9 tips to protect your cat from overheating

Long-haired cats and cats of breeds with a very short muzzle (Persian, British and others) endure estrus the most. And of course…

Never immerse an overheated cat in cold water - this may cause shock!

9 Tips to Protect Your Cat from Excessive Heat:

1. You should try to maintain a room temperature suitable for the cat - 22-24 degrees. The optimal solution, of course, would be to buy an air conditioner, but this is not always possible. Then you should at least buy a fan, you can hang wet sheets on the windowsills, spread wet towels on the floor.
2. In extreme heat, a cat sweats, which means it loses a lot of fluid that needs to be replenished. Therefore, provide your cat with free access to fresh drinking water. It is best to place many bowls of water around the apartment or buy a special fountain for cats.
3. It is recommended to provide the animal with cooling water treatments. This can be done with a wet towel - simply by wrapping the cat in it for a short time. You should also soak the paw pads, tummy, and muzzle. It is not advisable to wet the top layer of fur, as this will only create the effect of floating under the fur, and it will be even more difficult for the animal. If you want to spray your pet with cool water, make sure the water touches the skin and doesn't just run down the fur onto the ground.
4. To cool your cat's head (this is especially true if the pet has been outside for a long time), you can put a damp cloth between its ears.
5. If you see that your cat is very overheated, it is advisable to cool the cat's blood. To do this, fill a small bottle with cold water and place it on your cat's femoral arteries, neck, or armpits—wherever the major arteries are located.
6. Never close the bathroom door when leaving home. It's cooler there than other rooms in the apartment, and lying on the cold tiles is another way to cool your cat down. You can also spread a wet towel in the corner.
7. Make sure your cat is not in direct sunlight. This usually happens when the cat falls asleep in the shade, but later, when the sun has moved to the other side, she is already baking in the sun.
8. You should not let your cat out for a walk during the hottest time of day - from 12:00 to 16:00.
9. In hot weather, low-fat light dry food is more suitable for a cat. If your cat only eats wet food, it should be fed in small portions. Be careful not to leave food in the bowl, as it will spoil quickly in hot weather.