Keeping Cats Cool

June 18, 2026

Keeping a Cool Cat When Temperatures Soar

June McMahon

Summer can be a dangerous season for pets. Cats are no exception, and their ability to sweat does not come easily. With sweat glands only on their paw pads, lips, and chin, the process is not very efficient. By ensuring your cat has in place the following comforts, your feline can have a happy, fruitful summer of love, play, and cuddling.

Learning about the things you can provide and do for your beloved pet is important to keep them comfortable in the upcoming hot days and avoid some emergency hardships. You can take these precautions to keep your cat from overheating:

• Keep fresh, clean, and cool water available at all times, and make sure your pets have easy access, with no furniture or debris blocking the bowl. It is best to put out several bowls around the house. Some cats prefer drinking from wide bowls or even the motorized water fountains you can find online or in local pet stores. Cats always prefer fresh water, and a good fountain can keep water fresh with circulation.
• Create cool resting places. Cats will naturally seek them when the temperature is elevated. These include shaded spots indoors, away from a sunny window. Use curtains or shades. Tile and linoleum floors are a favorite! Provide a fan or cooled room with easy access. An empty corner, with nothing occupying the space, can be refreshing. Bathroom floors are also a favorite in excessive heat.
• Never leave a cat or any pet in a parked car. It can become dangerously hot in minutes, even with cracked windows. A parked car can add 30 to 40 degrees to the outside temperature in minutes. If it is 70 degrees outside in the elements, that car can increase to 100 degrees or more. Even in the shade it can become much too hot to avoid heat stroke. Dark-colored cars absorb heat even faster.

Grooming your cat can help too. Brushing on a regular schedule (at least every other day) takes away that hot and heavy excess hair and helps air to circulate through their coat. Longhaired cats get hotter and need that brushing more. Shaving a cat can help relieve heat on the body; however, you must keep in mind that the coat also protects them from sunburn. (Never force-hold your cat, or let children do so, while shaving.)

If you must separate two cats not getting along, be sure all of these precautionary measures are taken in both of their respective areas.

If you are caring for outdoor cats, who have no choice but to deal with the heat, you can help make them comfortable as well. Of course, being very intelligent, outdoor kitties will seek the coolest place in order to protect themselves.

If you are caring for feral and/or free-roaming community cats, assist by allowing them the use of your porch or deck areas. Room permitting, an insulated cat house would be appropriate. This movable item can also be placed in an out-of-the-way corner of your yard for more shy felines, and they can be cool and safe there.

Of course, provide water. You can put ice cubes in the water bowls to help them stay cooler longer. It is best to use heavier bowls (not a reusable whipped-topping container). Heavy bowls won’t tip with hard wind or be turned over as easily by several cat bodies rushing for water at one time.

If all these things are provided but a cat chooses not to use them and is experiencing a heat stroke, here are some signs to look for:

• Rapid breathing or panting. Those that are not aware may think panting is cute or funny, yet it could mean the cat is getting into dire straits. Cats do not sweat through their mouths, but panting will help with heat dissipation.
• Drooling can be another sign, but it is not sweating.
• Lethargy or weakness; floppy when picked up.
• Vomiting can be just liquid or have food particles included. Vomiting along with heat stroke means it is quite urgent to see a veterinarian asap.

Heat stroke can lead to dehydration in your cat.

What You Can Do Immediately

Move the cat to a cool spot inside, or a shaded area if not a house cat. Avoid all sunlight.

You may observe wet paw pads or increased grooming attempts. The saliva from their grooming habits is a cat’s natural cooling process. When you see a cat not in distress and grooming itself, don’t think it is a heatstroke.

Never submerge the cat in cold or ice water. Use a damp, cool (not ice cold) towel to place over the body and especially the paw pads, neck, and ears. Do not cool the cat down too quickly. This can lead to blood vessel constriction and will keep the heat from releasing as needed.

Offer cool water. In this case, using a small, shallow dish is best, something the cat can reach without too much effort. Seek veterinary care immediately.

Also, please be aware that cats do not like stress any more than humans do. It can make us all more susceptible to disease and can cause overheating. Like us, cats become stressed for many reasons. Crowding, confinement, being handled too much, fussed over, or bothered all can stress cats and are some of the reasons cats in a shelter may become ill. That can also happen at home. Children often can stress pets, though unintentionally.

Learning to think like a cat and learning cat behavior are things a human can do to help prevent stress and give their pet a happy life. Learning why your cat does what he does and what it means for you is fun and worthwhile. Remember this: Everything a cat does makes sense to the cat!

Further reading on this topic:

https://www.alleycat.org/heat-wave-tips-to-keep-cats-cool/

https://www.aaha.org/resources/cool-cats-summer-safety-tips-for-outdoor-cats/

https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-keep-cats-cool-in-summer/