Important
If your cat is agitated, breathing rapidly, has skin hot to the touch or is drooling or vomiting, this could be heatstroke – rub them with a cool damp towel and contact your vet immediately.
Cool rooms and fans
Make sure your house has cool rooms – keep curtains closed and use a fan. Allow access to tiled floors and surfaces such as in bathrooms and kitchens. Cats will lie out wide and flat on the cool surface. Don’t be surprised if you find them in your sink!
Fans help circulate air – drape a damp towel in the path of the fan (but not on top of course) to spread a bit of cool moisture into the air.
Keep on top of grooming
Excess fur on cats traps the heat, so daily grooming during heatwaves to get rid of dead hair will make your cat feel a little more comfortable.
You may also notice that your cat is grooming itself more than normal, too. This is nothing to worry about – it’s their very own way to beat the heat as when the saliva evaporates off the fur, it will cool them down.
Damp towel
Wet a small towel in cold water and dab over your cat’s fur, or just stroke cat with wet hands, to bring some relief from hot weather. Never pour cold water over or dunk your cat in water as this may induce shock.
Ice treats
Make up some ice lollies for your cat with some of their favourite treats. Freeze some tuna or some low-salt chicken stock for an icy snack that will keep them entertained and cool. Above Alfie with a tuna ice lolly during a hot spell of weather at the Home.
Ice cube play
Pop cubes on a hard floor and watch your curious cat push them around the room and pounce. As well as cooling down their paws, where cats absorb and lose heat, it provides enrichment to help stimulate them.
Cooling mats and ice packs in beds
There are a wide range of cooling mats for pets available to buy, but you make your own by placing freezer blocks or pads, or even a pack of frozen vegetables, well wrapped in a blanket in your cat’s favourite spot will have a similar effect. As enjoyed by Tango, pictured at the top.