18/07/2022
🌞🐈HELP FOR CATS TOO🐈🌞
HEATWAVE......Cats enjoy warm weather. They are also good at keeping themselves cool if necessary, with a little help from humans (so perhaps they are intelligent after all). Here's how to help protect them from excessive heat:
🐾Don't let your cat go outside between 10am and 3pm.
🐾Do apply a pet sunscreen, which can't be licked off, to the nose and ears of pale-coloured cats when they do go outside.
🐾Do keep the blinds closed and the curtains shut to keep the house cool for your cat. Keep the windows closed if it is hotter outside than in.
🐾Do let your cat choose a cool place to lie down. They will naturally gravitate towards a slate floor or a fan in summer, just as they will curl up in a warm place in winter.
🐾Do provide your cat with plenty of water, in various positions around the house. Cats often prefer their water to be placed away from their food.
🐾Don't worry if your cat is sleepy during the day. Cats need 16 hours of sleep a day and will sensibly nap even more on a hot day, rather than rushing around getting hotter.
🐾Don't worry if your cat seems to be grooming itself more than usual. This is a cooling mechanism similar to sweating: as the saliva evaporates off its fur, the cat will cool down.
🐾Do pay attention to your cat's feet. Cats, like dogs and mice, have their sweat glands on their paws. If your cat is leaving wet paw prints, it is sweating and will need to replenish its fluids. You can try cooling it down by dipping its paws in water, but this may not always be appreciated …
🐾Don't worry if your cat starts panting. Cats pant more rarely than dogs, but will pant to take on cooler air if they are particularly hot. Heavy panting could be cause for concern. If you think they may be suffering from heatstroke, you must contact your vet immediately.