Help Your cat Beat The Heat Part 2....

Sunburn:


White cats or cats with white ears and faces, are particularly susceptible to sunburn.  Over a period or repeated exposure to the sun can cause squamous cell carcinoma, , a cancer found most often on the tips of the ears and nose.  Early signs area sore that does not heal, or that bleeds.


White cats should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible and  if they must be in the sun, you can help them prevent sunburn by using a sunscreen on their ears and noise.  our veterinarian can recommend one which will not be harmful if ingested.


The sun is a powerful giver of life.
Still worshipped by people  all over the world.
It is not always your cat's best friend.    

Help Your Cat Beat The Heat..Part 1

You know the drill, the sun is blinding relentlessly beating down . If you do not have air condition  you seek out shady spots and sigh in relief from the slightest breeze, otherwise you  huddle inside.
Your thirsty body craves fluids, and the beverage of choice.

Consider this before you ever reach that point, your cat may also be showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Cats can also be affected by heat stroke. Cant's cannot always tell you that they are not feeling up to par, but they can show you .  Early symptoms of heat stroke and the accompanying  dehydration are:

Painting
Anxiety, possibly demonstrated by pacing
Increased heartbeat
Respiratory distress of hyperventilation (Breeds with flat noses may exhibit this earlier
because of compromised airways.)
Dark red bums
Lethargy
Increased Internal  body temperature.
Your cat's internal temperature should be between 100.5 ' and 101.5' F. 
Or more is a definite warning sign.

You can help your cat survive extremely hot weather by keeping him or her in a cool interior room.  Rubbing them down with a damp cloth will help, so will immersing their feet in a tub of cool water.
Wrapping a plastic bag of frozen peas in a towel and placing it in his or her bed for a cool spot to lie.  The peas will rearrange themselves to fit the contour and they will have a custom spa for cooling off.

The optimum water bowl for your cat is an automatic water dispenser. 
There are a  of them which we offer at our store location.  Drinkwell Pet fountains and stone are the best on the market.
Stop by and check some of them out.

If you cannot afford the automatic water dish.  Make sure your cat  has several bowls of cool water available.  It does not hurt to drop an ice cube in once in awhile not only to cool the water but to pique kitty's interest in drinking.

Strangely enough, cats affected by external heat may refuse to drink water.  Exacerbating the problem of dehydration, so you may want to force water by using an eyedropper or syringe,  Be careful not to shoot the water down their throat as it can enter their lings an cause choking.  Just dribble a drop or two at a time in the corner of their mouth, which will help hydrate them and draw their interest           to drinking on their own.