Question: It's getting really hot and I have no ac and the boys are super furry and it just seems like a recipe for disaster. Remember, I live on the top(3rd) floor of an ancient building and heat rises. Other than fans, does anyone have any stay cool summer tips for cats that they would like to share?
I keep a towel in the freezer and periodically take it out and let one or both of the kitties lay on it.
I also put ice cubes in their water.
I have fans strategically placed all over the apartment but the cats, mainly Elvis, are intimidated by the noise. It creates somewhat of a breeze, but a warm one if you know what I mean.
I keep the windows cracked when I am gone and wide open when I am home.
Shades always down.
I am just wondering what my options are. I might just break down and get a window unit ac or, and no one yell at me(too loudly), see if they are candidates for a haircut. Has any one out there ever had their pet shaved. Albert's fur is so dense, and his ears and nose get so warm, I just start to worry about him. So, to shave or not to shave, ac unit or no. Any tips, suggestions, or "OMG never shave your cats,"all advice will be welcome. The phone lines are officially open.
P.S. Although it has been in the upper 80's and 90's the past couple of days, that is not the norm for this time of year. I woke up today and and the high was supposed to be 74. I'm probably being overcautious, but whatever. Better safe than sorry. Besides, how cute would Albert look with the "lion" cut? Just kidding. Sort of.
25 comments:
I've never had a problem with the heat (or cold) with my cats. I'm currently in Pittsburgh (my kitties moved with me from Seattle) and they are doing well. They tend to be less active during the day, and as a result, eat less. So, I feed them less. I fill up the water dishes 3-4 times a day, and they drink a lot of water, but they are doing just fine. On the really hot days (85+) I just skip the canned food, and they don't complain.
I say, just wait it out, and they may be really cute with lion cuts, but I don't do that with my cats because they tend shed enough to cool themselves.
My parents don't have air conditioning. They open all the windows at night when it's cooler, then shut them all during the day. It works pretty well (though they have excellent insulation).
One of my friends gets her cat shaved for summer. He's offended at first, but really is much happier without the long hair.
- the other Cori
They will be okay. They will rest on the bathroom floor or kitchen floor when they need to. Do not shave them - that'll make it worse for them. Their bodies will regulate (shed more if necessary) - just be sure they have plenty of water.
Maybe leave a fan running so there is a "breeze." They will be ok - they may not sleep with you in summer (mine don't sleep with me in summer and I have air conditioning living in the south).
I've never dealt with this issue, but I know of people who give their long haired cats lion cuts in the summer and the cats seem to like it.
Maybe get the opinion of a couple of reputable groomers.
My best friend has a cat that gets a lion hair cut every summer. She loves it and feels better. The vets agreed with the decision for the haircut. I agree, talk to some groomers, but cats seem to like it, and adjust to the cut.
My Dear - I worried about my kitties too, as it gets VERY hot here in the summer (Wisconsin). But here're my thoughts. 1. NO haircuts; I'm with Ali. They do shed, they do spend more time inactive. Remember our babies are descendents of the sacred cats of Egypt, and Egypt is HOT! Also, lions live on the savannahs, and they have fur. 2. The "lots of water" is a big deal. I read that they don't care for ice in their water, but I have a kitty fountain that flows all the time - I clean it every week or so to be sure it's clean. I notice they do drink a lot in the summer. Open windows in the cool of evening or night, close them & draw drapes in the deep of the day. People had cats for AGES before A/C was available, after all!
I used to LOVE the heat, and the more humid the better! I was a ballet dancer and we all LOVED dancing in the humid heat because our muscles were just so limber! But the last couple of years I began to actually *suffer* in the heat, so we put a small A/C unit in my writing room (smallest bedroom; only the biffy is smaller). Sometimes the cats come in with me but not always. Your boys will seek out the darker corners, and yes - kitchen or bathroom floors, without carpet, are pretty popular too. My girls like to sit in the open windows on the shady side of the house, even when it's warm. This may be more than you wanted - but I'm sending hugs, because I *understand* your adoration of your wonderful little guys. (Oh - DO ask your vet too, if he or she has recommendations...but I don't think shaving is good; never happens in nature. I'll be interested to see your other comments, &c - and to see what you decide on!
Personally, I think both of your kitties would look adorable with lion cuts. I'm a big fan, though I've never had a cat that I could do that too ;) But, still, remember, I dress up my cats, so I might be a bit 'warped'.
I won't repeat the advice that has already been stated. Good luck to you!
I'm with Dale-Hariet. Nature tends to take better care of itself than human ideas can. We want to help cats with haircuts because they make *us* feel better, which makes lots of sense - we don't shed like they do. They'll get hot, but that doesn't mean they aren't ok.
Err on the side of caution with the water availability. Lots and lots at their disposal. And, do ask the vet.
You're a good mom to care so much and think about these things, Cori. Your boys are as lucky as they are cute.
