Summer, sun, heat – cats can’t get enough of it. Nevertheless, they also need to cool down regularly. With our tips, you can make the heat more bearable for your cat.
Cats love the hot season, loll about in the sun and doze in a shady spot. So that your cat can enjoy the summer unscathed, you should definitely follow these tips!
10 Tips to Help Cats in the Heat
On particularly hot days, follow these 10 tips to make your cat more comfortable in the heat.
Do Not Leave the Lining Open
In summer, never leave wet food in the tin or bag open. Better keep it in the fridge. Make sure you take it out in time so that it is at room temperature when you serve it.
Do not leave the wet food in the bowl for longer than half an hour. In summer, flies can lay their eggs in it. The food is contaminated with it and can be dangerous for your cat.
You can find out here how animal feed stays fresh for a long time, even when it is open.
Encourage Drinking
Many cats are not good drinkers. In hot weather, however, water absorption is extremely important.
- Serve water mixed with unseasoned chicken broth or cat milk. Alternatively, you can also mix water with wet food.
- Serve water in the clay bowl. The evaporative cooling of clay keeps the water fresher for longer.
- Place several water bowls in the apartment and on the balcony or terrace.
- Also, try drinking fountains. They encourage the cats to drink.
Layout Cool Pads
If you moisten towels and lay them out, the liquid evaporates. This achieves a cooling effect. Therefore, put wet towels on floors and berths. On very hot days you can wrap a cool pack or two in towels and offer your cat a cozy pad.
Create Shady Places
Cats like to snooze in the fresh air. On summer days they prefer shady places. You can easily create shade with plants. Let a climbing plant climb up the cat protection net on the balcony. Or place tall plants (caution, do not use poisonous plants).
Your cat will also be happy to use a herb garden full of cat herbs such as valerian, mint, and cat germander as a shady shelter. Do something good for your cat and at the same time provide decorative elements on the balcony or terrace. If you can’t or don’t want to plant anything, you can simply set up caves and huts.
Keep Your Home Cool
Make sure that your apartment does not heat up too much. Leave the blinds down during the day. In the cool evening hours, however, you should then ventilate the room extensively.
Be careful when using air conditioners and fans. Direct drafts or air that is too cold can give your cat a cold.
Exercise in Moderation
Exercise is healthy, and that goes for cats too. However, game units should be avoided in the midday heat. It is better to postpone them to the cooler evening hours. This puts less strain on your cat’s organism.
Offer Cat Grass
Cats groom themselves more often when it’s hot. In this way, they cool down, but they swallow more cat hair. Cat grass will help them regurgitate the hairballs. Also, read our tips on cat grass and the alternatives.
Apply Sunscreen
The ears and bridge of the nose are particularly sensitive to the sun and heat, especially in white cats. Too much sun can lead to dangerous sunburn. Therefore, apply sunscreen to these areas. Use sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, which is also suitable for babies.
Deworm Regularly
Parasites multiply rapidly in summer. Deworm your free-roaming cat regularly!
Lots of Cuddling
Excessive heat can cause stress in cats. The best way to counteract this is with targeted relaxation and lots of cuddles.