water (not brine!) from a can of tuna and add one to their water bowl for an irresistible treat!
- Keep your home cool
Making sure your cats have cool environments is one of the best defences against them overheating. There are a few simple ways you can give them a refuge from the heat:
- Use a fan – Place some fans around your house to keep air circulating. Just make sure they’re out of reach of your cat, so they don’t hurt their paws.
- Add ice – A packet of frozen peas or ice in front of the fan can become a makeshift air conditioning solution to bring the air temperature down.
- Keep your curtains, blinds & windows closed during the day – If you have an indoor cat you’re probably keeping windows on a latch anyway. But did you know that the best way to keep your home cool is to block sunlight from entering? Do that by drawing your curtains before sunrise.
- Open windows at night – When the air is cool at night, let it in to circulate.
- Give them access to hard floors – Cool tiles or wood floors are great for helping keep your cat cool.
- Create shady spaces outside
If you happen to have an outdoor cat who loves to enjoy the garden, it’s important to provide enough shade from the sun. If you don’t have any plants and foliage that do the job for you, add in umbrellas or shade sails.
Remember to check in on whether there’s enough shade throughout the day. There might be enough during the morning, but as the sun moves, your cat might be left in full sunshine, with nowhere to shelter.
It’s also vital that cats have access to water while outside and can always get back in when they want to.
- Invest in some cat cooling accessories
Sometimes, all of the interventions above still aren’t enough to keep your cat cool in the summer. In those extreme cases, like heatwaves, there are dedicated cat accessories that can help.
Cooling mats are the most popular choice. These mats are filled with a special gel that stays several degrees below the air temperature. When pets lie down on them, it gently cools them down.
However, don’t think that you necessarily have to buy something new in order to help your kitty with warm temperatures. One effective method (if your cat will tolerate it) is to dab a cold, wet flannel on their paws and head. Plus, lots of cats love chasing ice cubes around!
- Keep up with the grooming regime
Loose hair in your cat’s coat acts like a layer of insulation, trapping heat close to their body – like a human wearing a winter coat. Free them from this by stripping out loose hairs with a brush every day.
Unlike dogs, shaving or clipping cats isn’t recommended unless they have a matted coat and even then, they shouldn’t be totally shaved. While this might seem like a kind act, you actually risk exposing them to sunburn. Their fur protects them from the sun’s harsh rays.
- Time their outdoor access right
Some cats love to get some outdoor enrichment time, but think carefully about when it is best to let them out. The hottest part of the day is typically from 1 pm to 3 pm, so it would usually be safest to let them out in the early morning or evening.
- Keep an eye on outbuildings
Outdoor cats can sometimes make their way into sheds or greenhouses on summer days seeking shade. Unfortunately, they sometimes get shut inside which can quickly become extremely dangerous in warm weather. Make sure you check before closing doors on any outbuildings.
- Use a pet suncream
There’s a good chance that you’ve never thought about dog and cat skin care before, but there are actually dedicated pet-safe sun creams you can use on their ears and any exposed skin (like scars or bald spots) which can be especially good for white cats. This will help stop skin damage from the sun.
Know the signs of heatstroke
If you follow the tips above, your cat should be in for a comfortable summer. However, it’s important to know the symptoms of heatstroke so that you can act urgently if you spot them.
These are the signs to watch out for:
- Heavy panting or breathing through the mouth – This is extremely unusual for cats and is a key warning sign to look out for
- Drooling or dribbling
- Restless behaviour and agitation
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Lethargy and unwillingness to move
- Sweaty paws – You might spot wet paw prints around the house
- Stretching out and breathing rapidly
- Bright red or dark red gums and tongue
- Glazed eyes or signs of confusion
- Muscle tremors
- Loss of coordination or difficulty walking
- Collapse or loss of consciousness
If you spot any of these signs, contact your vet immediately and start cooling your cat down by following the guidance below.
What to do if your cat overheats
If you do spot the signs above and suspect your cat is suffering from heatstroke, act fast:
First, contact your vet immediately – This is a medical emergency, so use whichever direct emergency line they have.
Move your cat to a cool area – Bring them indoors, out of direct sunlight.
Offer small amounts of cool water – Don’t force them to drink, but offer up a small amount directly to them.
Wet their coat with water, this can be tricky in cats so go gently so as not to cause any more stress, for example, by stroking them with a wet flannel – wet as much of them as possible but be careful around sensitive areas like eyes and tummy.
Turn on a fan – And angle it in the direction of your cat.
Signs of dehydration to watch for
Dehydration can happen rapidly in hot weather but is unusual in a healthy cat that has free access to drinking water. Cats with underlying health problems or that have been trapped somewhere warm without water may become dehydrated and seem lethargic and unwell, so if you have concerns about your cat, take them to your vet. Your vet will check for these signs to see if they might be dehydrated:
Gums – If your cat’s gums feel sticky or tacky rather than moist.
Skin elasticity – Gently lifting the skin on the back of their neck – it should snap back quickly in a well-hydrated young cat.
Sunken eyes and/or cold paws.
If you’re concerned about dehydration, contact your vet straight away.
More cat care guidance from VetUK
Summer heat is just one of the challenges that come with caring for cats, especially in changing weather. Whether you’ve got questions about cat care in other seasons or have more queries about their healthcare, VetUK’s comprehensive advice centre has you covered.
Own a dog as well? Find out just how to keep your dog cool in summer while you’re researching warm weather pet care tips.
Leave a Reply