Recently I
published an article at a social media website that addressed the
temperature tolerance of an outdoor/indoor cat, the post pointed out that all cats need shelter when temperatures soar and that they all suffer from heat stroke.
The interaction on
this post indicated that cat owners assume that cats can tolerate
extreme heat and that heatstroke and other serious complications are
not a concern. One particular
commenter stated that their air conditioner was broken and they left
the housecat home alone when they went to a hotel because the
temperature change in their apartment was unbearable for humans but
they felt it was okay for their cat.
Well let me tell
you this comment was the furthest thing from the truth. A cat that
is accustomed to air conditioner will suffer when the temperature
changes to extreme heat. Even an outdoor cat that is used to hot
summer weather will suffer when the heat is extreme.
The person who left the comment in question mocked their spouse when they returned from the hotel and
found the cat lying on their side, panting on the carpeted floor. She also noted that the cat had vomited. This cats lethargic appearance was red
flag that cat was in distress. The husband wanted to soak the cat
in cool water, to try to bring that cats temperature down and this
would have been the right thing to do, as long as he did not get
water on the cats face. Heat stroke is serious and a trip to the
veterinarian for treatment would have benefited the cat.
Know that if the
cat owner left the bathroom door open and installed ceiling fans to
circulate some air and left several bowls of water for the cat, then
kitty would have tolerated the temperature change in the home better.
Personally I never would have left the cat in a home that had
extreme heat because cats do suffer when the temperature changes;
cool house to temperatures in the mid 90's Fahrenheit is too hot for
a housecat that is accustomed to air cooled home.
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