Heat wave + longhair cat = problems!

Hi everyone, 

I hope you all are well It's been a while since the last time I posted, and once again... I am in need of advice!

My Fletcher is a longhair. Last year he was still a kitten, so less fur. Now, however, he's all grown up and fluffy as hell!

We live in Italy and summer is already incredibly hot (peaking at 35°C / 95°F), we don't have AC (not many homes here do, we cannot afford it) but we bought a fan that we usually leave on all day long in our small apartment. However I'm wondering if more radical measures are required. 

I know that some shave their longhair cats during the summer, but I read somewhere that this may cause more problem than it solves. Where do you stand on the matter? What can I do to help my cat cooling off?

Here's Fletcher trying to absorb the cool of the floor and the wall at the same time


Oh, side question: both my cats (Fletcher and Barnaby... Barnaby is a shorthair) are eating less since the heat wave kicked in... is this normal? I didn't worry much since I tend to eat less as well when it's really hot, but I thought it was better to ask  

Thank you all very very much!

Just seeing your thread now!!! I will say that I have always shaved my long haired kitties every Spring. I don't have any long hairs now but still will shave my short hairs in the lion cut in the Spring time. Really helps with hairball issues too. I see nothing negative about shaving long-haired cats at all. Many people take their cats to the groomer regularly to be shaved in the summertime. Since you have no A/C, then I bet your kitties would appreciate the hair cut this year. Not to worry about their appetites being less during very hot weather. This is very common and expected. Too hot to eat much.

Feralvr said:

Just seeing your thread now!!! I will say that I have always shaved my long haired kitties every Spring. I don't have any long hairs now but still will shave my short hairs in the lion cut in the Spring time. Really helps with hairball issues too. I see nothing negative about shaving long-haired cats at all. Many people take their cats to the groomer regularly to be shaved in the summertime. Since you have no A/C, then I bet your kitties would appreciate the hair cut this year. Not to worry about their appetites being less during very hot weather. This is very common and expected. Too hot to eat much.

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Thank you very much!

Both my cats eat less when summer hits in fact that is the only time they will eat food that has been stored in the refrigerator.  One cat is long haired the other short hair.  People do shave long haired cats in the summer to help them, I've never done that and I know my cat wouldn't tolerate it either.  I make sure they have plenty of cold water and they seek out the cool spots in the house - the bathroom sink is a favorite and any tlle floor or the bathtub is also a good cooling station.  Cats natural instinct is to slow down and take it easy.  I've also found my cats laying on a glass topped table.  I'd say that you are doing what is best including using a fan.  If your cat starts to pant, cats do not pant nor do they have the ability to sweat so panting is a definite dangerous sign.  Heat exhaustion is a real danger. Just keep an eye on him/her and don't try to play a lot with your cat in the hot weather.

The cat's body temperature is approximately 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38.2 to 39.2 Celsius.

Looks just like my Eli aww...

It might be time to shave that pussy if he'll tolerate it.

And make sure he has access to plenty of cool fresh water. I know cats are not supposed to like it but some appreciate a splash or putting a damp towel down for then to sit on. During the last heatwave here I slept with/on a damp towel for 6 weeks!

Brush your kitty's fur backward so the air can actually get to the skin

I'm not sure if cooling gels can be applied to insides of the ears. Might want to research a pet safe one.

For a second, I thought I was going crazy because I could've sworn I had posted in this thread. I was thinking, "Where the heck is my post?" Ah, but it wasn't this thread. It was this recent one: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/280240/how-to-keep-my-longhaired-kitty-cool.  Whew....feeling a little more sane now. 

Good luck in keeping Fletcher cool!

Hi. We are in Florida and routinely have temperatures above 95 degrees on a regular basis.  I have had many long-haired cats in the past and never even thought to try to shave them.  I have bathed some of them because of flea control issues, but never because of heat.

Now, should I lose my mind long enough to try any of the above with my current long-haired cat, I better make sure that I have my Burial Insurance policy paid in full, because I would not survive the experience.

My cats get clipped every year in Florida. One of my cats who is black and white had 2 issues of heat stroke all before 10am, and not even in the heat of the day! I have been clipping them since.