How to help a cat in the heat

In summer, pets, which include cats, need more attention and care from their owners. The heat is a very difficult period for cats, especially if they have long hair. But to come to the rescue in time you need to understand that the cat needs it right now.

How not to miss the “SOS signals” from the cat

Overheating of the animal can be prevented if you carefully monitor its behavior

Usually when the thermometer goes up the activity of the cat decreases in proportion to its movement. The animal begins to seek escape from the heat, and most often finds it in the bathroom – the cat can lie down in the bathtub or sink and enjoy the coolness.

Cats with heart problems, who are overweight or more than six years old are the hardest to bear the heat. Some breeds (Persians, Scots, Himalayans) suffer from heat a priori because they have a special structure of nasal passages. A cat has to breathe through its nose like a dog, which means it urgently needs help.

Heatstroke or sunstroke

How does overheating manifest itself?

Because the body heat transfer processes in cats and humans are so similar, a tabby-skinned cat may also suffer from heatstroke or sunstroke. In this case, breathing becomes difficult, the body temperature rises or falls, weakness and lethargy are observed, and the color of mucous membranes may change.

If the cat’s temperature decreases, it should be wrapped into a blanket and placed on a hot-water bottle, and if, on the contrary, it increases, ice wrapped into a towel should be placed on the stomach and paws. Decreased pulse and vomiting indicate that you must immediately take the animal to the vet because the life of the animal is in danger.

First aid

What to do and what not to do

The most important thing is to notice the pet’s condition in time when it becomes unwell. The cat must have access to water at all times and the water must be clean and fresh. Water must be changed every 12 hours. It is not uncommon that a cat that has fallen asleep on a window sill when there was still shade, finds itself under the rays of the sun that has risen in the meantime, and continues to sleep. Then it has to be moved into the shadow and a wet cloth has to be put on the cat’s head to prevent it from sunstroke.

If you notice the above signs of overheating in your cat, you should wet her muzzle, the back of her head, stomach, and paws, and if this is not enough, it is better to wrap her completely with a wet towel. For a long-haired cat, it may not be enough if you just wet it with water on top – you may get a greenhouse effect, which will only make it worse. The coat needs to be soaked along with the undercoat to relieve overheating.

Some owners cut the hair of their cats in the heat and leave a couple of inches of hair. It should be done by a specialist, of course, and the animal will be much more comfortable surviving the heat. You can also turn on the air conditioner or a fan at home, but you can’t let the cat lie under a stream of cold air. You can put a basin of ice in a dark corner so that it will keep the cat cool for a while. And on no account should you leave your pet in a closed car in the summer, otherwise, the pet will get heat stroke.