Keeping Your Cat Cool and Safe at Home This Summer

Every year, there is always a big fuss online for people to help keep their dogs cool in hot weather. And while this is massively important, it isn’t only dogs that can struggle with the heat. As summers get warmer in the UK, taking care of your pets can be the difference between keeping them safe and healthy and taking a vet trip.

Follow these tips for keeping your cat cool and safe this summer.

Flea and Worm Treatment

From 10 weeks of age, you should be using a monthly worm treatment for cats and flea protection. As the hotter weather sees a rise in fleas and ticks, prevention is better than cure and applying these treatments to your cat can help you to reduce the risk of them becoming infected or suffering severe side effects. Plus, preventing your cat from catching fleas will reduce the risk of a home infestation, meaning a cleaner living space for you too.

Plenty of Shade

Cats can overheat just other animals and humans too. Providing plenty of shade within your home for your cat to retreat when they become too hot is vital to help them cool down. Look at the design of your home and move your cat to a cooler space should you become cornered about how your home is affecting your cat in the heat. Cats cool down by licking themselves, hence the increased grooming in the summer, and providing a cool place for them to do this means they can cool down a lot quicker.

Grooming

While on the topic of cats grooming themselves, you also need to groom them regularly to remove loose fur from their coats. Extra fur can trap the heat, and it will take longer for them to cool down. Regularly brush them to remove excess or loose fur and help your cat stay cooler. Plus, you can help to keep your home fur-free as much as possible by targeting it right at the source.

Hydration

Hydration is essential for keeping your cat healthy in the summer. Some top tips for helping your cat to drink more when it’s hot can include;

• Moving their water bowl away from their food bowl and toileting areas
• Changing their bowl to encourage increased drinking
• Provide a running water source
• Use multiple bowls around the house
• Freeze spring water from cans of tuna or plain drinking water and add it to their water or food bowl.

Keep Them In

When the mercury rises, watch your cat to ensure they are comfortable in the heat. Keep them indoors during the hottest parts of the day if you need to. Temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius can be dangerous for cats and dogs. However, the hotter it gets, the higher the risk, especially for kittens, senior cats or those with existing health issues.

Check Their Surroundings

Cats can quickly succumb to heat effects when left in spaces that heat up quickly. It is important to always check your home for your cat so you know where they are. This is especially important if you have a conservatory, greenhouses, sun traps within your home or if your cat likes to go in the car. Temperatures in these spaces rise quickly, and your cat can overheat faster than it can cope with. Always check before locking doors that your cat isn’t in any of these spaces in the hot weather.

Conclusion

As independent as some cats are, they still need support and guidance from their owners. Knowing how best to keep your cat safe in the summer can help you ensure they are fit and healthy and aren’t negatively affected by the heat.