Summer Survival Guide for Cool Cats and Kittens
Summer is full of wonderful things like sunny days, ice cream, and time with friends and family. It is also a time of year when pet safety becomes a little tricky for our furry friends. Being cognizant of seasonal dangers for our pets is important, and Sacramento Cat Hospital wants to be sure all of our feline-owning readers are aware of the hazards that exist.
Signs of Heat Stroke in Cats
Perhaps the biggest pet safety concern in the summer months is the heat. Even for indoor cats, rising temperatures can be hazardous. While dogs tend to get most of the attention here, cats are also at risk of overheating and dehydration.
Heat stroke is very serious and even deadly due to compromise of normal organ function. Signs of heat stroke in cats can include open mouth breathing (panting), drooling, vomiting, restless behavior, lethargy, or incoordination.
If you suspect that your cat may be overheated, move them to a cool environment and seek emergency veterinary attention right away. Heat stroke in pets is nothing to play around with.
Keep your cat cool in the heat by:
- Ensuring that they have access to cool, fresh water at all times
- Providing a shady area to relax (fans can be a great asset)
- Never leaving them unattending the car, even for a short time
- Brushing regularly to remove undercoat that may be impeding insulation against the heat
- Offering frozen kitty ice cubes flavored with a little tuna juice or wet cat food
- Taking special precautions with flat-faced breeds like Persians or cats with asthma or cardiovascular disease
With some extra effort, keeping your cat cool should be easy to do.
Special Summer Pet Safety Considerations
Besides the higher temperatures, summertime is fraught with other pet health hazards to be aware of. Please keep your cat safe this season by:
- Providing protection: Contact us to be sure that your pet is up-to-date and fully protected against infectious diseases, heartworms, and fleas. While this is important year-round, risks tend to be higher in the summer due to increased interactions with other animals and higher insect population numbers.
- Staying safe during social gatherings: Summer holidays, barbeques, graduations, and other celebrations can make your home a bit more chaotic than normal. Be sure that your cat is kept in a safe, secure location if you have people over to keep them from feeling less stressed and to prevent unwanted slips out the door. It is also wise to be sure that your pet is microchipped and any identification tags are accurate.
- Avoiding common toxins: Be aware of common summer season toxins for cats including many household insecticides and cleaners, some over-the-counter flea preventions, and rodenticides.
Stormy summer weather can also be scary for kitties, and creating a safe refuge for them to retreat to can be helpful. You will also want to check your screens before opening the windows to ensure there are no repairs needed.
The summer can get hot, but we know that you got it when it comes to keeping your pet safe and cool. Please let us know if you have questions or we can help in any way.