Warning signs of heat stroke

As you can see from the above symptoms, death is a short step from restlessness and if you notice any of the above signs, take your cat to the vets immediately.

Many cats are left outside all day long while their owners are at work without any shade to lie in.  Owners are often unaware of the suffering and discomfort they unwittingly inflict on their cats during the summer months.

It is essential to ensure that your cat is not left outside all day without any shade to lie under when the heat gets too much for him. It also goes without saying that no pet should ever be left in a car for more than a few minutes. The temperature inside a car can rapidly rise and become like an oven if it is parked in full sun, making it a very unpleasant experience for your pet.

The vet can diagnose heatstroke by measuring the cat’s rectal temperature. Cats are warm-blooded animals, and keep their body temperature within a very narrow range, even when they are in a hot environment. Heatstroke results when the control mechanisms break down and the body temperature shoots up.

It is vital to reduce the cat’s body temperature quickly, before irreversible damage has been done to the cat’s internal organs. This is best achieved by sponging down the cat with copious amounts of cool water. Follow your vet’s advice to the letter and ensure that your cat is not left outside in future.

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