What temp is bad/good for kitties? (environment temp)

Seems alot of people are getting heatwaves, so I was wondering, what temp is a good temp for kitties? What is too high?

My house is sitting at 81F right now, Kitchi was playing with me and it was only a couple minutes of moderate play and he started panting. Of course I quit playing.....

What are some tips for keeping kitties cool? (especially for those who may not have a/c)

What are some signs that kitties are becoming overheated?

I know panting is one of them.

(sorry if this is the wrong forum, wasn't sure if it should be here or in the health section)

I don't know the answer to that question. I do know cats live in ALL environments, many of them very, very hot, like the middle east.

I think the issue isn't temperature, so much, as it is hydration. In the summer, we put out extra water bowls (and we live in an RV!) - but we go from our normal two to five.

As an aside, when we first rescued Flowerbelle, she was so sick she couldn't do much but sleep (in bed with us). Gary used to carry her to the litter box, and we fed her in bed. We also used to pour water into a bottle cap for her to drink. This became something she loved, and so seven years later, she still asks for her "water treat" as we now call it (usually in the morning, usually waking me up, always by sticking her paw in my face ). I've been so bleary-eyed recently that I've ended up pouring water all over the bed, and I was getting sick of going back to sleep in the damp. So about a week ago I got out a little dish - like something you'd put a small amount of dip into. We have storage boxes stacked next to the bed up to the height of the bed, and a cat bed on top of that (helps create extra space - six cats and two people on a queen size mattress can get cramped (Tuxie doesn't sleep on the bed when more than two other cats are on it.)). I "snuggled" the dish inbetween the edge of the mattress and the cat bed. It's easy to pour the water in there in the morning when I'm not awake, don't want to wake up yet and can't see. This has become the most popular water dish. I have to clean it three times a day and fill it about 10! But I have seen each and every cat that sleeps on that bed just kind of .... lean.... their heads over to have a drink inbetween naps. I don't know what the lesson in this long sidebar story is. ???? Maybe after play when kitty is panting in the hot weather, grab a dish and offer him or her some water, rather than expecting they'll go get some?

Laurie

I've taken care of feral (outdoor) cats for many years, and I know they can tolerate extremes like we had yesterday (112F / 44C heat index) to severe cold (-40F / -42C below with wind chill). But that is only when their coats acclimate over time as the temperature changes.

I personally love the heat, and will keep the house open even when it is over 90F here. The cats just don't play as much and I don't prompt play when that hot. When the A/C is running, I set it at around 80-82, and that is to take the humidity out of the air.

For cooling them down, I have my ceiling fans turned up high and when I replace floors, its usually with tile surfaces, which is cooler than carpet. My cats love porcelain floors and when I've not had them, they were known to lay in sinks or bath tubs. If you don't have any porcelain floors in your house, I bet they would lay on top of a 12x12 or 18x18 tile if they had one available to them. You can find them at home improvements stores sometimes as low as $1 a square.

I also drop ice cubes in the water bowls. Ice cubes fascinate them and they dip their paws in to play with them more often than not.

Originally Posted by LDG

I think the issue isn't temperature, so much, as it is hydration. In the summer, we put out extra water bowls (and we live in an RV!) - but we go from our normal two to five.

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Good idea.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

. When the A/C is running, I set it at around 80-82, and that is to take the humidity out of the air.

For cooling them down, I have my ceiling fans turned up high and when I replace floors, its usually with tile surfaces, which is cooler than carpet. My cats love porcelain floors and when I've not had them, they were known to lay in sinks or bath tubs. If you don't have any porcelain floors in your house, I bet they would lay on top of a 12x12 or 18x18 tile if they had one available to them. You can find them at home improvements stores sometimes as low as $1 a square.

I also drop ice cubes in the water bowls. Ice cubes fascinate them and they dip their paws in to play with them more often than not.

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That is what we set the a/c to as well.

I do actually have some of those tiles, in my snake room. I use them under heat pads to conduct the heat. I might have extra's..... that makes complete sense why Kitchi lays on the edge of the tv stand... it would be cooler than the carpet. I'll see if I have an extra one and put it up in Kitchi's room. Kizzy has lots of non-carpet areas to lay on or bath tubs, but I might put a tile somewhere for him too.

The tiles are a neat idea. I have ceramic tile in the kitchen, and yes, when it's really hot (above 90 degrees Fahrenheit), my guys have been known to lie down there.

I may head back to Home Depot today and pick up some large ceramic tiles... my new 'tile' floor is linoleum... and I'm three floors up, so no ground-cooling anymore.

My ceiling fans are on high now... and once the temp hits 80 outside, the windows will be closed down and the blinds brought all the way down... it's being predicted to hit 106 today here.

Personally, I vote for this thread to continue being added to, and stickied!! That way, folks can add more tips as we discover things that help, and it'll be more findable...

Mods, can we sticky this? Something to that effect?

Amanda

I live in the Mojave, and I live in an RV (well a travel traier).
I do have two AC units and during the day they cannot keep up.
Routinely it gets to around 87f inside and the cats are comfortable, of course these are adults that don't play much until 2am

I keep their 5 gallon homemade water fountain as full as it'll get

Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

it's being predicted to hit 106 today here.



Amanda

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Where did you hear that at? So far all I've heard is that it's supposed to hit 108 today!

Thanks for this thread Snake_Lady I hope it continues to get posted in with wonderful ideas.

I've been putting ice cubes into my kitties water. We have linolium floors in our kitchen and tile in the bathroom. Bean Bean would normally lay in the bathtub if he were hot, but since we have no AC we're keeping a tub full of cold water so that Cody and I can go lay in it when we start to feel overheated.

This kind of weather not only has me fearing for the cat, but fearing for our well being as well. I can't wait until this killer heat wave is over. I wonder how many pets and people have perished so far due to the overwhelming heat wave.

If it is too hot for kitties (dogs, babies whatever) one possibility is to stroke them with a wetted towel, hand, or something, so their fur / skin gets damp.
Preferably with cold water - so it will double work. If necessary - really cold water.



Btw, about kittens and temperatures.

Newborn kittens are very sensitive. Watch out.

If a newborn kitten seems to be stillborn, it may be too cold. ( or you found a couple of weeks kitten moves very bad (the found kittens are also often dehydraded). Thus not seldom it is possible to save seemingly stillborn kitten by warming them up. If necessary, the quickest way may be to immerse them in lukewarm water. Dry them afterwards.

Another important memento, is if you use a heater. For example an electrical heat cushion for the babies. Be VERY careful with this, not too much warm.
Small kitties cant adjust their body temperature, nor move away - too much warm is almost equally dangerous as too cold.
More then one litter had died from badly adjusted heat cushions....

I'm posting a link to another thread with more ideas, for pet relief, though these are for outside cats, many of the tips can be used indoors as well.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=200924

My vet has told me that cats begin to be uncomfortable at 85 degrees.

Having paid more attention since after I posted this thread, I'd have to say that once it gets to bout 80 inside, the kitties start "feeling" the heat, as in, they laze about more often.

I change their water several times a day, so its nice and cold... The kittens will stick their paws in the water

Kizzy will sleep in the bath tub.

And we don't play if its 80 or above in the house.

oh and I do offer wet food more often too. ( i worry most bout dehydration )

This article also has suggestions:

http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/9/Keeping-Cats-Cool.html