by Nomi Berger
 
Picture yourself on a sweltering summer day wearing a long fur coat. Are you hot yet? Itchy? Thirsty? Desperately searching for shade?
 
Now picture your cats on that same summer day. And you’ll have some idea of how THEY feel.
 
Keeping cats cool and comfortable is essential to keeping them safe INside. Protecting them from the hot sun, hot air and hot ground is essential to keeping them safe OUTside. All it requires is common sense and some advance planning.
 
If you have air conditioning, cool down your place as much as possible before you leave for work/play/the day. Draw blinds/curtains and leave the air conditioning on low.
 
If you don’t have air conditioning, place fans in the windows and run them on “exhaust” to circulate the air without sucking in the hot air outside. Keep blinds/curtains drawn.
 
Freeze a bottle of water and place it IN your cat’s bed or place a package of frozen peas UNDER the covering of the bed.
 
Feeling extravagant? Purchase a cat bed that stays cool through low voltage electricity.
 
Store small plastic containers of water in the freezer overnight. Place the now-iced containers around your cat’s other favorite cuddling/napping spot(s).
 
Keep your cat’s food and water bowls out of any direct sunlight, and fill the water bowl with ice cubes to help it remain chilled for hours.
 
Keep activity to a minimum and discourage your cat from playing.
 
For those with a screened-in patio that their cat enjoys, put up shades on the sides that face the sun, set out several bowls of iced water and check on them throughout the day.
 
If gone for the day, consider keeping your cat in the bathroom to lie on the tiled floor or counter top or to curl up in the bathtub or sink.
 
If going on a road trip in a car without air conditioning, place a wet towel over your cat’s carrier or attach a small battery-operated fan to the outside of the carrier.
 
Fill the food and water cups inside the carrier with crushed ice for extra cooling, and use a spray bottle of cold water to occasionally wet your cat’s coat.
 
If traveling in a car WITH air conditioning, keep it on and ensure that the airflow reaches your cat’s carrier.
 
Never leave your cat tethered outside in the shade. As the day progresses and the light shifts, your cat will be directly exposed to the sun’s harmful rays and heat.
 
Never shave your cat’s fur as it offers SOME protection against sunburn. Pale and light-skinned cats MUST stay out of the sun because their ears and the tips of their noses are prone to skin cancer.
 
Never leave your cat in a parked car (even with the windows cracked) for even a few minutes. (Leaving the A/C on with the motor running is an environmental no-no). The inside of a car heats up quickly, making it much hotter than the air outside and can lead swiftly to heat stroke.
 
The symptoms of heat stroke include rapid panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, erratic/wobbly walking, and redder than normal gums.
 
Should you observe any of these symptoms, wrap your cat in a cool, wet towel, and get to your veterinarian or to an animal hospital immediately.
 
Being a responsible cat guardian means being an informed cat guardian.
 
The list of safety rules may seem long, but the hot days of summer are even longer.
 
 

by Nomi Berger
 
Have you ever wondered why your cat suddenly throws herself down and starts rolling around on her back?
 
A common misconception is that a cat’s exposed belly – her most sensitive spot – means belly rubs, paw-lease. Consider then, some of the other reasons behind her behavior.
 
To stretch her muscles: When a cat wakes up from a nap or deep sleep, she will often turn over onto her back and roll around while stretching her neck, back and legs. If this is the case, don’t interfere! Resist the impulse to reach out and pet her or pat her on the head until she appears satisfied, relaxed and calm – or run the risk of being bitten.
 
To scratch her back: An itchy back will often cause a cat to roll around on the ground and rub herself back and forth, back and forth in order to find relief. As with all animals, cats are prone to dry skin and/or parasites such as mites and fleas that live in their fur and are capable of causing extreme itchiness and/or triggering skin allergies. If your cat seems unaccountably and unusually uncomfortable when she’s wriggling about, look closely at her fur and skin.
 
Gently – and carefully -- examine her entire body, including her ears, face, neck, back, bum and legs for signs of either dry skin or parasites. Should you find mites or fleas in her fur, contact your veterinarian for guidance. You may either be asked to bring your cat in for a more thorough examination or be instructed as to which products to use to rid her of the infestation, relieve her discomfort and restore her to good health – and good humor.
 
To seek attention: Rolling around on her back is often a cat’s way of displaying how social and friendly she’s feeling without necessarily “asking” to be touched. At other times, it’s a clear sign that she does indeed welcome attention from and interaction with you. How will you know? She’ll rub her head on the ground while moving it round and round and loudly purr, purr, purring.
 
To initiate playtime: A frisky feline will invariably flop to the ground and roll around on her back, displaying her playful mood to people, other cats and, yes, even dogs. Since cats are proficient at reading their owners’ body language and speech, your cat may roll around on her back when she sees you and your family playing together – whatever the activity. To determine how proficient you are at reading her body language, toss her a small cat toy. If she promptly begins swatting it around and biting it, she’s most assuredly in a playful mood.