The followin’ post will be written in human English fur reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat posts aren’t intended to be an all inclusive Trainin’ Manual but rather Tips, Tricks and Techniques used/developed by mommy A thru her many years of animal trainin’, cats in purrticular. And to offur insight into your questions about Everything Feline. Always remember, Training is all ‘bout Repetition and Rewards.
MeOW Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. We’re runnin’ low on questions from ya’ll, so purrlease let us know what you’d like to see here on Furidays. You can do so by leavin’ your questions and/or topic suggestions in the comments below or by sendin’ us an email via our Contact page. And, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series you can check them out by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page from our menu. With all the hot weather we’ve been havin’ lately, this seems like the purrfect time to talk about how to Beat The Heat.
Stay inside
Sounds kind of silly, but Staying inside out of the heat is the best way to beat it. We have recently learned that some of our friends around the world don’t have air conditioning. We were shocked, but we do understand that certain areas don’t actually get as hot as others and humidity doesn’t affect everybody, so a/c’s aren’t needed items. However, we’re pretty sure that most people have fans. To make the air the fan blows a bit cooler, you can fill a bowl with cold water and place it in front of the fan; replace the water as needed. Keep all unscreened windows and doors closed.
Fresh water should be available at all times. Fountains tend to keep water cooler thru circulation. You can also add ice cubes which some cats enjoy. You can also make a little nip tea to freeze into cubes and add to kitty’s water as a little treat during the heat wave; or anytime for that matter.
Stay Cool Outside
If you must be outside, or you’re caring for stray or feral kitties, there are steps you can take to keep everybody safe during the heat of summer. Shelter from the heat is a must. Shade trees, shrubs, dog/cat houses, even boxes placed in shady areas can be useful.
Fresh water is a must. And remember when putting the water bowl out, to place it in a shady area so that it will stay cool longer and kitty/doggy won’t have to stand on hot surfaces to get a drink. Ice cubes can be placed in the water, but remember to add water to the bowl. The ice cubes may not melt as quickly as you expect them to alone.
Remember cement, asphalt and dirt/sand can reach temperatures hot enough to burn, so make sure kitty can access food and water without having to walk or sit on those surfaces. Paw pads can burn very easily. If you’re taking kitty/doggy for a walk, avoid walking on those surfaces for long periods of time. You have shoes, kitty/doggy is basically walking barefoot.
NEVER leave kitty/doggy locked/shut in a car, non climate controlled shed, storage room or garage. Temperatures in these areas can be deadly in a short amount of time. Don’t let kitty/doggy ride around in the bed of your pickup truck. The metal bed can and will burn.
Kitties and doggies with lots of fur might enjoy a small haircut. However, Do Not shave them to the skin. That skin has been protected by fur and exposure to extreme temps can be dangerous. Watch out for hot spots and treat any skin conditions as soon as possible. Short nosed breeds, such as Persians, Bulldogs, etc., have more difficulty breathing, especially as temperatures rise. Keep a close eye on them and know the signs of overheating in pets.
Symptoms of Overheating
Know the signs of Overheating in pets and if you see it, get your pet to the VET as soon as possible.
Excessive panting,
Difficulty breathing,
Increased heart and respiratory rate,
Drooling,
Weakness,
Stupor,
Collapse,
Seizures,
Bloody Diarrhea,
Vomiting,
Elevated Temperatures over 104°F (ASPCA.org).
Immediate Treatment
If you find kitty unconscious or in a stupor, soak him/her in cool, but not ice cold water, keeping the nose and mouth clear. You can also try placing a bag of frozen vegetables or an ice pack between their legs and go straight to your VET.
If kitty is still conscious, get him/her inside cooler temps immediately. Let him/her drink as much water as he/she wants and get to the VET ASAP.
If kitty is just beginning to show signs of overheating, get them inside a cool area and place a cool wet towel over them. Make sure there is plenty of cold water available to drink. Keep a close eye on kitty and see the VET if needed.
There will be no temp takin’ here, fanky fank you.
If you can safely take kitties temperature, do so. Make note of the temperature and take appropriate actions. Rectal temps as follows:
100° – 103°F = normal to slightly elevated
103° – 104°F = slightly elevated and should be seen be a VET as soon as possible.
105°F and above could be fatal and should be seen by a VET Immediately.
Remember, prevention is always the best cure. With just a few steps everybody can survive the heat. Another tip is not to over play your pet during the hottest parts of the day. While it may be fun to play fetch at the beach with your dog or chase the wand bird in the yard with kitty, to much fun in the sun can lead to the dangers of overheating. You might also want to wrap a bandana that has been soaked in cool water around your pets neck to help keep them cool. And make sure everybody including the humans are drinking plenty to avoid dehydration.
This is fur sure a blooper. Mommy was trying to take a foto of me while me slept
on the scratcher beside her chair. Alas, she cut off me’s face and body
and only got the tippy top of me’s head. Hmmmpht
Well, we’re gonna wrap it up fur today. We do hope this helps you to survive the summer hots. We’re doin’ all we can to enjoy the wonderful a/c in the house. Mommy once lived in an apartment where she had no control over her own a/c. Temps in her apartment were in the low 100’s at night, mid 100’s in the day, and even brought out the media to repurrt on the situation. She swore then and there, she would never allow her babies (then, sis Lexi and Lucky) to have to endure anything like that again, so she’s really good about makin’ sure Raena and me are comfy regardless of what’s goin’ on. ‘Member, you can ketch up on any posts you may have missed in this series by clickin’ Training Tips and Everything Feline from our menu. And, be sure and leave your questions and/or topic suggestions in the comments below or via our Contact page in our menu.
Mine’s blooper submission. Mine’s selfie didn’t quite turn out. Guess
I’s zigged when I’s should’a zagged. MOL
We’re linkin’ up with Comedy Plus fur Feline Furidays and we’re also joinin’ our furiends the Cuddlywumps fur Pet foto fails and bloopers.
Do you have any tips for surviving the hots?
Till the next time………………………………………………Be Blest!!!
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Service Cats U.S. 