Kitties living in truck are here!

Hi all,

I posted about a guy living in his truck with his five cats a couple of weeks ago. I never heard from him so yesterday, seeing that it was going to be around 95 degrees for five days, I called him and offered to babysit his cats while it's this hot. I think he was a bit reluctant at first as he's never been away from his cats for ten years but he recognized that being in a truck in 90 degree weather is really hard on a cat so he came to look at my spare room that they'd stay in while here. He finally agreed to leave them here at least until tomorrow.

They aren't going to stay here for any longer period of time. Just while it's really hot. My idea is to have him drop them off in the morning on hot days and pick them up in the evening when it's cooler. If it remains hot in the evening they can stay overnight. I'm hoping that he'll let them stay here for the next five days while it's hot and just come visit them in the afternoon. He doesn't want to be away from them too long but I'm hoping he'll be okay with it if he can come visit them. It's going to be way too hot for them to be in the truck even in the evenings now so I really don't want them to spend the nights in the truck right now.

The poor cats were all panting when they came. They have a fan and open windows but it's still pretty hot. One of the cats were panting and breathing fast for a while after they came inside but now they all seem okay. Two of them are being super friendly and have made themselves at home already but the others are a bit nervous. Two of them - two pretty big boys - have squeezed themselves into the same carrier. But they are safe and sound...and cool!

Awww bless your heart, thank you for doing this, you are an Angel

My cats didnt do well with the cool pads but due to circumstances look into the gel pads that you soak.  they stay moist but alot cooler...got mine under 10 a mat.  Also send them back with some water bottles that were froaen-sure he will enjoy them around body and cost about nothing to refill from the tap and a few gallon jugs you can refill from tap to to ensure plenty of water/can always cool them down that way.
 

Also those metal sun shades from dollar store help alot. I have some up in house tokeep it cooler as no central A/C.
 

HOW extremely sweet, kind, loving and very generous you are OMG those poor kitties - in this heat - it is awful. Mega vibes for this man - I do remember you telling us about him before.

Unfortunately the kitties are back in the hot truck now. The guy came and picked them up yesterday afternoon. I tried, without being pushy, to get him to leave them here during the five day heat spell we're in but he wanted to take them with him. I understand that he misses them and want to have them with him while he's off during the weekend. But it's hotter than hell out there and the cats would be much better of inside in an air conditioned home for the time being. I felt so bad for them when I brought them back down to the truck and the heat in there. When he picked them up it was in the upper 80's but just an hour or so later it had gotten up to 96 degrees and I couldn't stand being outside for any more than a few minutes. I can't imagine being inside a truck with just a little fan and a cracked window to keep you cool. It must be horrible for all of them.

I told the guy that he's welcome to bring his cats back any time and they can stay as long as he likes while it's hot outside. It's going to be 99 degrees here on Monday and Tuesday so I really, really hope he will bring them back then. Do you guys think I should call him and ask if he wants to bring the cats on Monday or should I just wait and hope he calls me? I don't want to be pushy and force help on him that he doesn't want. But then again I don't want the cats to suffer which they will inside the truck. It's tricky.

If it was up to me I'd keep the cats here or find another foster home until he gets a place to stay but he would never go for that. The poor guy doesn't have any family, just the cats and he's clearly very attached to them and them to him. I just wish he was okay with keeping them here while it's really hot outside. He's welcome to come here and visit them as much as he wants while they're here, which I told him, but I guess it's not the same.

What do you guys think I should do? Should I be a bit pushy to get him to bring the cats here or should I just leave it up to him and hope for the best? Or is there another option? I'm planning on getting him a cooling bed for the cats but that won't be sufficient when it's 99 degrees. I just feel so bad for these little guys and I just wish that I could help them more. Any suggestions are welcome.

ETA: What kind of cooling beds are best?