How to keep cat in heat
Even the hottest days of the summer can be fun for you and your feline. Here
are some great play ideas for keeping your cat in heat
Cat is incredibly smart about
finding ways to keep cool the cat in heat day during
the summer. Though they love to lie in the sun from your windows, they also
know when they’ve had enough. That’s why feline heat stroke is rare.
Conversely, the heat day on summer time can mean more lethargic
times for your cat. It’s good to be sure she’s not exerting herself too
much but it’s also not healthy to cease all exercise. So how to find a balance?
To start, make sure that the environment she lives in will protect her from
extreme heat. If your cat spends any time outside at all, make
sure she can get to shade and has plenty of water. It’s also a good idea to put
ice cubes in her water bowl and replace them when they melt, whether she’s
inside or out. Keep her inside at the hottest part of the day, which
is usually between 10am and 2pm, and close the blinds or curtains in at least a
couple of rooms in your house to regulate the temperature, along with keeping
on your air conditioning unit if you have one or a fan. You don’t need to close
them in all the rooms - that way your cat can switch back and forth
between lying in the sun and cooling off as she needs to. This is especially
important if no one is going to be at home for any part of the day. Be prepared
with plenty of cool spaces and fresh water available for your cat. Also keep in
mind that cats spend a large percentage of their time napping. Set up your
cat’s bed in the coolest room in the house, perhaps along with a bottle of cold
water with ice cubes in it (or even frozen) and wrapped in a towel. Or you can
put some towels in the freezer for a few hours, then put them in her bed. These
things can help her regulate her own body temperature. If she has long hair,
you may want to see about having it clipped to improve selfregulation. Do also
keep in mind the risks of sun exposure if she naps in the sun quite a bit. It
may be worth investing in feline sunblock, particularly for her ears and if
she’s got a pale coat.
Fun in the sun Now, on to playtime. If
you can help it, make playtime at the cooler parts of the day, like early in
the morning or later at night. Try a little more creativity in the games and
toys that will help keep your cat in heat cool. For instance,
incorporate water into playtime, floating toys in the sink or a big bowl that
she’ll bat around and try to catch. Or, take advantage of cats’ love for
running water and get a motion-sensitive water feature. Once she figures out how
it works, your cat will love it. Lastly, the feline love of hiding in bags can
be to her benefit for playtime in the heat. Hide some toys or treats that
your cat loves in paper bags (never use plastic or bags with
handles). As usual, she might stay in there for quite awhile and nap. If she’s
been playing for a while, give her some time to rest before getting back to
play. As always, keep your cat in heat unique attributes in mind when
playing with her . If she’s older or has medical issues, she won’t be able to
play for as long a time as a young, healthy cat. Don’t push your cat to the
point of panting or breathing too hard and make sure she drinks plenty of cool
water. You know your cat best - take care of her just like you take care of
yourself.