My cats spend a lot of time in the bathroom when it's hot. They lie on the tile floor or even in the bathtub. I keep the cats well brushed and they shed most of their winter coats. I have a small ac window unit which I only use when the heat is unbearable for me.
Barbara B.
My aunt has a cat who is almost as fluffy as your boys. She generally gets his stomach shaved in the summer because that's where his fur seems to be the most dense, in fact it's even somewhat curly. This way he could find a cool patch of ground to lay on (they lived on 14 acres so he was an outdoor cat most of the time). You may want to consider the same thing for you guys. At first glance they're still nice and fluffy, but they can stretch out on the bathroom or kitchen floor and really appreciate it.
I've always heard that shaving cats doesn't actually help them keep cooler and can actually be bad for them...I just did a search online and here were some people's comments:
* Absolutely not! Cats love the warmer weather and often lay out in it soaking up the rays and if they get too warm they are quite capable of finding a cooler spot. Cats love warmth more than dogs. Leave the cat alone except to groom it with a soft brush. Gently pull back the fur towards you and go the other way with the brush. Be sure you have a brush from a pet store especially for cats. By the way, you shouldn't bath your cat either because their own way of grooming keeps them clean.
* Cats do love the heat and are able to cool down brilliantly by themselves as their fur has been adapted after many many years of existence, way before we were even here, so you don't NEED to shave its fur off.You would only be doing this for yourself not for the cat and that's not exactly fair is it? (unless its been specifically bred to have fur it didn't naturally have by people with a mix of two different species, then it probably needs specialist care and grooming) But bathing them is OK when they really need it IE a little accident which older cats are prone to have, they just don't like baths much is all.
* If cats weren't meant to have fur at certain times of year, then they wouldn't have it. Trust in evolution!
* I have seen what this kind of treatment can do to cats. If you demoralize your pet, it can be detrimental to its health. Loss of appetite, depression and listlessness are symptoms which can mean your pet needs to be hospitalized and put on a drip to keep it hydrated due to the appetite loss.This is an extreme, but another consequence is poor skin condition. Lack of hair can cause eczema and dry skin, and possible irritation when the fur starts to grow back. Think of stubble/shaving rash. Not pleasant. By all means, aid your cat with routine grooming, but leave them to their own devices otherwise. If the summer months are hot, the fur will naturally shed and cats are great at finding a spot that suits them comfort wise.
* I agree DO NOT shave a cat, they are meant to have fur, they naturally molt and produce a thinner fur for the warmer months, leave it be. If you are still unsure check with a vet.
...so ultimately your choice, and I do think you should check with your vet if you are worried. BTW I have 3 cats, one fluffy 15 yo girl who looks just like your boys, and we live in VA. We do have AC but don't use it unless we really have to, and they've always been fine. And obviously do keep out plenty of water! But you knew that ;)
Luckily both of my girls are short-haired so I don't have your worries. I think it is wonderful that you are concerned! I wouldn't know what to do either if I were in your shoes, and I'd for sure ask my vet his opinion. One of my cats is solid black and she LOVES to lay directly in the sun shining through a window. I'll pet her and she's hot enough to fry an egg on. But she continues to lay there.
If you don't have a ceramic or stone (especially marble) surface for them to lie on, you could go to any home improvement store and pick up some tiles. They might even have a few scratched or cracked ones you could get cheaply. Marble doesn't retain heat at all well, so it'd be great for them to lie on.
Just a thought!
I live in Los Angeles, and two of my cats are VERY fluffy. We spent two years in a top-floor, no A/C, south-exposed appartment... we humans barely survived, the fans would only be moving hot air, and the cats would melt on the floor 23 hours a day.
I never shaved them, but I did put down slightly wet towels on the tiles in the bathroom, and they seemed to love it.
If you can, try to get one of those petmate fountains. Cats drink a lot more from those, and since your cats eat dry food (or do they still?), you want to make sure they drink extra to avoid dehydration.
Also, I got them a "canine cooler" bed, which is a square, flat bed that you can fill with water. Kinda like a waterbed for pets! I would fill it with very cold water in the morning, and change the water at night, and the cats would spread on it for a while before moving on to the closets.
But don't worry, my four cats survived temperatures of 100F and worse... wasn't fun, but they didn't get sick!
Hope this helps :)
I lived in Boston on the third floor of a house for many years. No A/C except for a window unit in the bedroom. My two cats did just fine. In fact, when I turned on the window unit, they usually left the room!
Growing up, I lived in Iowa. While we had ac, our cat would prefer to be out in the 90+ degree humid weather than inside with the ac. I've heard from other people that cats don't like ac for some reason. So I wouldn't worry about running out to get an ac unit.
Oh, WOW. Such great comments. I thank everyone for their opinion and for those to come. Wouldn't you know, the weather has been an absolute dream today. Barely 70?
I think A: As cute as Albert would look with the "lion," he probably doesn't need to be shaved. I woulnd not want to add to his discomfort mentally or physically.
