Hot Desert Weather - Feral-Born still choose the outside enclosure with the 110 degree weather

Topic: Tummy Hair Loss - Due to Heat?

Briefly:  

Cats Background:  I have a feral-born family that has an outside enclosure with free access to the A/C room inside.  This year, with the Daddy gone, the rest of the family (mommy and two offspring) seem to prefer the outside enclosure where the heat is well over 105 degrees on the average. 

(The Daddy of this family died due to FIV complications - he was part Maine Coon and needed to be inside with the A/C so the others stayed inside with him.)


The cats are still feral - I haven't had time to socialize or spend time with them (ugh)!   I write this because getting them trapped to take to the vet isn't going to be an easy task for me - so I thought I'd get Members' thoughts on what I may be facing.

We have 12 cats - rescued- inside our house, and 5 outside.  I've made my house into zones - separating cats according to disposition, food needs, health issues.  Probably just a little better than living outside or in a caged enclosure.

The enclosure does allow exposure to other cats.

About July I noticed that the young female's tummy was shedding a lot.  Other than that, no symptoms, no unusual grooming that I noticed.  Realizing that all three of them were preferring the heat I believed it was her body's way of staying cool.

In mid-August - her mommy started showing signs of shedding the fur on her tummy as well.   Her mommy, Gigi, will enjoy brushing and I have been able to handle her a little.  One time I was brushing her and I ran my hand along her tummy and it was all prickly - stubble-like.

I've been watching her and I'm not observing anything I think is unusual - it's hard to catch her in a position where I can get a good look.

I'm trying to research hair loss and coming up with some interesting information - none address hair loss due to the heat.

I realize the vet appointment may well be in our future, but I'm thinking on waiting to see what happens when the weather cools off  - unless something obviously wrong begins to happen then an appointment is in order before the weather changes.

Meanwhile - if you live in the desert and have noticed something like this with the cat(s) you care for, I'd like to hear from  you.

I have two boys in a totally outside enclosure.  Their fur gets less dense in summer but I've not noticed patches or particular areas of their bodies.  Hope it is just the heat and not something serious.

Odine - this is my hope, too.

They are laying on their backs a lot with their tummies up where air can get to them - I guess it's cooler that way.  I do know that they perspire through their toe pads, so laying upside down will also help them cool off, too, I guess?

Even the cats inside are laying on their backs a lot - we keep the inside temp around  80 degrees.  Sounds warm, but when it's over 110 degrees outside, even  80 degrees is cooler.

We usually don't have New Jersey's humidity - but this year we have the heat AND the humidity which makes it feel hotter and harder to cool off.  I offer the outside cats ice bottles (clorox bottles with frozen water inside) and a few of them take advantage of them but Gigi, Pippy, and Jr. didn't seem to want them - well, they can come inside if they want, too.

Thanks for your reply!

g

P.S.  I did get a pic of them around the bottle, it's hard to make out, but maybe you can still see them.  I took the pic from the inside, looking down on them.  The "enclosure" cats enjoy the company of the "outside" cats and they usually lay in the same location - some on the outside of the enclosure, and some on the inside.  Maybe you can identify the white bottle with the cats laying around it. (?)

Cats originated in dry arid climates; one of their physiological quirks still to this day is their low thirst drive.  So, to my mind, it's not really such a stretch to attribute their desire for heat to the same thing.       

Just be sure to leave a water dish out, and make sure they get some extra hydration with their food.

BTW - I meant to tell you your enclosure rocks!

Furmonster Mom said:

 
Cats originated in dry arid climates; one of their physiological quirks still to this day is their low thirst drive.  So, to my mind, it's not really such a stretch to attribute their desire for heat to the same thing.   

   

Just be sure to leave a water dish out, and make sure they get some extra hydration with their food.

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Thanks.   

I see you are in a desert area, too - have you had any experience with the loss of tummy fur in order to adapt to the heat?

Ondine said:

 
BTW - I meant to tell you your enclosure rocks!

Click to expand...

Thank you!  

I wish we could have designed it so that the outside cats couldn't have contact with the enclosure cats because of the possibility of spreading diseases. 

Anyway - the outside cats climb all over the enclosure.    I put boxes on the top of it  - for them to nest in - sometimes when a strange cat shows up they climb up there using the top of the enclosure as a "safe place" - I never had an idea that a cat would climb up there - I'm always surprised at what they can do - that's why I have a double lock on the enclosure.  lol

 

Originally Posted by GloriaJH  

Thanks. 

 

I see you are in a desert area, too - have you had any experience with the loss of tummy fur in order to adapt to the heat?

Click to expand...

Our cats are primarily indoor furmonsters (too many dogs and teenagers "out there" for our comfort).  The only one who goes out is our older gal, who stays on the patio.  I think the heat helps her arthritis as well.  She hasn't LOST any fur per se... but it's not quite as thick as it was when we lived in cooler climes. 

There are a few other factors to that as well, breed and diet are the top two things I think of when it comes to coat condition.  Belle is a Birman, known for their silkier coats compared to their Persian cousins; and we feed a raw diet, including egg yolks, which are great for skin and coat condition.  You could always supplement a bit of Vit. E or Fish Oil, as well.... if you can get them to take it. 

Perhaps this info will be helpful to someone in the future.  

With the cooler weather, she is beginning to get her tummy fur back - so, I'm thinking that her body was doing what it needed to do for her to stay cooler.

Interesting.  I'm glad that mystery is solved!