Recently, I wrote a couple of columns about hyperthermia and heat stroke in dogs. Cats also can get hyperthermia and heat stroke, though it is not as common in cats, primarily because your feline friend’s lifestyle typically varies from your canine companions.
We do not take our cats on long walks, runs or car rides for fun, or play Frisbee with them at a “cat park.”
Indoor cats left inside the house on a hot day without air conditioning or a multitude of fans or cooling techniques can get way too hot and develop hyperthermia.
Outdoor cats may also need help escaping the heat.
Creating Cool Spaces
A few ways to help keep your indoor cat stay cool besides A/C and/or fans is to ensure they have cool surfaces (such as tile or wood) to sprawl out on during the warmest parts of the day, which is generally from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can also buy locally or on Amazon cooling mats that work both indoors and outdoors. Cooling mats have a cool surface to dissipate heat for the cat.
When choosing a cooling pad for your cat, look for one made with scratch-proof materials. It’s a good idea to do a nail trim on your cat before getting it a cooling mat because a cat’s nails may poke a hole in the mat.
Cooling mats are typically made with nontoxic gels, but be sure the one your purchase states that this is the case. Check the size, because many cooling pads are sized for dogs.
It doesn’t hurt to get a cooling mat that has a washable cover, otherwise you can wipe your mat down with a damp cloth.
Gel mats do not use electricity, or need water or refrigeration. Water- and ice-filled mats weigh more and are harder to deal with, but they do get appreciably cooler than most gel mats.
You can even try making your own mat by placing a damp towel or T-shirt in a cool spot.
You can also wrap frozen bottles of water in a towel and place them near where your cat sleeps. Do not place these frozen water bottles directly on your cat they may cause severe damage to their skin.
Hillary Hauser aptly pointed out in an Aug. 30 letter to the editor that on a warm day asphalt and sidewalks get hot and may burn dogs’ foot pads. This also applies to cats.
Like dogs, cats only perspire through their paw pads. It is best to keep cats inside on hot days, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Hydration Hacks
Cooling their feet with a damp cloth or rubbing alcohol will help open pores to aid in perspiration.
Brushing your cat’s coat will help allow more air flow through the coat, thus cooling them down. Taking a damp cloth and stroking it down your cat’s coat can also help them cool off faster.
Also ask your groomer about a “summer haircut” that will help your kitty to look good and stay cool.
Always have water available for indoor and outdoor cats. Cat water fountains encourage your pal to drink more. You can also add a few drops of canned tuna water or canned sardine water to water bowls to encourage drinking.
Your cat may enjoy ice cubes in its water keeping it cool. In the hotter parts of the country, people often freeze their cats’ water bowls and let the ice slowly melt to keep the water cool, but there is always an additional bowl of water, not frozen, available.
Water bowls that are deep not wide and shallow, allow the water to evaporate more slowly and the water to stay cooler.
Plastic water bowls do not stay as cool as metal, ceramic or glass bowls. Remember to keep the water bowls full.
For outdoor cats, keep an assortment of bowls in shady areas.
For indoor cats, do not put water and food bowls next to each other and it’s best to keep them far away from litter box.
Dietary Tricks
Just as we enjoy ice cream on a hot day, cats typically enjoy wet food when it is warm outside. Wet or canned food has a higher water content than kibble, more than 50% higher.
Putting the wet food in the refrigerator prior to feeding it to your pal on a hot day may be like ice cream for them.
I hope this helps keeps your cat a “Cool Cat.”