Cats and heat – that actually goes well together. It is not uncommon to find these velvet paws in a warm spot: for example, when they are stretching in the sun or dozing on the radiator. However, cats do not cope well with extreme heat in summer. In the worst case, there is a risk of a dangerous heatstroke. Find out here why extreme heat is difficult for cats, what you need to pay special attention to on hot days, and how you can provide your feline friend with some cooling.
Table of contents
How do cats deal with heat?
As descendants of desert dwellers, cats are used to warm temperatures and enjoy letting the sun shine on their fur. However, if temperatures rise to over 30 degrees Celsius in spring or summer, this is also unpleasant for these four-legged friends. This is primarily because cats can only sweat to a limited extent and influence their body temperature.
Cats only have a few sweat glands on their paws. They hardly use these for sweating, but rather most often to mark their territory using scent signals. For this reason, it is difficult for velvet paws to cope with the heat on hot days and to cool their bodies down. Overall, the animals behave very tired and sluggish in hot temperatures. A lot of activity is more strenuous in the heat, which is why they limit their movement.
To cool their bodies down, cats use evaporative cooling. This occurs partly through panting: as the moisture on the tongue evaporates during panting, cooling occurs in the throat area. Furthermore, the animals cool their bodies through intensified grooming – specifically, by regularly licking their fur. Releasing saliva makes the fur damp and also results in evaporative cooling. Therefore, it is not necessarily unusual if you observe your velvet paw panting more and grooming more intensely in summer.
[Drinks]
The cat is too warm – these are the signs
When cats are far too warm, they often show clear signals. One of the first signs is rapid breathing or panting – a behavior that is otherwise unusual for cats. Warm ears, hot paws, or an elevated body temperature can also indicate overheating.
Additionally, increased salivation may occur. Some animals withdraw, appear listless, or react less when spoken to. In severe cases, symptoms such as staggering, heavy panting, apathetic behavior, or even vomiting may be added. All these are warning signs that you should take seriously. After all, in the worst case, there is a threat of heatstroke, which can be life-threatening for the animals.
Recognizing and treating heatstroke in cats
You can recognize an acute heatstroke in a cat by the following symptoms:
- Restless behavior
- Very heavy panting
- Dark red gums
- Body temperature over 39 degrees Celsius
- Apathy
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trembling and cramping
- Lying on the stomach
If your feline friend is panting more than usual, seems very restless or already apathetic, is trembling or cramping, and lying on its stomach, these are clear warning signs and you should see a veterinarian immediately. A rapid heartbeat, dark red gums, and an elevated body temperature are further indications of heatstroke. However, bear in mind that animals are generally very sluggish and lazy at high temperatures and their normal body temperature is higher than that of a human. If several unusual symptoms occur, you should still consult a veterinarian just to be safe.
Another danger that threatens cats in excessive heat is dehydration. Through panting and the increased release of saliva during grooming, the animals lose a lot of fluid. Since they hardly move due to the heat and consume fewer calories, they also eat correspondingly less in the heat. However, through food, especially wet food, the animals normally cover a large part of their fluid needs. In addition, they are reluctant drinkers anyway and quickly run the risk of not drinking enough.
If you suspect advanced dehydration, you should also go to the vet. A good way to check your feline friend's hydration level is the skin fold test: to do this, use your fingers to pinch a fold of skin on your cat's neck or back for a few seconds. If it stays in place afterwards and does not immediately smooth back out, there is a lack of fluids.
Danger of dehydration in the heat
Another danger that threatens cats in excessive heat is dehydration. Through panting and the increased release of saliva during grooming, the animals lose a lot of fluid. Since they hardly move due to the heat and consume fewer calories, they also eat correspondingly less in the heat. However, through food, especially wet food, the animals normally cover a large part of their fluid needs. In addition, they are reluctant drinkers anyway and quickly run the risk of not drinking enough.
If you suspect advanced dehydration, you should also go to the vet. A good way to check your feline friend's hydration level is the skin fold test: to do this, use your fingers to pinch a fold of skin on your cat's neck or back for a few seconds. If it stays in place afterwards and does not immediately smooth back out, there is a lack of fluids.
How to make the heat more bearable for your cat
To make life a little easier for cats in summer, there are a number of measures you can take – both as a precaution and to support and cool them down if you recognize the first signs of mild overheating.
Taking precautions in high temperatures
To ensure your cat gets through the heatwave well and neither suffers a heatstroke nor dehydrates, you can take a few precautions.
