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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Hot cat

35 replies

TheSpottedZebra · 01/07/2015 11:58

One of my cats - 14 yo, fluffy but not crazily so - is really suffering today. Anyone have any genius ideas how to keep him cool?

Obvs he has lots of water in lots of places (which he's been drinking), but he seems to be finding his usual cool spots not enough and he seems at a bit of a loss. I've just laid down some damp newspaper on a shady patio for him, but he looked at me like I'm an idiot.

OP posts:

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TheSpottedZebra · 01/07/2015 11:59

Frozen prawns as mini lollies - would that be a stupid idea?

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TheSpottedZebra · 01/07/2015 12:00

I won't put them on a stick though, I'm not quite that odd.

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IcecreamHavoc · 01/07/2015 12:00

Mine have gone AWOL. They are only little so their first very hot weather and I'm worried about them. Actually, one's just come in. She's three, the other is 4 1/2.

TheSpottedZebra · 01/07/2015 12:06

Aww, they're just totally at a loss in this hot weather, aren't they? Mine keeps looking me as if he trusts me to Make It Better.

He hates water, but has just tolerated being stroked with a (purposefully) very wet hand, so his ears are all damp. Maybe that'll cool him down a bit?

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IcecreamHavoc · 01/07/2015 12:09

Poor things. They probably wonder what is going on. Mine have never seen snow yet. That will be interesting.

InanimateCarbonRod · 01/07/2015 12:10

Wet a large bath towel and put it on the floor. Kitty will come lie on it and it will give him some relief.

cozietoesie · 01/07/2015 12:33

I'm being blamed for it. Seniorboy likes an ambient temperature which permits him to lie comfortably on his electric blanket so today is too much.

Last week it was because I wasn't giving him sunshine on demand - he took it personally. Today it's too hot.

Moan, moan, moan.............

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/07/2015 13:29

I can't find mine either. There's pigeon feathers all over the road so obviously it's not too hot to hunt.

I'd use a damp flannel to cool & comb them at night.

Dh gave ours a golfing umbrella to sit under but he wee'd on it and is now banned from having his own parasol.

chockbic · 01/07/2015 13:32

Jack is either water sprayed or sits in the bath with a bit of cool water in.

TheSpottedZebra · 01/07/2015 13:33

He's so hot that he has accepted me squirting water on him directly, and making his fur all wet. This cat hates water, he runs from the hose before its even turned on.

Poor cat. But on the upside, he is now all spiky and cute.

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chockbic · 01/07/2015 13:35

Do yours ever try and hide from the heat? Under a bed or wardrobe. Nope, can't find me.

cozietoesie · 01/07/2015 13:47

The Lodger had thick fur and I used to stroke-wet him on really hot days. (On the principle that the water evaporating would take heat from his fur as well as give him an initial cool turn. ) He seemed to like it on those occasions.

Dreamiesrcatopium · 01/07/2015 14:02

I have a fan which I mived infront of girlys spot to cool her down. It didn't go well. It got hissed at. Fans are clearly the enemy. Will try wetting her grooming brush...

PumpkinsMummy · 01/07/2015 14:20

Wet a blanket or towel and pop in the freezer, hoping they will lie on it. If they don't like the wet then you can try a frozen hot water bottle wrapped in something. Sometimes the wee buggers don't know what's good for them and avoid all attempts to help them though!

WorktoLive · 01/07/2015 14:27

One of our now sadly departed cats was a long haired one that got very hot and lethargic in the summer.

Once I took him for his teeth cleaning and half jokingly asked the vets to cut his hair off while he was under anasthetic as he was suffering in the heat. They did (it was a sort of lion cut - took his body hair down very short but left head, belly tail and legs along) and he came home and skipped around the garden he was so happy. Wasn't pretty but obviously he was so much more comfortable.

So after that I bought rechargable dog clippers and when it started to get hot and he started to suffer, I would cut the hair off him as much as he would let me - usually took a few goes and he looked a bit of a state, but he was so much more comfortable. He usually had a number 1 or 2 if I remember rightly. it grew back after a few weeks and by autumn, you couldn't tell at all that it had been done.

Corygal · 01/07/2015 14:32

I'm run ragged with Mr Cory today. He's got the arse because I put the fan on and won't sit with me.

Keeps asking me to open balcony doors so he can wee on the apple tree and kill it and howling for food non-stop. Mind you, has been sprawled on back for some time now with all limbs splayed, most appealing.

RubbishMantra · 01/07/2015 14:45

Little Monsieur likes the fan. And when he approaches it, his bat-like ears flap about in an amusing fashion.

MCat's a hider-under-the-bedder.

chipshop · 01/07/2015 14:59

My BSH kitten is hating it too bless him, he's very lethargic. Don't blame him, I'm roasting as well and when I pick him up for a cuddle it's like wearing a fur coat! Don't think he'd tolerate me squirting water on him though.

Corygal · 01/07/2015 15:18

Heheh to the flappy ears, Rubbish. Adorable little cuddler that he is.

Inspired by the thread, I just put out some damp towels to soothe my special little pumpkin. Mr C got up, stalked across them, gave me a filthy look, and slid under the bed. I am now wearing the towels in a Carry-On Up the Khyber-style headdress.

It's bliss doing nothing - watching Horrible Histories and MNetting ideal for a hot day.

MrsBertMacklin · 01/07/2015 15:30

I've just given BertCat a flannel bath. She is more restless than usual, but I had the foresight to close the bedroom windows and curtains when I woke up to keep it cool and she's been lolling in there this PM.

TheSpottedZebra · 01/07/2015 15:34

Nope, fans and wet towels are actually instruments of torture.
Who knew?

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googoodolly · 01/07/2015 15:54

One of mine loves the sun and is currently lying on the fridge, basking in it! The other hates it and has spent the day lolling on the dining room table looking all mournful. I rubbed him with a wet towel which helped a bit but it dried within about a minute!

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cozietoesie · 01/07/2015 15:54

Try wet-stroking Zebra - stroking him briefly with a dripping wet hand. He'll likely not know what you're doing (other than stroking him) but will just feel better.

IrianofWay · 01/07/2015 16:06

We have terracotta tiles in the kitchen and hall. Last night dog and two cats had collapsed all over them - it looked like a pet massacre.

cozietoesie · 01/07/2015 16:13

I have a fairly old house which stays cooler than the outside even on days like today - if the curtains are closed or the sun goes in. I am almost ashamed to admit that the sun having gone in, Seniorboy has gone back to bed - and to his electric blanket. (Which is on for him! )

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