Walking with your cat in hot weather
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Summer invokes dreams of having fun. Enjoying the sun and spending time outside with friends & family.
To most of us, this also includes spending time outside with our fur babies.
But sometimes we forget about the hot temperatures, the humidity and the potential for heatstroke and dehydration in our cats.
Our kitties are like us – they may struggle in hot weather, feel uncomfortable and maybe even feel dehydrated.
For catexplorers, this becomes challenging. In summer we are lured to have more adventures outside. But this increases the risk of our kitties struggling with potential heat stroke, sunburn and dehydration.
So how do you keep taking your cat out when it is hot outside?
Change the way you go catexploring
Stay in sheltered areas
One way to help your kitty stay cooler while exploring in the heat is to explore in sheltered areas. This could be areas under trees in forests or even stay undercover.
Change when you go exploring
The sun is the hottest between 9am and 3pm and as such it would be best not to go exploring during this time, especially in the middle of summer.
To combat this, you can go exploring early in the morning or in the evening.
There will be fewer people and dogs around, making it easier for your cat and you to have a calm catexploring experience.
Spend less time catexploring
By reducing the length of the time you spend exploring, it also reduces the amount of time your cat is exposed to the heat.
Change locations
This is the most tempting option where cats go exploring in locations that are not exposed to heat.
Options include air-conditioned pet stores, breweries, pubs and shopping malls. For ideas of indoor locations that you can go catexploring, see here.
Another option is to explore at higher elevations or closer to the ocean breeze, where it is cooler.
Stay home
As it is coolest at home, you and your kitty can stay at home when it is hot.
And this does not have to be boring! There are so many fun games to play & activities to do together! See here for ideas on how to keep your cat entertained indoors.
Fur cuts
It can be quite tempting to give your cat a hair cut. The logical thought is that having less fur means that they would be more comfortable in warmer weather.
However, some cats may not be able to regulate their temperature when their fur is cut short and they may become chilled or overheated. Others may lose the protection they normally receive from their fur – resulting in sunburn or injuries from scuffles. Others may even be terrified of the shearing clippers.
But for other cats, a summer hairdo is a great option as it helps with grooming. If you plan to give your cat a summer hairdo, speak to your veterinarian and also ask a professional groomer to give them the haircut.
How to keep your cat safe while catexploring in summer
Be careful of the hot floor
Because we wear shoes, it is easy to forget how hot the floor outside can get during summer.
Unfortunately, our cats do not wear shoes and their paw comes into direct contact with the floor. As such, they may burn their beautiful toe beans from the ground.
To make sure that the floor is not too hot for them, place your hand on the floor for 11 seconds. If it is unbearable for you – it is too hot for your kitty.
Use an ice pack
A frozen water bottle or an ice pack can help you keep your cat cool.
Wrap it in a towel and place it in a location where your cat can move away from it if it becomes too cold. This could be one of the pockets of your cat backpack or on the side of your stroller.
Use a cooling pad
A cooling pad does just that – it is a pad that helps cool your cat. They contain a gel or an insert for an ice pack.
Usually, they are used to help your pet stay cool, but sometimes that can be used to aid in pain relief too.
When using a cooling pad for your cat, make sure that it is non-toxic for cats.
If you are catexploring and have the cooling pad in a cat backpack or stroller, we also recommend placing it in a place that your cat can move away from in case they find it too cold.
A few options for cooling mats include:
Dress your cat in cooling clothing
Just like cooling mats, there are also types of cooling clothing that your cat can wear.
These include cooling vests and cooling bandanas.
Cooling vests used by catexplorers include:
Cooling bandanas used by catexplorers include:
Attach a fan to your cat’s backpack or stroller
The portable fans that can be attached to a child’s stroller can also be attached to your cat’s backpack or stroller.
Like with the cooling mats & ice packs, make sure this fan is in a location that your cat can move away from. Prior to using the fan, ensure that your cat is comfortable with it. Not all cats enjoy having the wind in their whiskers.
Some of the portable fans also appear to be rather big, or your cat could get their paws into the mechanism. When you affix the fan to your cat backpack or your stroller, ensure that it is safe for your cat too.
The most popular portable fans according to mum’s groups are:
Use towels to keep your cat cool
Cats sweat through their toes.
By soaking a towel in cool water, you can cool the towel and then use this to dab at your cat’s toe beans. This will help cool them.
Use water to keep your cat cool
As with humans, you can keep your cat cool by using water.
One option is to wet their head and body using a towel or your hand. Another option (provided that your cat is open to this) is to give them a bath.
Beware that not all cats are happy with this process, so start slowly to make sure your cat is ok.
Use sunscreen
Our kitties are just like us, where long periods in the sun can cause sunburn. White cats and cats with pink ears and noses are particularly susceptible.
There are a few pet sunscreens on the market. Popular ones for cats are the Petkin Doggy Sunstick and the Aniwell Filta Clear Sunscreen.
Some dog sunscreens have ingredients that are toxic to cats, so ensure that you read through the ingredient list before using one on your cat.
Keeping your cat hydrated
Cats are notorious for not drinking water and as such risk becoming dehydrated.
Dehydration in cats
Signs of dehydration include:
Sticky or tacky gums
Skin that does not snap back into place
Sunken and dry eyes
Cool or cold paws
If you think your cat is dehydrated, contact your veterinarian immediately.
How to keep your cat hydrated while catexploring
There are several ways to keep your cat hydrated while exploring.
Use food to hydrate your cat
As cats are not the best with drinking water, we may need to “trick” our kitties into drinking water while out and about.
Creamy treats are typically a favourite treat which also provides some hydration.
Another option is to add water into your cat’s wet food.
Similarly, the creamy treats can be mixed into your cat’s water.
Encourage your cat to drink water
If it is hot while walking your cat on a leash, you can use your hand to wet their lips with some water. They will naturally lick their lips and then ingest the water.
Another innovative idea is to use a syringe feeder to feed them water. However, do not force them to drink this way as it may scar them emotionally. This option is usually preferable to cats who have been syringe fed as kittens.
We also recommend that you purchase a collapsible bowl, which makes it easier for you to provide water for your kitty while out and about.
Your cat, the car and hot weather
While we are in a rush, it can be tempting to leave our cats in the car. However, we strongly recommend that you do not do this as it is dangerous and temperatures in a car can rise quickly!
Instead, prior to entering the car with your cat, we suggest that you cool the car first with air conditioning. You can even use a cooling mat in the car.
It may be tempting to place your cat in front of the air conditioning vents when it is hot. However, we do not recommend this as it can cause your cat to develop pneumonia.
Hot temperatures and summer may discourage us to keep catexploring. But there are ways to keep exploring with your cat while keeping them safe.
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