Cool sleeping spots
On hot days, it is important that your cat has a cool retreat available. This is especially true for indoor cats, as they have few choices within the four walls. Outdoor cats, on the other hand, can look for a shady spot outside under plants or near cooling water to avoid overheating.
Many cats also like to lie on a cold surface like tiles, the shower tray, or the washbasin when it's hot. Therefore, always allow your feline friend access to the bathroom or other cool rooms, such as the basement. Alternatively, you can create cold sleeping spots yourself by laying out damp towels.
Shady spots outdoors
If you have a garden or balcony at home, you should allow your feline friend to spend time there in the shade. Plants such as cat grass provide a cooler climate – but make sure there are no poisonous plants within reach. To keep your cat safe on the balcony or roof terrace, you should set up protective nets. However, their mesh must not be larger than three centimeters so that the animal does not get tangled and stuck in them.
Cool air indoors
Within the apartment, you should ensure cool air as much as possible. As long as the temperatures outside are still low, you should ventilate by opening windows wide – preferably early in the morning and in the evening. However, the windows must never be left tilted for a long time, as your cat could get stuck in the window gap. During the day, it is advisable to keep the blinds and curtains closed to shut out the sun. This keeps the temperatures inside the house pleasant for humans and animals.
Caution with fans
Many people resort to fans during unpleasantly high temperatures in the house. As a cat owner, caution is required here: fans pose a great risk of injury for curious and playing cats. Furthermore, if the fan is permanently near your cat, it could catch a cold or develop conjunctivitis due to the cold draft.
Cooling your cat down in the heat: What you can do
To help your cat get through hot days well, you should provide targeted cooling. Place several bowls of fresh water and change the water regularly. A cool retreat in the shade or in a well-ventilated room also helps.
Damp cloths that you gently stroke over the fur can also lower the body temperature. If your velvet paw likes this, you can also spray its fur with water and provide additional evaporative cooling.
Cool wraps, for example around the paws or legs, can also help. Use a damp, cool cloth for this (not ice-cold!) and leave it on only briefly. Observe your cat's reaction while doing so. Not every cat likes such wraps, so the rule is: only apply if the animal allows it and does not become additionally stressed.
On hot days, the four-legged friends also suffer from their fur, which quickly leads to overheating. Long-haired cats shed more fur in summer for this reason to free themselves from the strenuous load. You can support your furry nose by regularly brushing to remove excess hair.
[Wellnessbox]
Cat food and drinking in the heat
To ensure your velvet paw does not overheat and dehydrate on hot days, sufficient eating and drinking are of great importance. You should give preference to wet food over dry food, as the fluid contained in wet food contributes significantly to covering the animals' fluid requirements.
Since digestion is more difficult for cats in the heat, ideally distribute the food in smaller portions throughout the day and do not leave it out for too long. In great heat, there is a risk that the food will quickly become unappetizing or that flies will lay their eggs in it.
If you store your pet's cat food in the refrigerator in summer, it is not advisable to serve it directly. Food that is too cold irritates your velvet paw's stomach. Instead, the food should be served at room temperature even in hot weather.
In addition to sufficient food, you should offer your furry nose drinking options in various places in the home and ensure that fresh water is always available. With a drinking fountain or water toy, you additionally increase the attractiveness of the water. An ice cube in the water bowl or varied drinking such as unsalted broth, tuna water, or cat drinks make fluid intake even more palatable for your pet. Further tips on how you can encourage your cat to drink can be found in our guide on the drinking behavior of cats.
What else you should keep in mind in the heat
What sounds surprising to many is the fact that cats can also suffer from sunburn. Especially for light-colored and short-haired cats, there is an increased risk of sunburn. To prevent this, you can rub your velvet paw with sunscreen on the bridge of the nose and on the ears. Unscented sunscreen for babies with an SPF of at least 30 is best for preventing sunburn in cats.
Furthermore, you should be aware that you should not leave your feline friend alone for too long in the heat. Even if you are away for only one or two nights, you should organize holiday care and ask a trustworthy person to check on your cat regularly and ensure sufficient food and drink.
The same also applies to transport in vehicles: If you take your animal with you in the car on trips or to the vet, you should under no circumstances leave it alone in the vehicle for a long time. In strong sunshine and increased outside temperature, cars heat up to high temperatures within a very short time and become a dangerous trap.
Another danger arises in the summer months from insects: ticks and fleas are particularly active during this time. Therefore, examine your cat regularly for unwanted visitors and remove them immediately.
