Midsummer’s Day is past, and here in Braintree we’re at the start of what’s promised to be a spell of very hot weather. Much as you’ve looked forward to summer, there will probably be times when you need to cool off – retreat into the shade or take a cool shower. Your cats will be no different, although they aren’t likely to appreciate being dunked into cold water.
Cats seem to seek out the patches of warmth and sunlight whenever they can, but if you watch them in the hottest part of the hottest days you will see that they settle in the shade. Even there, the very hottest days will be too much for them. Cats can sweat only through their paws; you might notice they leave damp pawprints when they’re stressed or overheated.
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You can’t tell a cat what to do and where to go. You’re as likely to find a cat sprawled in full sun as taking shelter, and you have to let them get on with it. The best you can do for them in this heat is to provide them with what’s good for them.
Make sure they always have fresh, clean water to drink. Water fresh from the tap contains chemicals which cats can smell (you might see a cat sniff at freshly poured tap-water). Try keeping a glass of tap-water in the fridge for a day or two to let the chemical smell disperse, to top up the cat’s water bowl. If your cat goes outside, put a bowl of water outside as well.
Make sure they have access to shaded or cool areas. Something as simple as draping a towel over an outside chair to create a shaded area beneath it can give a cat a place to escape the sun for a while. Keeping the inside of your home cool is good for you and your cat, and gives them another place to cool off.
Online shops will be telling you that you must buy their cooling mat. Well – no, you don’t have to (and the odds are good that the cat will completely ignore it anyway). You can make your own cool mat by wrapping a frozen icepack or damp cloth in a towel… I’m not taking bets on whether the cat will lie on it.
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t be encouraging your cat to run, leap for a toy or chase a spot of light while the weather is so hot. Leave playtime until the temperatures cool for the evening. Equally, make sure you haven’t accidentally shut your cat into an enclosed space – a shed, a car, a small room that catches the sun or a greenhouse. If you haven’t seen the cat for a while, go and check they’re not trapped somewhere.
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Usually cats will move themselves into shade when they’re too hot, but keep an eye on them. If your cat is lying immobile in the sun, drooling, or panting excessively with her mouth open, pick her up gently and move her to a cool area. Stay with her while you make sure she isn’t seriously ill from the heat, and always consult a vet if you’re concerned. Cats suffer heatstroke and risk getting cancer on sun-burned skin, so keeping your cat indoors during the hottest hours might be a good option.
The key is to be aware but not too worried by these risks. Cats have the sense to move themselves, in most cases, and they are fond of warmth. Enjoy the sight of your cat enjoying summer, and stay cool yourself.