Keeping Kitties Cool

Summer is just around the corner. This time of year can be sweltering hot here in Louisiana. This is a serious problem for our feline patients! Fluffy is wearing a fur coat, but she doesn’t have much by the way of built-in cooling mechanisms. Panting isn’t as effective for kitties as it is for dogs, and cats only sweat through their paw pads. We can help! Read on as a New Orleans, LA vet offers some tips on keeping your pet cool.

First and foremost, the best way to help Fluffy beat the heat is to keep her inside, in rooms cooled by fans or air conditioning. Of course, we recommend keeping cats indoors at all times anyway, as they are simply safer inside.

Keeping Fluffy hydrated is also crucial for helping keep your pet from overheating. Make sure your furball always has plenty of fresh water. When it’s really hot out, drop an ice cube into your pet’s bowl.

Speaking of ice cubes, try putting one down on the floor before your pet. Kitties regulate their temperature through their ‘toe beans,’ so this is a great way for Fluffy to cool off. Plus, it’s cute to watch! (Of course, some cats will just look at the ice cube and then give you that adorable questioning look. You just never know with cats!)

Brushing Fluffy regularly is also beneficial. Dead fur and dander both interfere with the insulating properties of your feline pal’s coat. Therefore, getting rid of them will help keep her cooler.

Who doesn’t like a cold treat on a scorching day? Offer Fluffy some chilled tuna in water, or perhaps a bowl of sodium-free broth.

Our feline overlords are very, very good at getting comfortable. Let Fluffy have free rein of your home. She’ll naturally seek out the coolest spot to relax in. Just be careful not to let her get locked in a shed or attic!

Kitties always appreciate having a cool spot to snooze in. Point a fan at or over Fluffy’s bed, or put a cooling pack or frozen towel in it, beneath a thin towel. You can also buy or make your furball a kitty hammock.

Please reach out to us, your New Orleans, LA vet clinic, for all your cat’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!