Cat Health In Hot Or Cold Weather

Cat Safety In Hot Weather

If you live in a area where Summer days are hot and sticky, and you find yourself longing for relief, believe me, Miss Kitty and your cat will definitely be in agreement with you. he/she is no different than a baby! Your kitty can't tell you that he/she is uncomfortably hot. Therefore, if it is too hot for you, it is also too hot for your cat.

During hot weather, it is necessary for you to take  care of your cat’s health so that he/she does not become overheated. You will have to watch for warning signs so as to be able to provide a good living environment. 

If he is bleary-eyed and panting, with his tongue hanging down to his knees, you can rest assured, he is hot. Make sure  that he has plenty of water nearby. His body will tell him when he needs it, and he will go for it.

This is what Miss Kitty recommends.

When you take your cat places during the summer, never leave him/her  inside of a parked car, even if you have parked in the shade, and only plan to be away for a short time. Your car can become as hot as an oven in as little as 15 minutes, even with the windows cracked. 

The next time you get into a hot parked car, take notice of how hard it is to breathe. The same goes for your cat. If your pet will be traveling in the car with you, even for short distances, make sure that cats are allowed wherever you will be, so that you can take your cat inside, and out of the heat.

When the heat index is high, keep your cats inside. Cats that are not outdoors most of the time won’t know where to go to find a cool place, or even worse, they may find a  cooler place and not return home at all. 

Hot asphalt can also burn his or her sensitive paw pads. Have you ever walked across a street or down a sidewalk, without your shoes, on a hot summer day? Your cat feels the same heat that you do.

If your cat goes outside to do his personal business instead of using a litter box, make sure that he or she is allowed back inside after only a few minutes on those hot summer days. Keep in mind, if it is recommended that seniors and children stay inside, it is a  good idea for pets to stay indoors as well.

Keep your cat well groomed and brush him often to help get rid of the excess hair that he is shedding, causing him to scratch and lick himself. If your cat has very long hair or is overweight, provide him or her with an air-conditioned room if possible. Preventing overheating in the summer is key to having a healthy cat.

As always, make sure your cat has access to clean, fresh water. This can be tap water, but should be cool and changed multiple times a day, or a few ice cubes added, when it is hot outside. 

Treat your feline friend like you would one of your children, and he/she will be around to bring joy into your life for a long time.


Cat Safety in Cold Weather

Evey winter hundreds of cats freeze to death because their owners thought that their pet's fur coat would shield them from the cold. Although your cat may have a furry coat, cold weather can still be extremely dangerous. 

Think of the last time you were out in the cold weather, wrapped up in a winter coat, how cold you still felt. Cats are no different, and if you leave your pet exposed to the cold for too long, he or she will definitely develop hypothermia. If left in this condition too long, hypothermia will lead to the death of your beloved pet. 

This is what Miss Kitty recommends.

If you cat is very young, or just a small adult cat, or has short hair, he/she needs to be allowed back into the house more often than one who is older, larger, and has more hair. Never leave your cat out in the cold weather if he/she is recovering from an illness. Also, never let your cat outside if he or she has just had a bath and is still wet, for whatever reason. 

If your cat gets wet, for any reason, dry him or her immediately if the weather is cold, even if you are indoors. Make sure your cat cannot get outside through a pet door, because he may not be able to figure out how to get back inside. By the time you realize that he or she is missing, hypothermia could have taken hold, or worse,  your cat could be dead.

Hypothermia is a medical condition that causes the organs to cease functioning properly when the body temperature drops too low. 

Frostbite often occurs in the extremities, because the body will begin to shut down unneeded body functions in order to keep the vital organs as warm as possible. If your cat has hypothermia, you’ll see him/her shivering, moving slowly, and breathing shallowly. Eventually, your cat will become unresponsive and die. Therefore, it is important to warm up your pet if you have accidentally left him out too long, and notice these symptoms.

Should this happen, take your pet into a warm room and wrap him in a blanket or towel you have warmed in your dryer. 

Whatever you do, don't place him in warm water. If you warm a pet too quickly, the damage could be even worse. Instead, warm slowly. Once your cat starts to warm up, a warm bath could be very helpful, although this is not a good idea if you plan to take him or her outside again to go to the vet.

Remember, calling your vet is always your best option. Animals simply sometimes get outside accidentally, no matter how caring you may be. If your cat shows symptoms of being too cold, you can use these warming techniques to save your pet’s life, and your vet will be able to get you on the right track to helping your pet recover.

Your cat is a member of your family, and should be treated as such.