Summer Safety Tips for Cats: 6 Ways to Keep Your Cat Happy and Cool in Summer

Hello, everyone. This is Lexy checking in with some important information regarding summer safety for cats. Summer is upon us, and we’ve had some hot and humid days here in the North East. With two months left of summer, (or more, if you experience Indian Summer where you live), I thought it would be a good idea to write a series of posts on Summer Safety Tips for Cats. This first post will focus on ways to keep your cat cool and happy during the summer months, and then I will move on to discuss dehydration, and finally how to tell if your cat is overheated in future posts.

With temperatures in the 90’s and humidity at 100%, Mother worries about our safety and well-being while she's at work all day. She takes a few extra minutes in the morning to do a few things to make us happier and more comfortable, which gives her peace of mind at the same time. Here are six tips to keep your cat cool and happy during the dog days of summer.

Could you put the a/c on? I would, but I don't have thumbs.

Six Tips to Keep Your Cat Cool and Happy 

During the Dog Days of Summer

Air circulation/Windows

• Open windows can let in a nice breeze that can help cool your cat down.  Make sure you have appropriate screens in the window to prevent your cat from getting out. This is particularly important if the window is on an upper floor of your house, or you live in an apartment building (like we do.)

• Lower shades/blinds to prevent strong sunlight from entering and heating up the room. This is how Mother lowers our blinds while leaving enough room for Lola and me to enjoy birdwatching and get fresh air. 

The blinds are low enough to keep the hot sun out, but I can still see to bird watch! 

• Don’t confine your cat to one room, especially a sunroom. We need the ability to move around to seek shade and coolness. A closed up room gets very hot very quickly.

It's getting a little warm in here. I think I'll go tot he bedroom now. 

Air Conditioning

• When the temperatures soar into the 90’s and the humidity is near 100%, Mother leaves one or more air conditioners on a timer. (She doesn't feel comfortable leaving a box or pedestal fan on because we don't have a place in our my apartment where she can keep one out of our reach. I say she worries too much, she says she's being safe.)

• The air conditioner in the living room can be put on the temperature sensor, but the air conditioner in the bedroom is older and does not have a sensor. Since Lola and I spend a large portion of our day in that room she purchased a timer similar to this one that can be programmed to turn on the air conditioner at certain times during the day. This ensures Lola and I are cool and comfortable during the hottest times of the day. 

This timer works purrfectly to keep us cool.

Cars

• This may sound like a no-brainer, but do not leave your cat in a car! 

• Even if you’re just going to “run into a store” to pick something up – think twice.  Temperatures can become unbearable very quickly. Is that loaf of bread really worth risking your cat’s life? Fifty percent of the time that Lola and I are in the car Will is with us. If either he or Mother needs something, one of them stays with us in the running car with the a/c on. If Mother is alone, she makes sure to bring a bottle of water with her, and she always uses the bathroom before she leaves the house, and then again before she leaves the vet's office to avoid the need for any, ummm... pit stops.

I never have to worry about Mother leaving me alone in the car. 

Water

• This is the number one thing to keep in mind for summer safety. Keep your cat’s water fresh and cool. Fountains, like this Raindrop Fountain by Pioneer Pet, keep water circulating so it is constantly filtered, fresh and cool. 

• If you use bowls, make sure to change and clean them frequently. Humans don’t like dirty, warm water and neither do we cats. 

• Put an extra bowl or two around the house to ensure your cats have plenty of access to water. When Lola and I are feeling a little parched, we don't have to walk all the way into the kitchen for a little sip of water because there are a couple of bowls around, in addition to our fountain.

• Try putting a few ice cubes in the bowl to cool the water down. They're fun for us to look at, too!

• Here's a cool Polar Bowl that keeps the water extra cool. Just freeze and fill. Easy peasy.

Cool, fresh water is very important in the summer heat! 

Cool Napping Spots

Both Lola and I love a cozy napping spot. Lola’s preferred spot is her own personal pillow on the bed, while I prefer to change places throughout the day. Here are a few ways to keep your cat’s napping place cool. 

• Place a towel in the freezer to cool down, and then place on your cat’s bed. 

• Use elevated cat beds, like this cat hammock.  How cute is that? An elevated bed will keep your cat off of warm surfaces, and the air passing underneath will help keep her cool. 

• Cooling mats can provide a comfortable place for napping and they’re easy to use. They don’t require electricity and can be moved to any area of your house. 

• I love sleeping in my Sleepy Pod bed, so Mother places this (and another one of my favorite beds) in a cool area of the house to encourage me to nap there. 

I love my Sleepypod bed!

Cool Treats

People love a cool treat on a hot day, and so does your kitty.  Here are a couple of cool (pun intended) treats for a hot day. 

• Maks cat popsicles! Our pal, Summer, over at Sparklecat.com, has a delicious recipe for popsicles that I'm sure will be a hit at your house. 

Our pal Summer of Sparklecat.com shows us the proper way to
lick a cat popsickle. Photo courtesy of Summer and her human.

• Here's a neat idea! you can make a big ice cube for your cat to lick. We can also play with the water as it melts. 

via GIPHY

• I found this neat idea over at Animal Planet. (I just tweaked it a bit for my own taste. I'm sure you'll cat will like my twist.) Place 8 to 10 ice cubes in a blender, add 1/2 cup chicken broth or tuna juice, and blend till it's just slushy (make sure it's not liquid.) Pop it into the freezer for a few minutes so it sets, and voila! You have a shaved ice treat for your cat. (I'd like to add here that you should check with your vet before giving your cat any treats. They may not be appropriate for every cat.) 

I hope you found my tips helpful. With a little planning, you can make your cat comfortable all summer long. Stay tuned for the next post in this series where I will be talking about dehydration.

What tips do you have to keep a cat cool during summer? 

Lexy

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