10/03/2026
Your cat’s contribution to heat wave preparedness: seize the fan, sharing excluded. Yours? Keep the rest of their heat wave defenses working overtime.🐈⬛🪭
Here's how:
🪭 Cats can find fans irresistible, like Naobi Molinari Supervise them around fans, keep cords out of reach and blades securely guarded, run the AC, and close the shades to keep things cool.
💧Keep fresh water everywhere your cat has access, and in the shade. Since many cats prefer moving or cool water, try a fountain, change the water frequently, add ice cubes to keep it cool
🚰 If your cat enjoys drinking from a faucet, supervision is a must.
🪑 Cats can cool off on cooling mats, damp towels, tile, hardwood floors, in empty bathtubs, showers, sinks, dark rooms, and under chairs.
🧊 Wrap a frozen water bottle in a towel and place it near your cat’s resting area—never directly against your cat.
💦 Use damp towels to pat their tummy, paws, armpits, chin, ears, and other areas with little to no fur. Do not wrap or cover
🪮 Brush your cat frequently, as matted fur can trap heat.
them.
🧊 Ice cubes can also be fun swatting toys!
🌅 Limit outdoor activity to cooler mornings and evenings.
🚪 Close off conservatories, greenhouses, sheds, and garages, as they trap heat.
📦 Create shaded outdoor resting areas with cardboard boxes placed on their sides.
🧴 Cat-formulated sunscreen can protect noses, ears, paws, and areas with little to no fur. Paw wax can protect paws from hot surfaces. Ask your vet for recommendations.
🚗 Never leave your cat in a parked car, even with cracked windows or in the shade.
🐱 Take extra precautions with kittens, seniors, overweight cats, flat-faced breeds, and cats with heart or respiratory conditions.
🏥 Signs that may require immediate veterinary attention include agitation, rapid or open-mouthed breathing, excessive panting or drooling, lethargy, weakness, skin hot to the touch, pale or bright-red gums, glazed eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, slow bounce back of skin, seizures, and collapse. When doubt or if you're unsure call your vet!
