Emergency 4 min read Draft · vet review pending

Hot days and heatstroke

Cats are good at finding a cool corner, until there isn't one. A closed flat in May, a parked car, a hot terrace. Heatstroke can kill a cat, but it's easy to prevent.

Signs of heatstroke

Panting or fast breathing (cats rarely pant, so take it seriously)
Very red, dark red, or very pale gums
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Weakness, wobbliness, confusion, or collapse
Seizures

First aid: start now, then go to a vet

Move it somewhere cool.
Into shade or the coolest room you have.
Done
Cool it gradually.
Pour cool tap water slowly over its body, keeping it away from the nose and mouth. Let it lie on a cold, soaking-wet towel, and get a fan going.
Done
Offer water. Don't force it.
A bowl of cool water within reach.
Done
Go to the vet while still cooling.
Call ahead. Travel with the AC on or windows open (with the cat secure in a carrier), and keep cooling on the way if someone can help.
Done

Please don't

Wrap the cat in a wet towel or cuddle it close. That traps the heat.
Let water get into its nose or mouth.
Wait to see if it gets better. Heatstroke can damage organs even after the cat seems fine.

Keeping cool, every day

Fresh water in more than one place, always.
A shady, airy spot it can always get to. Tiles and floors stay coolest.
Never leave a cat in a parked car, not even for a few minutes with the windows down.
Check terraces, store rooms and cupboards before you shut them.
Avoid travelling with your cat in the hottest part of the day.

Extra care for flat-faced cats like Persians, long-haired cats, overweight cats, tiny kittens and old cats. They overheat fastest.

Where this comes from

PDSA: heatstroke in cats (signs, first aid, risk groups, prevention)

This guide is a draft and hasn't been checked by a vet yet. In an emergency, go to a vet.