– Increased exposure to ticks, worms, fleas and other parasites.“Although flea infections are more common in the fall, infection with all of these creatures - especially ticks and intestinal parasites - is certainly more prevalent during the warmer months,” Dr. Stone, “the signs may not become apparent until several months later, in the fall.” White or lightly-pigmented cats are most susceptible. “While the damage to the skin occurs during the summer months,” notes Dr. The sun’s ultraviolet rays greatly increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that usually manifests itself on an animal’s nose or ear margins and can be lethally destructive. In addition to protecting a cat from heat stroke, owners should also be alert to several other warm weather threats, including: This may entail, for example, intravenous fluid therapy to help restore circulation and correct chemical imbalances. When the cat’s temperature appears to be approaching normal, she should be rushed to a veterinary clinic for a thorough examination and any additional professional care that might be needed. Using a rectal thermometer, monitor the cat’s temperature continuously to assess whether efforts to lower her body temperature are succeeding. Move her to an air-conditioned room or to a room with a fan. While making arrangements to transport the cat to a veterinarian as quickly as possible, the owner should try one or a combination of the following techniques: Wipe the cat’s body with a cool, wet rag, but do not immerse her in cold water. The same is true for brachycephalic breeds - those with flat faces and short noses - who may lack sufficient nasal space to allow for the cooling of inhaled air.Įvidence of possible heat stroke requires immediate emergency care. Densely coated cats (Himalayans and Persians, for example), whose bodies are less able to dissipate heat, are also at elevated risk. Obese cats and older cats with age-related conditions - such as advanced cardiovascular disease - are at greater risk for heat stroke than are young, healthy animals. It is important to recognize that the interior temperature of a car parked in the sun can become dangerously high even on relatively mild - warm as opposed to hot - days. If the overheating (hyperthermia) is unrelieved and the cat’s body temperature reaches 105 degrees or higher, cell damage will start to occur - which can result in kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal dysfunction, lowered levels of blood oxygen, destruction of skeletal muscle tissue, impaired brain function, heart failure and death. She will be inhaling air, the temperature of which, on an extremely hot day or within a confined space, is likely to be higher than the normal feline body temperature - which is typically between 100.4 and 102.5 degrees. When that occurs, the animal’s panting will become increasingly labored and rapid. Unless an animal that is manifesting these signs is cooled down immediately, heat stroke is likely to ensue. “The cat will typically breathe with her mouth open and have a distressed expression on her face,” says Dr. The initial signs of feline heat exhaustion include panting, muscle weakness, staggering, rapid heartbeat, and, possibly, vomiting. And if they are not properly confined within safe homes, they can be at elevated risk for accidents as well as dangerous encounters with other animals.Īccording to Michael Stone, DVM, a specialist in small animal medicine at Tufts, heat exhaustion - a debilitating disorder that can lead to a potentially fatal attack of heat stroke - frequently afflicts animals who, during extremely hot weather, have been confined within an overheated area, such as a parked car with tightly closed windows, and those who do not have access to water.Īlthough he notes that heat exhaustion is “rare in cats, while it is a common problem for dogs,” he nevertheless advises cat owners to be aware of the disorder’s distinctive clinical signs and the emergency measures that should be taken. They are also more likely to come in contact with such noxious substances as lawn chemicals and rotting garbage. They can be dangerously exposed to cancer-causing sun rays. They are more susceptible to assault by fleas, ticks and other insidious parasites. During extremely hot and humid weather, cats can be increasingly vulnerable to heat exhaustion and dehydration. While taking good care of your cat should obviously be a year-round concern, your vigilance is perhaps most necessary in the late spring and summer months, when temperatures rise significantly in most areas of the U.S.
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