Keeping Your Outdoor Cat Safe in Hot Weather

There is something very funny about cats and sunshine.

The sun comes out and suddenly the cat who has spent the last three days complaining about the weather is stretched out in the middle of the garden as though they’ve booked themselves a luxury summer holiday.

Most cats love a bit of sunshine, and there’s nothing wrong with letting them enjoy it. But when the temperature really starts to climb, hot weather can become dangerous for outdoor cats, particularly during a heatwave.

Cats can become dehydrated, overheat and suffer from heat exhaustion or heatstroke, and because they’re very good at hiding when something is wrong, it’s important that we keep an eye on them rather than assuming they’ll simply find somewhere cool themselves.

The good news is that keeping your outdoor cat safe in hot weather doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple changes can make a big difference.

Make sure there is plenty of fresh water

This is probably the most important one.

Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, clean drinking water, both indoors and outside. If your cat spends a lot of time in the garden, having more than one water bowl can be really useful.

Put bowls in different shaded areas so your cat doesn’t have to trek across a boiling garden to get a drink.

And don’t be surprised if they ignore all of them and head straight for the neighbour’s pond.

That’s cats.

On particularly hot days, you can add a few ice cubes to their water to help keep it cooler for longer. Some cats will happily drink around them. Others will treat the ice cube as a new toy that has mysteriously appeared in their bowl.

Either way, it’s worth trying.

Give them somewhere shady to escape the sun

Sunbathing might be your cat’s idea of heaven, but they also need somewhere cool and shaded to retreat to when they’ve had enough.

Trees, bushes, covered areas and shaded parts of the garden can all provide somewhere to get out of direct sunlight.

Ideally, they should also have access to somewhere well ventilated.

And this is particularly important if your cat is spending long periods outside. They need to be able to decide for themselves when they’ve had enough sun and find somewhere cooler.

Which brings us to one of the biggest things to check…

Make sure they can get back inside

If your cat normally comes and goes through a cat flap, make sure it is unlocked and accessible during hot weather.

They need to be able to get back into the house when they want to escape the heat.

If you don’t have a cat flap and your cat is used to coming in and out, try to make sure someone is around to let them back inside regularly, particularly during the hottest part of the day.

It can be very easy to think, they’re outside, they’ll find somewhere cool, but that’s not always the case.

Outdoor can also get accidentally shut inside sheds, garages, greenhouses and other buildings, which can become incredibly hot.

So if your cat is an enthusiastic explorer, check those places before closing doors.

Don’t encourage lots of activity during the hottest part of the day

Your cat might normally spend the afternoon charging around the garden like they’ve just been given a personal invitation to the Olympics.

When it’s really hot, though, it’s better to let them take things a little easier.

Try to avoid encouraging energetic play or exercise during the hottest hours. Early morning and evening, when temperatures are lower, are much better times for outdoor exploring and play.

Your cat will probably appreciate this anyway.

Although knowing cats, they’ll probably decide that 2pm on the hottest day of the year is the perfect time to chase a leaf around the garden.

Be careful with hot surfaces

This is one that’s really easy to forget.

We know how hot pavements can get in summer, but other surfaces can heat up too. Decking, paving stones and artificial grass can all become extremely hot when they’re sitting in direct sunlight.

And those little paw pads aren’t exactly wearing protective shoes.

A simple rule is to check the surface yourself.

If it’s too hot for you to comfortably keep your hand on, it’s too hot for your cat’s paws.

Try to keep them away from very hot surfaces and make sure there are shaded routes through the garden where they can walk without having to cross scorching ground.

Some cats need a little more care

Not every cat copes with heat in the same way.

Kittens and older cats can be more vulnerable, as can overweight cats and cats with thick coats.

Flat-faced breeds, such as Persians and other brachycephalic cats, can also have more difficulty coping with heat.

If your outdoor cat has an existing health condition, it’s worth speaking to your vet about whether hot weather could put them at additional risk.

You know your cat better than anyone, so if they suddenly seem different from normal, don’t just put it down to them being tired because it’s hot.

Know the signs of overheating

This is the bit we really need to pay attention to.

Outdoor cats can be very good at hiding when they’re unwell, so changes in their behaviour can sometimes be the first clue that something isn’t right.

Signs of overheating can include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, weakness, confusion or difficulty breathing.

Panting is particularly important to notice because, unlike dogs, cats don’t normally pant as a routine way of cooling themselves down.

If your cat is panting heavily or showing other signs that they are struggling with the heat, don’t ignore it.

Move them somewhere cool, offer them water and contact your vet immediately for advice.

If you suspect heatstroke, it should be treated as an emergency.

A little preparation makes a big difference

The good thing about keeping an outdoor cat safe during hot weather is that it doesn’t have to involve anything complicated.

Fresh water.

Shady places.

Somewhere cool to rest.

Easy access back into the house.

Avoiding the hottest part of the day.

And keeping an eye on them.

That’s really it.

Your cat can still enjoy the garden, sit in the sunshine and spend their summer doing all the things cats love to do. We just need to make sure they have the option of getting out of the heat when they’ve had enough.

Because ultimately, we want our cats to enjoy the sunshine without becoming victims of it.

And let’s be honest, they’ll probably spend the entire heatwave lying in the one tiny patch of shade underneath a garden chair anyway.

Because why would they use the lovely cool bed you’ve bought specifically for them?

Keeping your outdoor cat cool in a heatwave

When the weather gets particularly hot, keep checking on your  outdoor cat throughout the day rather than assuming they’re fine because they’re outside.

Make sure their water hasn’t become warm or dirty, check that their shaded areas are still shaded as the sun moves around the garden, and make sure they can get back inside whenever they want.

If temperatures are exceptionally high, you may even find your cat is happier spending more time indoors during the hottest part of the day.

Let them choose where possible.

They are, after all, experts at finding the most comfortable spot in the house.

Usually the spot you’ve just stood up from.