How to Care for Your Cat During Summer?

It is primary to a cat’s nature to love the sun, seeking sunny spots and sunbathing. However, they are not spared during extreme conditions during the summer season. Excessive heat during the season impacts your feline companion adversely, as they may suffer from overheating, also known as hyperthermia and heatstroke.

Ways to take care of your cat during summer include- wiping them with a moist cloth if not accustomed to bathing. More tips in detail to follow as you read.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Cat During Summer

It is a sheer misconception that cats are less bothered about summer. There may be instances when your cat starts to pant, hide and refuse food due to extreme heat, debunking the myth. Hence, staying informed about what needs to be done in such instances is necessary. A list of 11 tips on summer cat care follows:

Wipe Them With a Damp Cloth in Extreme Heat Conditions
On scorching days, you may try to keep your cat calm and composed by wiping its coat with a moist cloth. You can dampen the cloth with a dry bath spray or water. Hold your cat on your lap and gently stroke its back, head and tummy with the moist wipe. You can do this based on the intensity of heat.
Dip Their Toes in Cold Water Occasionally
Ways of summer cat care occasionally include dipping your cat’s paws in cool water may cool your cat down. Hold your cat gently and slowly initiate dipping its toes in cold water. You may expect a reflex at the very instance, but that’s normal. Hold your cat steady and at a place and keep dipping its toes for at least 5 minutes.
Bathe Accustomed Bathers After Every 15 Days

Most cats may not prefer a bath, but cats may get addicted to bathing once they are trained that way from a tender age. If you have kittens, give them their first baths at four months. Afterwards, continue bathing them after every 14-15 days. The water, however, should not be too cold, and lukewarm water is a safe choice in summer.

You can even use cat shampoo while bathing your cat, and this ensures good hygiene, ticks and fleas free by choosing a flea-repellent shampoo.

Feed Your Cat More Wet Food
It could be challenging to feed indoor cats in the summer. They may refuse to eat properly, developing a distaste for food which they usually love. Try dishes which have a gravy base, or you can give them canned wet food. If your cat is accustomed to homemade food, provide them with a mixture of boiled chicken-chicken liver-tuna-pumpkin-carrot.
Groom the Cats with Long Hair
If your cat is a long-haired breed like Persian or Maine Coon, you may consider giving them a mild trim. Trimming long hair cats is, however, not recommended.
Make sure you have proper airflow and air conditioning in your house
It is necessary to install a proper air-conditioning system in your home to ensure long hair breeds do not experience discomfort in the excruciating summer heat. Failing this, your cat is prone to heatstroke.
Replace the Bowl With a Water Fountain for Cats
You can invest in installing a small water fountain in your house, which is an thrilling way for a cat who prefers to drink water. This will ensure they stay hydrated as they frequently tend to avoid drinking water from a bowl next to their food. You may even try placing bowls of water at corners across your house to ensure they drink water.
Invest in a Cooling Cat Mat
Cooling mats for pets are widely available, and you may considering getting your cat one of these to help them beat the heat. If you cannot arrange a cooling mat, follow the next step in the write-up on how to care for your cat during summer.
Uncover the Floors In Your House
It is usual for your cat to stretch out on kitchen floors and uncovered surfaces throughout the house during summer. You can ensure floors are not covered with heavy carpets or mats that hold heat. Consider removing these throughout the house, making more room for your cat to relax and stretch out.
Keep the Curtains Closed During Day Time
You can consider keeping the curtains of your house closed when it is extremely warm and sunny outside. This may help keep your cat calm. Cool and composed. However, this may only be done when appropriate air conditioning is maintained inside the house; closing all curtains may aid rising temperatures.

Avoid Over-Exciting Your Cat

On sunny days, an active cat may lose energy fast and get dehydrated. You must avoid making them jump or run. Rather, approach relaxed ways for their playtime, such as, you can give them ice cubes to fondle on the floors throughout your house. For instance, you can prepare ice lollies for your cats. Make these by freezing their favorite treat or wet meal. You may even freezing the no-salt chicken stock to give them a refreshing treat that they will love.

How to Prevent Summer Health Risks for Cats?

In order to take care of your cat during summer and prevent summer health risks such as dehydration and heatstroke, administer the following precautionary measures:

dehydration

Symptoms of dehydration in your cats may include poor appetite, weakness, and dry mucous membranes. In serious cases, the eyes may get sunken into their sockets, with a layer of skin in the eyes of cats covering the entire eye.

Consult your vet immediately if any of these symptoms occur. Vets may administer either intramuscular or subcutaneous fluid therapy to restore hydration in your cat.

You may consider giving electrolyte solutions available at your veterinarian’s facility or general pharmacies as an instant home remedy. You can make them drink it with a syringe, lightly placing them on your lap and opening their mouth.