You know you’re in trouble when you turn on the cold water faucet and what comes out is hot water for the first three or four minutes.  Its supposed to be 102F here today.  That’s pretty hot. And I have two cats. Complete with fur. How do they stay cool in the summer? We always hear how someone left a dog in a car and they had a heat stroke but what about our cats?

From what I can tell from my cats they do stay cool. Though it is a mystery to me how. I have yet to turn the ac on. I simply cannot afford to this early in the year. We are all set for a cool down starting tomorrow so I’m not too worried. And they seem to know what to do for themselves. They stay in the bathroom, laying on the tile, behind the toilet, up against the cool porcelain and in the bathtub.  When it starts to cool down, and it does get cool here at night, downright cold, they come out and stay on the balcony.

I’ve tried batting ice with them, they were unimpressed. I’ve tried frozen peas. I got a yawn.  I’ve watched them like a hawk on a few days while I was home and was a bit horrified when they didn’t drink any water during the day. So just exactly how are they keeping cool. I did the only thing I could do. I looked it up on the internets. Here’s what I learned.

It seems they groom themselves more so in the hotter months so that the saliva can evaporate and cool them down, though I have not seen my cats do this. Perhaps it is a secret bathroom ritual I’m not invited to. However, if the air temperature matches or exceeds body temperature (100.5 - 102.5) then that method fails and cats are left with only rapid breathing, another method I have not seen my cats use, to cool themselves down.  Cats have sweat glands only in their tongues and the pads on their feet, which would explain the constant laying around all day they seem to be doing.  Who knew their laziness would pay off. Perhaps I can quit worrying a bit.

The risk of heat stroke in cats, as with dogs, rises as the temperature rises. NEVER leave any pet in a hot car, even for a short time. Some breeds of cats , short nosed ones, Persians, are more vulnerable and should be watched more closely as the temperatures rise. Also, young and old cats, obese cats and cats with air way disease as well.  One of my cats is obese.

Signs or heat stroke in cats include:
Fast and frantic noisy breathing
A bright red tongue
Vomiting
Unsteady walking/ staggering
Diarrhea, possibly with blood
Pale blue or gray lips
Salivating(thick)
Weakness
Anxiety
Dizziness
Muscle tremors
Lethargy
Bleeding from the nose
Coma
Death

Some more tips to avoid to help kitty stay cool…..
Always ensure your cat has access to cool clean water. Maybe add an ice cube as the water warms up.

Avoid strenuous activity in hot weather. Let them be lazy. My cats are masters at this, year round.

If you can, keep your cats inside during the hottest, brightest parts of the day, ten am to about four pm.

If you can, keep your cats inside the house on especially hot days and run the air conditioner or fan.

Provide your cats with shade, indoors or out.

If your cat has mild heat exhaustion (temperature 104) you can treat him or her at home. Here’s how to take a pets temperature :

A cat’s temperature can be taken with a lubricated thermometer gently inserted into the rectum for about a minute. Lift the cat’s tail up at the base and insert the small thermometer, then wipe it clean before reading. Only take a cat’s temperature in this way if you are confident about handling and the procedure.
http://www.catfactfiles.com/what-is-the-temperature-of-a-healthy-cat/

If your cats temperature is 104 that indicates that the heat stroke is mild. There are some things you can do. Wrap him or her in a wet towel until the temperature returns to normal. Stop cooling at that point or you could cause hypothermia. You can also apply alcohol to the pads of the feet to help evaporation, and bring the temperature down. If you have a fan, place the cat in front of the fan, maybe put a bowl of bowl of water with ice in between the cat and the fan for added cooling. Help the cat drink some water by encouraging them with a few drops on your finger rubbed on their lips. My cats will sometimes drink a few drops this way.

If their temperature is 105 or more, call the vet. If they have any of the more severe warning signs, call the vet. Do not hesitate to call a vet if you are worried.

With all this heat kitties deserve a good treat……

Ingredients:
1/2 cup canned mackerel, drained
1 cup whole-grain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon brewer’s yeast, optional

Preheat oven to 350F

In a medium-size bowl, mash the mackerel with a fork into tiny pieces. Combine it with the remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop mixture by 1/4 teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Soft Cat Treats

Ingredients:
3/4 cup white flour
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/4 cup cornmeal

Preheat oven to 350F

Combine cheeses and yogurt. Add flour and cornmeal.

Knead dough into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch. Cut into one inch sized pieces and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Moist Catnip Treats (Can Be FROZEN )

½ pound ground meat
1/4 cup grated carrot
1 tablespoon shredded cheese
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon dried catnip
½ cup bread crumbs
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon tomato paste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease a cookie sheet. In a large bowl, mix together the first six ingredients. Lastly, blend in the tomato paste and beaten egg. Roll the meat mixture into small balls, and bake them for approximately 15 minutes or until they are firm and lightly browned. Allow the cat treats to cool completely on a wire rack, and store them in the refrigerator. These cat treats may also be frozen.

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