How do I prevent cat from overheating?

Hi All,

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but I just had some questions about keeping my cat cool in the hot summer months.

Am having a hot week where I am and I do not have central air in my apartment. I have 2 overhead fans and 2 rotating fans going and I keep as many blinds closed as possible when I am out. Just one set of blinds are open to let light in (and he also likes to look out).

I have 3 bowls of water around the house and I also leave the tap in the bathroom dripping on the coldest side. I know his paws are supposed to be cool but sometimes they are a tad warm and he takes shelter under the shade of the dining table. I cannot keep the windows open in the living room (other than just a little) because he paws at the screens and gets stuck and once got out into the balcony.

I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can given what I have to prevent dehydration or over heating.

Thoughts?

Thank you in advance!

It's not a problem I have to face very often (the uk generally doesn't get hot enough for it to be an issue). These articles should help though:-
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/keeping-cats-cool

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/summertime-safety-for-cat-owners

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/what-s-the-ideal-temperature-for-a-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/tips-to-increase-your-cat-s-water-intake

Okay, can you get him a slab of granite? Granite is a special type of stone that stays cooler than the room temperature. I have one, its a chin-chiller but it'll be cheaper to buy one from a local flooring or even Lowes store. A Chin-Chiller is meant for chinchillas but I have one for my cats to use. Also if you keep ice cubes in the cat water dishes that would help. My cats paws are never cool unless it is winter.

Granite is a great idea, and would never have occurred to me.

You can pop the granite (even marble or any other rock) slab into the freezer for awhile until it's pretty cold and then let your cat use it. I suggest laying a towel over the cold slab first to prevent your cat's paws from sticking to the slab (kind of like putting your tongue onto a freezing cold metal pole in the middle of winter and getting stuck) and to keep your cat from getting too cold.

There are gel pet cooling mats you can buy, too.

I wanted to post, this has not much to do with preventing overheating but your kitty may like it. I make kitty punch, I get a can of tuna fish canned in water, put it in a container and then top it over with about 4 cups of water and then let it sit overnight in the fridge, the kitties like it by the tbsp full. Kind of like a kitty beverage to help keep them hydrated.

In extreme temps a few days during the summer months, I will wet a bath towel with cold water, wring it out and lay it down on the kitchen floor. If my cats need to cool down they go lay on it.

When I'm home I have also done the same but with a washcloth and leave it wetter and lay it along their back like a horse They like it and walk carefully so it won't fall off!