Similar to humans and their canine friends, cats also experience heat-related problems. Extreme illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can affect any animal. We frequently hear more reports of dogs experiencing heatstroke when they are transported outside or left in hot cars as the weather rises.
Cats are often not confined to hot surroundings, therefore they are less prone to experience heatstroke, but this does not mean that they are not at risk. You can protect your cat by being aware of the signs of heatstroke and understanding what to do in each situation.
What Is Heat Stroke?
When a person’s body temperature gets dangerously high, they experience a condition called heatstroke. Cats typically have a body temperature between 99.9 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A body temperature over 102.5 is considered abnormal. If the rise in body temperature is the result of a hot environment, heat exhaustion could happen and heatstroke is probably going to follow.
Heat exhaustion comes before heatstroke. If the cat is left in the heated environment, its body temperature will rise over the point at which it loses the ability to control it, which could result in heatstroke. Heatstroke may develop in cats whose internal body temperatures rise above 104 degrees. Damage is done to the body’s cells and organs, which could hasten death.
A significant medical condition, heatstroke. Call a veterinarian straight away if you suspect your cat may be overheating.
Heatstroke symptoms in cats
Cats are experts at hiding sickness signs, so it’s likely you won’t realize your cat is overheating until it’s too late. Your cat may be experiencing heat exhaustion or heatstroke if it becomes too hot:
- A minimum body temperature of 104 degrees
- Respiratory discomfort, shallow breathing, or panting
- Vomiting
- Anxiety or stress due to diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Vertigo and/or unsteadiness
- Dark-colored gums and a tongue
- A rapid heartbeat, wet paws
- As a result of dehydration convulsions or tremors, the saliva is heavy with drooling
Heatstroke results in
Cats are less adept at regulating their body temperature than people are. The human body can perspire and cool down in heated environments. Dogs can pant to some extent to cool off, but it doesn’t keep them cool as effectively in the heat. Since cats don’t sweat to cool off, they normally don’t start panting until they are already on a bed.
To stay cool, cats typically move to cooler areas like tile floors, sinks, or bathtubs. Self-care has the power to chill you down and simulate perspiration. Even while a cat’s coat only partially protects against heat, it can nonetheless be helpful. If a cat gets into a dangerously hot environment, its body cannot cool down fast enough to prevent overheating.
Most cats move to a cooler spot on their own when they start to feel too warm. The majority of people can cool off before they get too hot. However, a cat could become trapped in a warm environment, such as a car, greenhouse, garage, shed, outdoor space, or even a clothes dryer.
Sadly, these are some of the most frequent causes of heatstroke in cats.
Kittens, old cats, and sick cats are more vulnerable to heatstroke because they are less able to regulate their body temperatures than healthy adult cats. Persian cats and other cats with short noses generally have constrained airways and are typically more heat-sensitive. Overheating is also more prone to occur in overweight or obese cats. Cats at high risk must live in climate-controlled indoor environments.
Treatment
The best thing to do if you suspect heatstroke in your cat is to get her to the nearest animal hospital as soon as you can. Ice and cold water can also cause hypothermia, which is another serious ailment, in addition to overcooling the cat. Call the hospital or clinic while you are en way to learn about safe cooling methods.
Take your cat’s temperature to determine the severity of the condition. You might be able to employ home cooling solutions if their core body temperature is higher than 104 degrees. Keep in mind that your cat will still need veterinary attention.
When attempting to cool down a hot cat, caution must be taken. Although it may seem natural to use ice or extremely cold water, these items can prevent cooling by restricting the blood vessels.
To assist your cat in de-stressing, adhere to following guidelines:
- Place them in a cool, spacious area.
- If the cat shows signs of awareness, offer it cool water to drink, but do not pressurize it. Many cats won’t drink water when they’re too hot.
- Put your cat on a towel that has been soaked in lukewarm or tepid water. Avoid using the towel to swaddle your cat since it may retain heat. Replace the towel as it becomes warm from your cat’s body heat.
- Gently wet the coat of your cat with cool or tepid water. Sadly, cats are not the only survivors of heatstroke.
- Continue to check your cat’s temperature. Stop utilizing cooling methods when the body temperature hits 103.5 degrees. At this stage, further cooling raises the risk of hyperthermia.
- Try to start a fan if you can.
Even if your cat seems to be doing better, get them checked out by a doctor as soon as you can. Your veterinarian may need to do laboratory tests to look for damage to the cells and internal organs of your body. To rehydrate, regulate body temperature, and attempt to repair internal damage, your cat may need further care.
Guidelines to Prevent Heatstroke
Take care to avoid accidently trapping your cat in a warm environment. Never leave your cat unattended in a warm car or any warm, confined area. The interior temperature might rise substantially more than the exterior temperature.
Don’t shave your cat’s fur if you want them to stay cool. Cats’ fur can help them stay warm and cool. Additionally, shaving the coat increases your risk of developing a sunburn.
Make sure your cat always has access to cool interior spaces and clean water if it spends time outside. Make sure to check on the cat at least twice a day. If you haven’t seen your cat in a while, be sure they aren’t genuinely stuck somewhere.
Cats kept indoors should also have access to cool areas and fresh water. Make sure to keep the fan or air conditioner running when you aren’t home. Before beginning the dryer, always make sure your cat hasn’t gone inside. Unfortunately, this happens frequently.
If you suspect your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian straight away. When in doubt about your family pet’s health, always see your veterinarian. They have examined your pet, are aware of its medical history, and may be able to offer the best guidance for your pet.
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