Como ajudar o seu gato a lidar com o calor
As we approach the middle of summer and the temperatures really begin to soar, spare a thought for your feline friend who may be suffering the effects of the heat much worse than you are…
Cats sweat through their paws so it can be difficult to detect when a cat is getting too hot. You may notice them groom themselves a lot more than usual because as the saliva on their fur dries and evaporates it aids in cooling them down. If it reaches 90 degrees (F) indoors, your cat will begin to pant, which is a sure-fire way to tell that they are really feeling the heat.
The best thing you can do for your cat when it gets really hot is to have a constant supply of cold, cool water and that there are plenty of shady locations for your feline to hang out in. In addition, there are some other methods you can adopt to help keep your kitty cool.
Tips for keeping cats cool
Cats sweat through their paws so it can be difficult to detect when a cat is getting too hot. You may notice them groom themselves a lot more than usual because as the saliva on their fur dries and evaporates it aids in cooling them down. If it reaches 90 degrees (F) indoors, your cat will begin to pant, which is a sure-fire way to tell that they are really feeling the heat.
The best thing you can do for your cat when it gets really hot is to have a constant supply of cold, cool water and that there are plenty of shady locations for your feline to hang out in. In addition, there are some other methods you can adopt to help keep your kitty cool.
Tips for keeping cats cool
- Wrap a bag of frozen peas or ice in a towel and place it somewhere for your cat to lie down on. The peas and ice move about and is quite comfortable for your cat.
- Place a pan of ice in front of a fan and let it blow in your cat's direction, providing refreshing cool air.
- Dampen some towels for your cat to lie down on.
- If you have a long-haired cat, get them a summer suitable haircut, particularly on their bellies so they can cool off by lying on tiles.
- Esfregue seu gato para baixo com as mãos molhadas ou toalhas de papel molhadas.
- Groom them regularly to get rid of any hairballs. Grooming also helps to keep them cool.
- Make an alcohol/water mix that you can rub them with.
- Let your cat stand for a few minutes in 2 inches of cold water - they might not enjoy it at first though!
- Keep your cat calm and don't get them to exert themselves too much.
- Buy an automated water fountain or at least have a few bowls of fresh, cool water dotted inside and outside your home.
- Play a game by getting your cat to chase ice cubes on the floor - fun and cooling at the same time!
- Para alguns proprietários do gato, seus gatos do superaquecimento poderiam recusar beber a água, fazendo sintomas da desidratação muito mais maus. É muito importante que seu gato mantem sua entrada fluida acima assim que você pode ser forçado a começ involvido. Você consegue isso preenchendo um conta-gotas ou seringa com água e solte um par de gotas no canto da boca do seu gato. NÃO atire na água em seu porque você pode causar-lhes para sufocar ou para a água para entrar em seus pulmões vez.
A special mention goes to owners of white cats because they are the most at risk of becoming sunburnt and potentially developing skin cancer, particularly on their ears and nose. If you own a white cat, keep them out of the sun as much as you can and apply sunscreen to their most vulnerable areas. You can speak to your vet to get a recommendation on a cat-friendly sunscreen.
More than just hot: heatstroke
Your cat's temperature should be between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees (F). You would have to use a rectal or ear thermometer to check on this as that's the only way. If your cat gets very overheated they could be in danger of developing heatstroke...
Heatstroke é uma febre provocada pela falha do sistema de regulação de temperatura normal do corpo devido a estar em temperaturas excessivamente altas. Pode ter efeitos desastrosos, incluindo disfunção orgânica, por isso, se você suspeita que seu gatinho é mais do que apenas um pouco quente, levá-los ao veterinário para assistência imediata para que sua temperatura corporal pode ser regulada e receber líquidos IV.
Sinais e sintomas de insolação incluem:- Dehydration
- Panting
- Salivação excessiva
- Respiratory distress / hyperventilation
- convulsões
- Congested mucous membranes
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Dazed state
- Coma
- Vomiting or diarrhoea with blood in it
- Anxiety or pacing
- Letargia
- Dark red gums
Note: If your pet has heatstroke once, it is possibly more susceptible of developing it again.
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