The Heat Wave Is Coming – How We Help Our Cats Through the Hottest Days

The Heat Wave Is Coming – How We Help Our Cats Through the Hottest Days

Summer is finally here! Finally the outdoor pool or the lake, heading out in the evening without a jacket, and a cool drink outside in the sun! And of course, our cat — THE sun-worshipper of the animal kingdom — finally gets to enjoy it to the fullest. Our velvet paws love the sun, the warmth, and everything that comes with it. Here at the LucyBalu team, we have all kinds of cats — from pedigree breeds to European Shorthairs, from young to (very) old, from outdoor cats to indoor cats. And whenever we swap stories from everyday life with our cats among colleagues, it becomes clear: we all have sun-worshippers at home. Why is that? It's simple, and well known: our favourite pets descend from various wildcat breeds from the Middle East and Africa.

Scientists studied the genetic origins of various cat breeds — and all the so-called "original mothers" lived in warm regions. So it's no wonder that, scientifically speaking, cats simply love warmth and sunshine.

As a cat owner, you know the scene: your house tiger stretches out contentedly in the last ray of sunshine on the couch, or lies happily on the terrace, soaking up the warmth and the mild summer air. If we had to paint a picture of the word "contentment", for us it would be a cat stretching its belly out towards the sun.

But we also know the flip side: a cat that's practically nowhere to be found during the hot midday hours, retreating to a cool corner or suddenly finding the cold bathroom tiles extremely appealing. Unlike us humans, cats don't have sweat glands spread across their body — only a small amount of heat exchange happens through their paws. That's why they need to find other ways to cool down during the hottest parts of the day, no matter how much they love the sun. And just like for us humans, this is essential for their well-being. In summer, cats often shift their active phases even more towards dusk and the evening hours. Owners of outdoor cats often notice their cats wanting to go out mostly in the evening. Or you'll find them lying in the grass under shady bushes. Wild play or romping around? Not a chance, for now!
All of this shows us — especially on particularly hot days, our pets need to have the chance to escape the heat.

So how can we help our cats enjoy the summer without overheating?

• Car rides: Please only if absolutely necessary, and if possible only during the cooler parts of the day.
  Absolute no-go: leaving a cat in the car — not even in the shade, not even for "just a quick errand" (this goes for all living creatures!).
  
• Water balance: Set up and offer plenty of extra drinking spots around the house — this helps encourage our pets to drink more
  
• Brushing: The less fur and undercoat your cat carries around, the better! So grab that brush!
  
• For cats with balcony access: Create shady spots, for example by planting a large shade-giving plant, offering resting places in shaded areas, or even lightly dampening the outdoor flooring — some cats love this cooling effect.
  
• For indoor cats: Is your cat's favourite spot in the blazing midday sun? Then it's a good idea to set up an additional, cool, elevated resting place. That way your velvet paw has somewhere to retreat to.
  
• Darkening the room: On particularly hot days, we should at least partially darken our windows — ideally in a way that still lets the cat peek out from below. It may be hot, but she's still curious

Too Hot to Handle – What to Do in Case of Heatstroke

Unfortunately, cats can sometimes suffer from what's known as heatstroke or overheating. While this usually happens after being transported in a car, intense stress combined with a thick coat and a hot environment can also become dangerous for our pets. But how do you actually recognise when your cat is, quite literally, running too hot?

• Panting: If your cat pants unusually long or heavily, take her to a cool, dark place and watch whether her breathing calms down after a few minutes
  
• Offer water: If your cat can't or won't drink, try slowly dripping some water into her mouth. But be careful — we don't want our velvet paw to choke!
  
• Signs of acute overheating: Extreme panting and hyperventilation, restlessness followed by lethargy, or absolute red-alert signs such as vomiting or difficulty breathing. If any of these signs appear, a vet must be consulted immediately!
  
• First aid: It's important to cool your cat down immediately and slowly, ideally with damp cloths placed on her body. Wiping her down with cool, wet cloths also helps. Please never place your cat in cold water or shower her — this could lead to circulatory collapse. And of course, all of this should happen in as shaded and cool a spot as possible.
  
• Always taboo, no matter the heat: extreme draughts

The Right Water Spot for Every Cat

Set up and offer plenty of extra drinking spots around the house — this helps encourage our pets to drink more. At LucyBalu, we recommend at least two to three drinking spots per household during acute heat waves.