It’s gone from freezing cold to boiling hot overnight. Most of us have been absorbing the suns rays and taking in as much vitamin D as we can stand. There have been happy smiling faces and gorgeous photos of blue skies all over social media. We change our behaviours once the sun really begins to heat up our bones. You may have noticed your cats and kittens changing their behaviour according to the weather too.
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Most cats, like us humans, will simply find a patch of sun, lie there for a while and have a snooze, before finding a patch of shade. They may do this inside or out, with no problems at all other than increasing their thirst. Other cats may need a little more help at keeping cool. Here are a few signs to watch out for during the next day or two and the many hot summer days we have coming (fingers crossed!).
Symptoms of a Hot Cat
- Heavy panting
- Sweaty paws
- Drooling at the mouth
Your cat might stop eating as much, but this is usually because they naturally lose their appetite once it gets hot, much humans. However, you should pay attention to how much water they’re drinking because they need it to keep hydrated and to cool them down.
You can help cats cool down in several ways. The Cats Protection have a great infographic, available here, but here are the main points.
- 1.Add some shaded spots to the garden and inside the home. Outdoor cat kennels can be a fantastic addition especially in gardens that lack natural shade. Boxes, carefully positioned plants and strategically closed curtains and blinds make all the difference.
- 2.Fans are great for stuffy rooms and homes, keep them running but make sure they don’t point directly at the cat.
- 3.Place cold water bottles wrapped in a towel in the areas where your cat loves to sit. To make a cold-water bottle simple fill a bottle half way with water and freeze it.
- 4.Keep food and water bowls separated and add a couple of extra water sources inside and out. Water fountains are often popular with kitties as many adore drinking running water.
- 5.Cats can get skin cancer. Speak to your vet about a suitable sun block and try to keep cats out of the sun during the peak hours of 10am and 3pm.
We hope you and your cats are making the most of this mini heatwave. Please share your sunny photos of your cats enjoying their gardens with us over on our Facebook page.