How to Keep Adventure Cats Cool in Summer

The longer and warmer days in the summer seems perfect for bringing our cats outside. They seem to love lounging around under sunlight at home, so they must be built for the heat, right? Actually, no! Although cats seem to love the heat and sleeping under the sun, adventure cats who are walking around seem to overheat quickly, and they don’t have a good way of cooling themselves off. It’s important for adventure cat parents to understand the signs of overheating, and know ways to cool them down.

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Signs your cat may be overheating

If you notice your cat doing these things, they may be too hot, and you should stop what you’re doing, and try to cool them down:

• Rapid breathing
• Open mouth panting
• Meowing excessively
• Looking to hide in shade and laying down

Signs of extreme overheating and needing immediate medical assistance:

• Drooling
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Confused behaviour
• Collapsing

Ways to cool your cat down

There are many ways to keep your cat cool, depending on which ones are appropriate for your adventures. Keep in mind that while these help a little, they won’t be good enough when the temperatures are really really high. If its too hot, the best method will be to leave your cat in your air conditioned home (if possible).

Cooling Bandana

A cooling bandana is a very simple and fashionable way to keep your cat cool! Most of them require to be wet to provide cooling, so you will have to carry a bottle of water. Keep in mind that a bandana covers only a small area of your cat, and therefore a bandana won’t be as much use as some of these other methods.

Recommendation: RC Pets Zephyr Cooling Bandana – Size S (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)

Cooling Vest

A cooling vest works similar to a cooling bandana, except it covers a larger area of cat. The cooling vest also requires to be kept wet so you will have to carry a bottle of water. Because a cooling vest covers more area of the cat, it provides more of a cooling effect, and also provides some shade so the sun is not directly heating their fur.

Recommendation: RC Pets Zephyr Cooling Vest – Size S or M (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)

Cooling Mat

A cooling mat typically contains a type of gel that stays a few degrees cooler than the air temperature. These mats are convenient to use as they don’t require regular re-wetting. A cooling mat is good for if you are staying in one spot, such as a picnic, or in the car. You can also place a cooling mat in your cat’s backpack, but it may be a little heavy.

Recommendation: GF Pet Cooling Mat

Find Shade

Providing shade to your cat can cool them down immensely, especially if their fur is a darker colour. I have found that even when the temperature is not too hot (around 15C / 59F), being in direct sunlight will still cause my cat to overheat. Walks in a shaded area, such as in the forest, is a good idea for when it is sunny.

Keeping your car shaded is also a good idea. A car under direct sunlight heats up very quickly, and returning to a hot car may not be comfortable for your cat. There are a few products on the market designed to keep your car cool by shading the interior from the sun. Please also never leave your cat in a hot car, as it could be quite dangerous if they are overheating. The cat backpack is convenient for you to stealthily take your cat with you, if you need to do some quick shopping or use the washroom.

Recommendations:

• Car windshield reflector (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)
• Car window mesh screen (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)
• Car shade cloth (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)

Water

Encouraging your cat to drink more water will help with hydration in hot weather. If your cat is like mine and does not drink water, you can try giving them creamy cat treats, or add water to their food. Sometimes I will add creamy treats to a small dish of water, and my cat will drink all of that up. If your cat is still refusing to drink, I have heard of some cat owners using a syringe to directly drip water into their mouths. (I have not personally tried this.)

You can also use water to cool your cat down quickly by pouring some water on their heads and back. and then brush the fur with your hands, so the water reaches deeper into the fur. As the water evaporates, it will provide a cooling effect. Do not use ice water as the sudden cold water can shock your cat. If your cat is open to the idea, you can also have them go into a lake or river, which will also wet their fur and provide a cooling effect.

USB Powered Fan

A portable USB powered fan and a portable battery pack can be used to provide some cooling, and it would work even better if you also wet your cat. Most portable fans have a clip that you can attach to their backpack, so it can be used on the go.

Recommendation: USB Clip On Fan (available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)

Proper Planning

Proper planning would include doing some research and planning your day to better suit your cat’s needs. For example, planning on early morning or late evening adventures when the temperatures have cooled down, or planning to visit shaded or indoor activities instead. If you are doing something active, take lots of breaks in the shade to slow your cat’s activity level down. And always be prepared to stop what you’re doing and bring your cat home if they are showing signs of overheating.