Summer heat is no problem for cats.
Although cats tend to tolerate the heat a little better than dogs — after all, they are famous for seeking sunny spots for sunbathes — the reality is that cats can suffer from overheating (hyperthermia) and heatstroke too. Heat-related health problems tend not to be as common in cats, possibly because cats tend not to exercise in hot weather with their humans and spend less time in the car.
Cats are also incredibly smart about keeping themselves cool. Here’s how they stay cool and some tips to help them withstand the summertime heat.
- Cats conserve their energy. In extremely hot weather, you might notice your cat “disappearing,” taking longer naps, or being less active. This is because, in contrast to dogs, cats are aware that, in hot weather, conserving energy rather than expending it helps maintain a body temperature that prevents overheating. Cats will sleep during the warmer hours of the day, ideally in a cool spot away from the sun, and save their activities for the late afternoon or early evening.
- Cats seek out cool surfaces. There’s a good reason your cat likes to lounge on the cement floor of your basement or on the tile floors of your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Cats are aware that heat will be transferred away from their bodies by the cooler floors. They will also look for places to hide from the sun, such as a closet or beneath a bed. Thus, make sure your cat has access to any tiled areas in your house or any rooms that receive little natural light.
- Cats groom themselves more. Cats groom to stay cool because they are unable to sweat like humans can. In the same way that sweat evaporates to cool us, when they groom in hot weather, their saliva evaporates from their fur.
- Cats drink more water. Like us and our dogs, cats become dehydrated in the heat. Make sure your cat has access to cool, fresh water at all times. Add a few ice cubes to the water to help keep it cooler for Kitty.
- Cats benefit from their fur coats. Although you might believe that your cat’s fur coat makes them uncomfortable in hot weather, fur actually has insulating qualities that help control body temperature. But you can help get rid of any extra undercoat by brushing your cat often.
I do keep the majority of their food, water, toys, beds, etc., but is this typical for cats, or do I need to make the cooler rooms more appealing to them? in the cooler parts of the house. The only furniture in the main room they enter is a guest bed and a little table by the window, which is always open.
Hello, first time cat owner. My two kitties are one year old and four years old. My house has been extremely hot lately, and my air conditioning unit has been malfunctioning. Certain rooms are cool, while others become stuffy and overheated. My cats almost always seem to be napping in the hotter rooms because they seem to be drawn to them. They do go off and explore the house, and they like to spend the night in my cold room. I keep water in the hotter rooms, and when I go to check on them, they appear to be drinking and not overheating. Because the entire house was at a cool temperature last summer, the heat wasn’t a problem.