20-Sep-2018 posted-by My Pet Desire
Summer has already made its presence felt. It is that time of the year when the sun starts its return journey to your hemisphere after a long hiatus. The sun has come all prepared extra energetic to energize its kids, drowning them in sweat and heat.
Summer not only makes living tough for humans but also affects other creatures. Not only are humans made to face the brunt of the heat, your pets are not spared from its effects as well. Compared to canines, your feline buddy cats gain an extra brownie point as they are able to bare heat with much dexterity. The ideal body temperature of a cat ranges between 38.06 degree Celsius to 38.61 degree Celsius. A temperature more and beyond 41.6 degrees is an alarm for your cat’s health. It signifies your cat needs to be rushed to the vet as its body has gotten overheated and needs immediate attention.
We can well understand your concern for your little buddies. This is the right place that you have landed at. Listed below are few tips that can help you to care about your cat’s health this summer. So let's get started.
1. A Walk Into The Green.
As stated, cats have better immunity as compared to its canine counterparts. A walk into the green surrounded by shrubs and plants can be soothing not only for humans but also for the cats. it helps offering cool respite to a cat in the open. Early morning or during dusk when the air is much cooler and the sun is not so fierce is an ideal time to take your cat for a walk. Area of greenery will not only help in providing shed against the fierce heat of sun but would also help to rejuvenate the body midst nature.
2. Make Water Available.
Summer leads to excess loss of water from the body in the form of sweat, leading to increased urge of thirst. Your little pet cat is no exception. In addition to normal thirst due to loss of heat, these tiny breeds are prone to more heat stroke as covered with fur. Some breeds of cats are covered with a thick coat which helps in trapping the heat in the body, blocking it from going out. In this case, taking your furry buddy in the open for a walk lacking any cover can lead to heat stroke.
Providing your pets with enough drinking water for it to sip whenever needed will help it stay hydrated and feel cool. Place bowls of water at places which are more frequented by your pet, making it easy to sip. You can also add ice cubes to keep the water cool.
3. Protection Against Fleas And Ticks
More fleas and ticks are known to breed continuously during summer. Your pets will be more prone to ticks and fleas attack during this time of the year. In order to prevent your cats falling prey to infection, it's recommended to take a preventive measure, which would include the use of powders, shampooing them at frequent intervals and using tick control collars. Grooming your cat will also help in turning its fur place for fleas and ticks to hide.
4. Sunscreen To Bail Your Cat Out Of Heat Stroke
It is impossible for any creature on this earth to save them from the ferocity of sun. Your pets are no exception. This blazing sun’s heat can cause sun burns for your cat. Light haired and cats with light coloration are more prone to sunburns as compared to their darker counterparts. Overexposure to the sun can lead to cancer which usually is seen originating around your pet’s ear and nose. In order to save them out of this, applying sunscreen will help in preventing it from sun burns.
5. Make Your House Comfy For Your Cats.
Placing bottles filled with cold water can be used to keep near your pet’s bed to make it comfy for your cat to sit or lie beside. When the heat turns extreme this can be replaced with plastic bags filled with ice cubes close to your cat’s place of rest.
In case your cat is not able to cope this extreme heat dipping towel in cold water and wrapping your feline in it will help to bring down its temperature to normal.
It is important to understand signs whether your cat is suffering any heat stroke. If your cat shows any of the listed signs, it is advisable to take them immediately to the vet for getting it diagnosed completely. Signs like heavy breathing, excessive salivation, vomiting and nausea, signs of nervousness, high body temperature more than normal are symptoms of heat stroke. Further signs may also include tongue turning bright red, redness of gum, giddiness, weariness, diarrhea and often blackout.
It is advisable to take your cat to the vet for further treatment. Wrapping your cat with a wet towel or placing ice cubes under its place of rest would help in cooling down its body temperature and bringing it back to normal.
