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

Original poster

Cats and the heat

28 replies

NickMyLipple · 18/06/2017 23:16

I'm really worried about Dennis - not sure if it's heat related or if he's poorly...

Earlier on today I noticed him breathing fast and sticking his tongue out. I assumed he was really hot and bothered. He's been fairly chilled out today but has still played in the garden.

We went out earlier this evening and have got home and he's breathing really quickly (80 breaths per minute approx). He came and laid on DP which he hasn't done for months. DP moved and he just laid on the floor. Hasn't eaten his dinner today either and DP said he didn't eat breakfast though I think he's probably nibbled at biscuits. Plenty of water dotted about.

Do I need to take action now? Vets? Can it wait til morning?

Cats and the heat
OP posts:
MsMims · 19/06/2017 01:36

How is he now (if you're still up)? That is a very fast respiratory rate even though it's warm. Is he lethargic?

I would be a bit concerned and want his heart checked especially. Sure it won't be anything sinister like this but heart disease can present with breathing difficulties and needs to be got under control quickly so would want that ruling out.
Does your vets have an OOH number you can call for advice in the first instance?

ElizaDontlittle · 19/06/2017 01:54

That is fast. Can you count his heart rate - if you put your hand with fingers around his chest, sort of between ribs - I can feel my slimmer cat's this way.
Is he very sleepy, has he been drinking - I know you said he's got water available. If he also seems unwell in himself - hard to tell though if he is or just clingy for some reason from what you say - I might ring for advice.

SleightOfHand · 19/06/2017 03:21

Years ago we had to take our kittens to the vets in a heatwave, we were driving in the car with the windows open, the kittens in an open box, they were on their hind legs looking out panting like that. I presumed they were doing it to cool down like a dog does.

Original poster
NickMyLipple · 19/06/2017 04:48

Thanks for your advice everyone - just got up to check on him and he's asleep downstairs. Crept halfway down the stairs and counted his breathing and it's 24 now which is much more reasonable. I'll see how he seems this morning and will not hesitate to take him to the vet if he's even slightly not being himself. Thanks again.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 19/06/2017 06:26

My two are not happy bunnies in the heat and are very subdued. Fortunately my house is quite cool though. They are not really enjoying being out side at all. But they are black and long haired.

SleightOfHand · 19/06/2017 06:31

My cat won't come in, he's sleeping in the garden bushes and laying on the stone patio. Not eating much either.

EarlessToothlessVagabond · 19/06/2017 06:39

Yes my fatty girl isn't eating AS much as usual which is very unusual for her. Both cats drinking lots and lying around in strange places. Definitely heat related.

ifonly4 · 19/06/2017 10:13

Hopefully it's down to the heat, but obviously do keep an eye on him. Cats aren't the best drinkers which doesn't help, my girl always has water down but she drinks from it a couple of times a year.

My girl hasn't been eating much either, she's sleeping on the floor most of the time. In the evening we've been leaving the front door open for a bit of ventilation and she's then moved to sleep near there as we get a bit of a breeze.

She's not so fussed over milk or cat milk as she's got older, but I have put some cat milk in front of her each day - she's only has a few laps but at least it's liquid. She likes the Webbox yogurty chicken drink/snacks (you can get in pet shops, supermarkets and Wilko), so I gave her a couple of them yesterday, so again a bit more moisture.

Original poster
NickMyLipple · 19/06/2017 10:58

Mine love the webox stuff (lick-e-lix or whatever) and I give Dennis cat soup when he's poorly (hark at me!!) To give him some extra moisture.

OP posts:
BangkokBlues · 19/06/2017 11:46

My boy had his toung out and was panting a lot this weekend, he was also lying on the cold tile floors.

I made sure there was plenty of water down and also gave him cat soup (YUM YUM YUM) and the lick e lix stuff for extra moisture.

LivingInMidnight · 19/06/2017 15:30

My girl is struggling. She's always been one to just randomly flop on the floor but at the moment that all she wants to do. I put ice cubes in her food last night to try and keep it fresh and add some liquid but I'm not convinced she ate much. I have some cat soup left in the cupboard though. Will give that a try.

The boy has barely been seen since Friday. God knows what he's doing but he's come back for food everyday.

DumbledoresApprentice · 19/06/2017 16:01

I'm keeping the lick e lix in the fridge and have cat soups in there too. My cat's very fluffy too so not really built for this sort of weather. (Maine Coon) She's flopping on the floor a lot.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/06/2017 21:31

Anyone else's cat's refusing to be groomed. Mine are usually pretty good about it. (Long haired) but not having any of it since it warmed up!

SentientCushion · 19/06/2017 21:36

I have a feeding queen with 6 kittens and she is soooo uncomfortable,
I've been stroking her with a damp cooled muslin cloth and she's been letting me.

Puffinsnamechange · 19/06/2017 21:46

PuffinCat had slowed right down and is much less vocal too. She also threw up her food after eating grass - previously she's only thrown up after having grass if her stomach was empty. I was a little worried about dehydration, but she has eaten all the jelly of her wet food and seems OK, so I think she'll be alright. I'm assuming she spends most of the day in a shady spot in the garden she'll be a lot more comfortable than me anyway

Acopyofacopy · 19/06/2017 21:50

In order to keep cats comfortable you could try to pop some ice cubes in their water.
You can also put a bag of frozen peas in their basket to lie on - cover the peas with a towel.

Sweetnessishere · 19/06/2017 22:06

I found sensible cat on the bedroom windowsill this morning there was no sun and the window was on the latch so she had a breeze. Stupid cat was in the garden, well going in and out of the cat flap as she has just learnt how.

They have spent all day flopping around, trying the bushes and complaining, the stupid one likes to play in water so she has her own paddling pool (washing up bowl) and DD watered her when she did the plants.

The have hardly eaten anything apart from flies that they catch.

Now it has cooled down outside stupid cat is running around and the sensible one is reclining in the bushes.

Jamon · 19/06/2017 22:28

Hope he's alright OP

We've added water to DC's food and soaked him gently in cold water a few times. He reluctantly enjoys it Hmm

Faithsock · 20/06/2017 17:45

How is he today? If this isn't just a one off Id definitely get him checked out.
These symptoms sound really similar to symptoms my cat had a while ago and he was eventually diagnosed with asthma (your boy could have been having am asthma attack). Hope he's ok.

Original poster
NickMyLipple · 20/06/2017 19:25

He seems okay actually - he's not completely better but I think he's much more comfortable :)

OP posts:
imjessie · 20/06/2017 19:30

I have had to have my old cat pts this evening . A combination of being old and the heat made his heart go into failure . He was breathing very rapidly .. call the vet asap ..

Original poster
NickMyLipple · 20/06/2017 23:03

Oh I am so sorry to hear that @imjessie

So heartbreaking for you. He isn't breathing quickly anymore, so hopefully he is just recovering from heat problems!

OP posts:
Checklist · 20/06/2017 23:04

We have a fan on 24/7 ATM for DD. The cats seem to like it too!

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 20/06/2017 23:14

Dgirl cat has been having showers given by dd1. Not sure she is entirely convinced but she seems to tolerate them. Dboy cat came and had the longest conversation ever with me in which he meowed about the heat said that inside and outside were unbearably hot and couldn't I fix it. I told him that he was a desert animal and it isn't that hot. He stalked off in disgust at the incompetence of his slave who can't even change the weather.

Flowers to imjessie.

imjessie · 21/06/2017 11:28

Thank you ... the vet said a healthy cat should be able to regulate its temperature even in this heat so watch out if any of your cats start to breathe differently .. my heart is broken , he has been my buddy for 19 years 😞😞