Keepin' cool

We're currently going through a heat wave in the UK and it's expected to be 40 degrees tomorrow! I don't think it's ever been that hot in my lifetime. When you're feeling the heat, spare a thought for your moggies who can't take their fur coats off (unless you have a sphynx of course). Here's a few tips for keeping your cats cool and safe in hot weather.

  • Give them a thorough grooming session to remove as much loose fur as possible.
  • Keep curtains drawn and windows closed during the day. If opening windows in the evening, make sure your cat can't fall out or escape. I use pet window screens but you still need to be in the room supervising them as they can easily rip it off.
  • Ensure there is plenty of water available in various locations. You can also add ice cubes. *
  • Turn on a fan, but don't aim it directly at your cat.
  • Put out a pet cooling mat. Alternatively, you can use a damp towel or wrap a towel around an ice pack or frozen water bottle.
  • Make sure they have access to shade. A canopy bed is a great way to keep them cool in a catio!
  • Consider keeping them indoors between midday and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
  • Use a pet friendly sunscreen, especially on pale ears, noses and sparse areas of fur.
  • Freeze treats like Lick-e-Lix to make a cat-friendly ice lolly, or pop cat milk in the fridge.
  • Fill a bowl or pet pool with water and some toys to keep their paw pads cool and encourage drinking. You used to be able to get a kitty pool from Zooplus but I think it's out of stock.
  • Do regular cat checks and look out for signs of panting, lethargy and/or glazed eyes which are all symptoms of heat stoke.
* It's best to use your judgement with ice cubes! Mine were so entranced with them they knocked their water bowl over. Luckily I was there and they had another bowl in the catio and a water fountain anyway, but I'd to hate to think of a cat losing their water source this way whilst their owner is out. I've also heard of cats trying to bite the ice which may damage their teeth. Provided you don't have a bitey cat, you may want to just pop an ice cube on the floor for them to play with rather than risking their water bowl being emptied by accident.

Here's Opal staying cool in the 30 degree heat we have currently. She's under the canopy bed rather than on it, but it still works! As you can probably guess from her face I accidentally woke her up from a nap.

Oh and one last thing- remember wildlife that may visit your garden! They may be desperate for a drink so a water bowl outside may safe a life:

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-provide-water-wildlife

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