We love summer!
Summer is here! Hooray!!
We love summer! Running around in flipflops, BBQ’s, ice-cream, pimms, pub gardens, going for nice evening walks, the list goes on.
There’s definitely one thing that Eliza loves to do when the sun comes out; find a sun patch.
She’ll lie in the sun patch for ages and move with it as it travels across the room during the day.
What’s not to love? A sun patch is warm, and there’s not much that beats having the sun warming your belly.
But…
What if the temperature is going too high?
Currently, the temperature is 30°C and rising! That beautiful fur coat is not feeling so good in the heat anymore.
We hear all the stories about dogs being left in a hot car, or it being too hot outside to take them for a walk. But, what about cats? They need to be looked after too!
How can you help your cat keep cool in hot weather?
Here’s a few tips so you can keep them as cool as possible (and you can relax and enjoy that BBQ!)
TOP 10 COOL CAT TIPS
Fans – Try placing some fans on a gentle setting at your cats level to help cool them down
Ice cubes – Knock out some ice cubes onto a hard floor and encourage your cat to chase and play with them. It’s brilliant! As they start to melt the ice cubes whizz across the floor and your cat will love it! The ice will help cool you cats paws down and they may even lick the ice or water, so will help keep them hydrated.
Treats -Another trick to try giving the flavoured frozen treats to lick. Dilute some tinned tuna water with more water and either freeze this in an ice cube tray or on popsicles for your cat to enjoy.
Damp Towels – most cats hate getting wet, but they may be ok with a damp towel rub. Wet a towel with cold water and ring it out. Gently stroke your cat with the damp towel to help cool them down. You may just want to try wetting your own hands with cold water and then stroking them too. You can also try putting a damp towel down on the floor for them to sit on. You never know, they might go for it.
Outdoor Shade – If your cat loves being outdoors in the garden, then make sure there’s plenty of shady spots or put up a sun shade, so they can take cover under it to keep cool.
Water – It can be really hard to get cats to drink. But, make sure there are plenty of water bowls around inside and outside in the shade for them to use. Stick to ceramic bowls if you can, other materials can heat up quickly and can start to taint the water’s taste.
Cooling places of sleep – You could try placing a cool pack or ice packs under your cats favourite blanket to cool down their favourite sleeping spot. You could also try a specifically designed pet cooling mat.
Sun cream – Yes, sun cream. Cat-friendly zinc-free sunscreen. Cats are as vulnerable to the sun as we are. You have to be especially careful if you have a fair haired cat, or one with a pale nose. You’ll need to apply sunscreen to the areas with less hair like the ears. Before doing any of this though, speak to your vet to ensure you know exactly where and how to apply it.
Indoor time – If you can, try to keep your cat indoors during the hottest parts of the day to help prevent them from overheating. Just make sure the house is well ventilated and that you are following the other steps to help keep them cool.
Relax – We all love playing with our cats, and we know it’s good for them and us to play and connect, but, on really hot days chill out a bit. Don’t make them run around much, you don’t want to make them overheat. Maybe encourage playing with ice cubes instead!