How To Help Cats Stay Cool In Hot Weather, Signs Of Heatstroke And How To Respond: Informative Viral Thread

As cat owners of many years, sometimes, we think that we know everything that there is to know about our little felines. Cats are not that hard to understaaand, right? Well, normally, that might be true, but sometimes, you can encounter situation where a little extra guidance can be very helpful. That's why we're glad that we discovered adrianontherocks on imgur - a cat behaviorist who has helped us many times in the past.

From this user, we have learned everything from how to carefully get an unsocialized cat to trust and love humans and the reasons behind why cats bite humans all the way to why using squirt bottles on cats can be harmful sometimes and practical ways to enrich your cat's environment. And today, just in time for this ridiculous heat wave, adrianontherocks has come to the rescue again, explaining to us how to help cats stay cool in this weather and what heatstroke signs look like with cats.

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"Feline Behavior Post- Cats and Hot Weather"

via adrianontherocks

"Hi Imgur, I'm your friendly neighborhood feline behaviorist. Cats are often misunderstood creatures- I can't tell you how much misinformation I see out there about them. Part of this is because cats have NOT been studied scientifically nearly as much as some other species, such as dogs!
I want to help cats by making sure that humans have a better understanding of them, and thus don't have unrealistic expectations for their behavior. I figured why not share some info on Imgur :) even if you don't want to read it, you can at least enjoy a few pictures of some shelter kitties!
It's HOT. In a lot of places across the world, including many where it usually isn't this warm. A lot of people are worried about their pets, understandably. So what are some things you should (or shouldn't) do to help keep your cat cool, and what are signs of heat stroke and how should you respond?"
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via adrianontherocks

"Lion Cuts/Grooming
In general, you don't want to give your cat a lion cut if it's hot out. As said by James H. Jones, an expert in comparative animal exercise physiology and thermoregulation at UC Davis, "Fur acts as a thermal regulator to slow down the process of heat absorption." Cats will shed and make their coats more suitable for heat protection instead of warmth by getting rid of their thick undercoat. A lion cut can also result in outdoor cats, or even just those who sit in sunny spots, getting a sunburn.
One time that you SHOULD get a lion cut for your cat is if they have mats. Mats or heavy tangles will prevent a cat from thermoregulating properly. I advise you get a vet or groomer to shave your cat for you rather than attempting it yourself, unless you have trained your cat to accept electric trimmers.
What about brushing your cat? Yes, please! Helping them get rid of the fur they are shedding will help keep them cooler. A furminator or other style of brush that is good at removing that heavy undercoat can help in the summer."
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via adrianontherocks

"Be sure to have multiple options for water- bowls, water fountains, cups if your cat is one of *those* cats, whatever they like best. Refresh the water daily so it is fresh, as it's better for your cat and will make them more likely to drink it.
You can also take a damp towel and gently wipe their body/feet, if they will tolerate it.
You may also encourage them to play with ice cubes, or ice cubes made out of wet food/pet-safe broth or other yummy treats. Frozen water bottles wrapped in towels and placed near them can also provide a cooling effect."
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via adrianontherocks

"The things that you would do to keep yourself/your home cool will benefit your cat. Running oscillating fans even when you aren't home, and making sure you close blinds/windows will help. If you have linoleum, tile, hardwood, etc. encourage your cat to be in these areas. If you don't, consider getting them a cooling mat or two and putting them in places your kitty likes to be. Of course, if you are lucky enough to have AC, then you're golden!
Avoid encouraging them to play in the hottest parts of the day. Try to stick to early mornings/late nights for exercise.
This is more a problem for dogs than cats simply because they are in cars more, but NEVER leave your cat in a car, as the temperature inside a car grows much hotter than outside.
I also suggest that if you normally let your cat outdoors, keep them inside during a heat wave. You will have greater control over the temperature they are in, and will notice if they start showing signs of heat stroke."
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via adrianontherocks

"Signs of heat stroke
If you see these signs, administer emergency 'first aid' and then take your cat to the vet immediately.
-Anxiety (may present as the cat pacing)
-Bleeding from the nose
-Seizures
-Muscle Tremors
-Dizziness
-Vomiting
-Prolonged panting
-Bright red tongue
-Dark red, or pale, gums
-Weakness and Lethargy
Emergency first aid:
-Get your cat to a cooler location
-Put cool or tepid water (NOT ice cold) on your pet, and blow a fan on them to maximize heat loss
-Wet the area around your cat down. So you could get a damp towel or two and place them around your cat in their carrier as you take them to the vet."
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via adrianontherocks

"Thank you all for reading! For a full list of all my feline behavior posts, see here: https://imgur.com/gallery/QWAWDJS

If I've helped you out with a feline behavior issue, please consider donating to me! https://ko-fi.com/friendlyneighborhoodfelinebehaviorist"
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