Cats Can Overheat!

Sure, there are a lot of kitties out there that won’t miss the chance to lounge and relax in a sunbeam but do keep in mind that cats can overheat. That’s right: kitties can develop hyperthermia.

Also, it is important to realize that your kitty can sweat only through her paw pads when she gets too hot. Other than that, she can pant to try to regulate her body temperature when she gets overheated.

It is important to keep an eye out for signs that your pet needs to be cooled down as soon as possible. Failing to do so could cause the condition to worsen, leading to serious problems like seizures, organ damage, coma, or death.

What are some of the signs that your cat is overheating?
When your cat begins to feel overheated, it starts off as heat exhaustion but could become heatstroke.

Keep an eye out for symptoms like the following:

• Panting
• Sweaty paw pads
• Restlessness
• Drooling
• Rapid breathing
• Fast pulse
• Lethargy
• Stumbling
• Vomiting
• Red mouth and tongue
• Elevated body temperature

Take steps to prevent your kitty from overheating

Never leave your cat in a vehicle on a hot day, as this would easily become a life-threatening situation. Otherwise, you don’t generally have to worry about your cats if they themselves seek out a stifling hot area.

If your cat spends time outside on hot days, though, make sure she always has access to cool areas that are shaded, and give her plenty of clean water that she can drink whenever she wants. Better yet, let her in your house so she doesn’t run the risk of overheating.

In the same way that you wouldn’t leave your cat in a hot car, avoid keeping her in an area of your home that gets too hot. Give her a cool place to move to when she feels the need. And if your home becomes too hot for any reason, such as if your air conditioner breaks, take your kitty to a cool, safe place with the rest of your family.