B: The water is plentiful around here, though maybe instead of ice cubes, I will stick another bowl or two in the Much cooler bathroom and closet so it stays colder and it's nearby since that is where they both spend much of their time.
The suggestions for marble tiles and the kitty cooler bed are fantastic and i will keep both of those in my back pocket for when the "real" summer heat arrives.
I just have to remember they are adaptable little things and that the person most uncomfortable with the heat is probably me.
For cuteness sake though, I will post some pictures of the WIND MACHINE fan that I got and Albert's insistance on standing with his heiny directly in front of it. Apparently a lillte breeze in the tush works wonders in cooling dow a furry pants like Albert.
If you have any othe suggestions, bring 'em on!
Can't wait to see Albert and the Wind Machine photos!
My big fluffy cat loves his hot weather and goes upstairs to sleep in the sun when I turn the AC on ( vents are closed upstairs so it's warm to hot up there always)...and he follows the sun all over the room until it's dusk...
Other times he plasters himself to the sliding windows leading to the deck...I have insulating curtains drawn and it's like an oven behind them...he loves it!
He loves cold water so I keep a pitcher in the fridge...as soon as I get it out he's ready to drink...
Your boys would both look adorable with lion do's...but hope you don't...
Having had Maine Coons and lived in apartments - plenty of water. Invest in room darkening shades and/or window film to cut the UV rays.If you can, create a cross breeze with a fan at one end blowing in and at the other end, blowing out. Lion cuts on Maines are not a good idea. Unlike Persians with a dble coat, Maines have a triple coat. Fans, tile and water. Good Luck
I shaved my long-haired cat once because her mats were unmanageable. She had to be fully sedated for it because she got violent when they tried to touch her in certain areas.
She totally loved being shaved, I could tell immediately, once she got over the initial shock. I think she felt much free-er and she just seemed far more sociable than normal, wanting to be petted all the time.
BUT, because she's getting older and anaesthetic is always a risk, I try to avoid it (unless it's absolutely necessary, like when she broke her tooth & they had to remove the root).
I ended up breaking down and getting an AC unit for both me and the cats. Best thing I ever did, and I only run it on the really hot/humid days when I sweat just sitting on the couch doing nothing.
A kitty's internal body temperature is already higher than ours, so if I'm uncomfortable and I don't have all that fur, I figure they are, too.
I use 2 twin/double window fans. I can shut the sash against the fan and use curtain spring rods (the oval shaped ones)placed against the side of the window to secure the sash. Investing in a small window air conditioner would probably be more comfortable for you, and for the boys. It does occasionally get hot where you are.
I live in Kansas City where summers are usually hot, muggy and the breeze/wind is hot. Just moved to a 90 year old duplex retro fitted with central air. And double hung windows with the top sash still able to open which keeps the top of the room cooler.
Several years ago I rented a place that turned out to have a very bad landlord. While waiting for the central air to be fixed--only one window opened, 90-100 daytime 80-85 night. I gave my long haired cat Naji a partial shave. I have friends who have Persians and keep them "lion clipped" year round. After talking with them, Naji got a summer clip like Cocker Spaniels get. Along the back and 1/3 down the sides and about 1/3-1/2 inch long, it lets the heat off. He wasn't happy about being groomed so long at one sitting. He was born feral and loved being combed with a hair comb. He never seemed to mind that so much fur was off of his back and part of his sides. And seemed a lot happier with the heat.
Yes, I borrowed grooming clippers and did it myself. I spent years showing horses and fall included giving blanket and hunter clips. Naji was so hot he was panting, it was 10 days before the air was fixed. It's a clip not a shave. The clippers don't make noise but do have a bit of vibration. For peace of mind, check with your Vet.
SUch great comments everyone. I have a lot to think about. Thankfully the Seattle weather has gone back to normal(70-80's) and the boys are dealing with it just fine. They tend to hang out in my bedroom and Albert has taken to sleeping on the glass top of my dresser while Elvis either hangs out on my damp morning towel on in the chilled shade of the closet. So far so good. Thanks everyone!
Our Costco, Home Depot and Lowes stores all have small and medium size free standing cooling units. You might check them out.
Just brush them regularly. Mother Nature helps them shed to manage warmer times of the year.
Your blog is one of my happy places. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cori:
Have you ever heard of the Furminator? It is a cat brush that really, really works. I was thinking about this not only for cooling the boys down but also to keep them from ingesting too much fur when shedding. (As well as in your apartment)
I have been in Seattle when it is 95 degrees and it is completely miserable. Hope the boys are doing better.
I know I'm late to the party here, but I am in the "Don't worry about it" camp. My long-haired, superfluff kitties were born in Portland but we live in Hotlanta now. They both will chose to spend hours out on the screened in porch when it's much hotter than inside. They will also chose to hang out upstairs in the summer, even when it's much hotter than downstairs. So even though all cats are different, I think that the fur does not cause them as much summer discomfort as we think, especially when I see my two make those choices. Relax, and enjoy your 3 months of sun!
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