cute kitten drinking

Cool Kitty: How to Keep Your Cat Cool in The Summer

Though L.A. temperatures fluctuate between one incessant five-to-ten degree variation of hot, hotter, bathwater acid-rain and dustbowl-misery, Angelinos like to think there are seasons.  Our favorite time of year is ‘winter,’ which anyone outside of L.A. would consider a cool summer day, while our least favorite arrives sometime between late August and the end of September.  The air settles, the breeze is nonexistent, and my poor cats’ allergies kick into hyperdrive.  Their daily exercise regimen (sprint from one side of the house to the other… hurl into various breakables… aaaaannnd… repeat!) stops completely and they sprawl, too lazy to chase toys or walk to their food dish.  But instead of watching them suffer through the five to ten days of fur-body misery, I’m preparing to keep them cool this summer with a few new tricks.

4 Ways to Keep Your Cat Cool This Summer

keeping your cat coolImage by Nicki Dugan Pogue via flicker

Easy Summer Treats

Cole and Marmalade’s (the Youtube kitty equivalent of Michelle Phan) pet parents suggest making some cool treats or popsicles for your cats – not only to keep them hydrated, but encourage them to eat.  Honorary sous chef, Squeaker, didn’t mind this experiment at all.  Perched atop the fridge (but NEVER allowed to enter the work space), his wild eyes oversaw the simple process of mixing up and freezing the treats (a slight look of disdain when he realized they weren’t meant for immediate consumption).  Sorry, kitty.  You’ll thank me later.  Sure enough, the treats were a hit.  Not only because it kept them cool, but because they had to WORK to get to the tuna surprise – tapping into their inner hunters, a skill rarely utilized by indoor kitties.

Hot Spots No More

Another battle during the summertime heat is Angus’ struggle with hotspots (acute moist dermatitis), often triggered by allergies, parasites or infection.  When the temps soar, his allergies spin out of control and he scratches incessantly.  My Eastside ‘hipsters-selling-crunchies’ pet store suggested DERMagic, an all-natural salve that kills bacteria and soothes irritated skin.  Though Angus ends up looking like the feline version of Don Corleone (salve and fur aren’t complimentary, as you might imagine), his scratching and constant irritation significantly lessens and he can actually relax.

The Perfect Perch

We live on the top floor, which, while perfect for birdie-watching, creates a sauna-like atmosphere during those hot days of summer.  Lacking central air conditioning and built in the late 70’s, my place is the most energy inefficient in town, boasting electric appliances and radiant heat.  The kitties like to perch in high places during the summer and stay near the fireplace during winter.  I searched high and low (pun intended) for some decent-looking cat furniture and happened upon Catastrophic Creations, an Etsy store that designs eye-appealing, minimalist perches that keep kitty off of the hot wood floors during summertime.

Chilling Out

Though I always keep multiple water sources around the house, I like to add ice cubes to chill the water down during the summer.  This simple trick not only keeps the kitties cool, but they’re obsessed with pawing at the melting, crackling ice.  Though we’ll eventually move on up to central air conditioning (or maybe a more moderate climate), these easy tricks will help us get through those hot summer months.

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2 Comments

  1. Im very pleased with your work.

  2. I think I should give it a shot!

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