Cats, like humans, can suffer from dehydration and heatstroke during the summer. This is why an essential part of seasonal cat care is making sure that your cat keeps cool on hot days.
Do Allow your Cat to Access Cool Areas in the House
The bathroom is usually one of the cooler places in the house. Sometimes cats like to lie in the bathtub or anywhere that’s shady, so consider giving your pet access to this area anytime during the day. Having the A/C on also helps, and doing this will be especially helpful to geriatric cats.
Do Put Ice in Your Cat’s Water Bowl During the Day
Making sure that your pet has fresh, clean water available at all times may not be enough during hot summer days. To help cats cool off, add an ice cube to their water bowls and replace them once they evaporate. Be especially mindful of keeping your cats cool during the summertime if they are either an elderly cat or a kitten, since both age groups are more sensitive to hot weather.
Do Place an Ice Pack in Your Cat’s Bed
Another way to keep your pet cool is to put an ice pack under the cat’s bed. You can also freeze water in a bottle overnight and use this in place of the ice pack.
Do Watch for Signs of Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a medical emergency that should be taken care of right away. Bring your cat to the vet if he or she starts experience the following symptoms:
- Rapid panting and breathing – this is usually the first sign
- Dizziness
- Drooling
- Acting restless or lethargic
- Excessive sweating from their feet pads
- Overly bright red tongue and lips, with pale gums
- Collapsing
- Vomiting
- Convulsions
Don’t Leave Your Cat Outside for Too Long
Leaving your cat in the shade outdoors will not guarantee that your cat will be protected because the sun will eventually shift and expose your pet to direct sunlight.
Don’t Forget to Leave Fresh Water
Like people, cats need water to stay hydrated during hot summer days. If you must, leave several bowls of water around the house for your cat to have access to water anytime he or she wants a drink.
Don’t Leave Your Cat in a Parked Vehicle
The inside of a car can heat up rapidly, which makes it much hotter than the temperature outside. Leaving the window a few inches open doesn’t make the temperature lower, either.
In general, cats are not difficult to take care of in the summer. Just remember that seasonal cat care at this time of year involves two basic, but crucial, things: keep your kitty cool, and make sure they’re not suffering from the heat.
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