Why it has to be cool to be a cat

IN spite of their reputation as desert animals, cats do not tolerate heat any better than people.

Cats only pant or sweat through their foot pads in order to get rid of excess heat.

As the body temperature rises, the cat will suffer heat exhaustion and eventually heat stroke.

If the body temperature is not brought down quickly, serious organ damage or death could result.

The normal body temperature of a cat is 38.2 to 39.2 Celsius.

If the outside temperature is warmer than the cat’s internal temperature, heatstroke is a very real possibility.

It’s common sense, but you should check your cat’s water bowl regularly and fill it up whenever it’s low. Cats can’t survive for long without it.

If you have an outdoor cat and there are no naturally occurring shady spots in your garden, create one by placing some cloth or cardboard over an area to keep the sun out.

Sheds and greenhouses can get dangerously hot, even when the weather just feels warm. Bear in mind that they both exclude cooling breezes and magnify the heat.

Cats are also prone to getting accidentally trapped in conservatories and greenhouses. Make sure you check outdoor buildings like sheds and greenhouses before shutting them as cats often get locked in accidentally overnight.

Overweight cats are more susceptible to overheating and so they need to have special care taken of them during spells of hot weather.

Matted hair traps heat so give them a daily groom if possible. This is especially important for long-haired cats.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency which can lead to organ dysfunction, blood clotting disorders, coma, and death. It must be treated urgently. Vets will carefully bring your cat’s body temperature down to a safe level. We can introduce cool fluids to the body either intravenously or by administering a cool water enema.

Oxygen therapy will be given if your cat is having difficulty breathing.

Heatstroke can be associated with swelling in the throat, aggravating the problem. Your vet may give the cat a cortisone injection to treat this.

Your cat will need to be carefully monitored for signs of kidney or liver failure or disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Cats which are treated carefully and promptly are likely to make a full recovery.