How to keep your cat cool during a heatwave

With the mercury hitting 35 degrees centigrade in London this weekend we share some tips and tricks on how you can keep your kitty cool during a heatwave. 

1. Make homemade frozen treats 

If your cat is struggling to keep their cool during the hot weather you can lend a helping hand with homemade frozen treats and plenty of fresh, cold water. Try freezing low salt chicken stock into ice cubes for your kitty to lick or try our famous cat friendly ice lolly recipe - a creation we call - The Salmon Flake 99 complete with juicy salmon and king prawn sticking out of the top (pictured below). 

Salmon Flake 99 Ingredients 

Your cat’s favourite dry food granules or treats

Method

1.     Boil the prawns and salmon fillet in a little water for a few minutes until the salmon is opaque and the prawns are pink.

2.     Take the prawns and the salmon out reserving the water which is now nicely infused with the fishy goodness that will get your kitty salivating.

3.     Peel the prawns and put them in the bottom of an ice lolly mould

4.     Next put a layer of grated carrot in the mould

5.     Top with the flaked salmon and skin and a sprinkling of cat food or treats

6.     Fill with the fishy water and put on the lid on the mould

7.     Place in the freezer to set

To avoid freezer burn make sure you take your frozen treats out of the freezer 15 minutes before you present them to your pet. Always check you are not feeding your cat any ingredients that may be toxic or harmful. Stay away from chocolate, grapes, raisins and avocado and don’t give dairy products to cats. If using chicken or fish stock make sure it's a low salt variety.

2. Buy a Cool Mat 

Pets at Home and Amazon sell lots of different cool mats and they are a must for hot weather, they are filled with a cooling gel and can be placed in your kitty's favourite spot - try putting their mat somewhere shady like under a table or chair or on a tiled floor. The are also really useful for lining your cat's carrier if you're taking your feline friend to the vet in the Summer. 

3. Freeze some damp towels

Cats should not pant like a dog and if you see your cat panting during a heatwave it's very likely that they have overheated and need human intervention to cool them down. Try putting some damp hand towels in the freezer, bring your cat indoors to the coolest part of your home and drape the cool towel over them. 

4. Make sure your home is well ventilated

Make sure you have a room in your home that is a cool oasis for your cat to retreat to if they get too hot. If you have a tiled bathroom this can be a good spot for your cat to chill out and some cats like to get in the sink. Make sure that your cat has easy access to these cool areas so they can come and go as they please. 

Percy's favourite heatwave hangout spot - the bathroom sink

Tell us how you cool your cat down during a heatwave in the comments below!