Heat Stroke in Cats, Symptoms & Treatment

A rise in core body temperature caused by external factors is known as heatstroke, sometimes known as prostration or hyperthermia. If your cat’s body temperature becomes excessively high, heatstroke, a very dangerous condition, may occur. A cat’s normal body temperature is between 38.1 and 39.2°C (100.5-102.5°F); if they are ill, this can rise a little higher. However, heatstroke in cats is at risk if their body temperature rises above 40°C/104°F.

Heatstroke can result in severe dehydration, seizures, issues with blood circulation, damage to vital organs, coma, and even death. The longer their body temperature remains high, the more serious the heatstroke becomes. Therefore, the sooner they receive veterinary care and are cooled down, the higher their chances of making a full recovery.

Heat Stroke in Cats Symptoms

Since cats can hide their health issues, it’s important to keep a close eye on them to spot the warning signs and symptoms of heat illness in cats, particularly in the warmer months of the year. Cats may show signs and symptoms that are pretty similar to those experienced by dogs.

However, there are a few heat exhaustion in cats symptoms:

• Excessive grooming in an attempt to stay cool
• Reduced amount of urine
• Panting because it’s not typical for cats to breathe through their mouths
• Anxious actions when seeking out colder locations

The more indications and symptoms they have, the higher their body temperature. These might consist of:

• Breathing heavily
• increased heart rate
• Bright red or pale Gums
• Vomiting
• Deficiency and confusion
• Collapse
• Seizures and shivering of muscles

What Causes Heat Stroke in Cats?

These cats are especially at risk of heatstroke:

• Cats outside, particularly on extremely hot and humid days or when there isn’t much water or shade available
• Indoor cats in homes without air conditioning or power
• When indoor cats are not used to the heat, they are allowed outdoors in hot weather.
• Overweight Cats
• Heat stroke in Kittens no older than four months
• Aged cats
• Cats with underlying medical conditions that prevent them from accessing water, such as diabetes mellitus, kidney illness, or movement problems
• Cats suffering from neurological, respiratory, or cardiac diseases

Heat Stroke in Cats Treatment

Temperature:

Restoring a cat’s body temperature to a more normal range is the first step in treating heatstroke. The primary method to achieve this is intravenous (IV) fluid treatment.

Physical check-up:

Upon arrival for treatment, your veterinarian will closely monitor the cat’s level of alertness and whether it increases or decreases during the therapy.

Cooling:

Depending on the cat’s temperature when they arrive, tepid water cooling of the ears, feet, and belly may also continue in the hospital.

Blood Sugar level:

Patients with heatstroke frequently have low blood sugar. Over a few days, glucose will be added to their IV fluids to prevent seizures and other effects related to low blood sugar. Lab testing will be conducted to screen for liver and kidney damage during the hospital stay.

Transplant:

Heatstroke can cause the blood vessel lining to break down, increasing the risk of bleeding. In this case, the cat can benefit from receiving one or more transplants of freshly frozen plasma from a healthy donor cat to restore lost clotting factors.

Antibiotics:

Cats with cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain, may become senseless. An IV diuretic called mannitol may be used to treat this. Antibiotics are frequently administered in cats with heatstroke because they are more likely to develop sepsis, a severe infection affecting the entire body.

Breath issues:

Cats with breathing issues might stay in an oxygen cage to get more oxygen. Particular cats experiencing severe respiratory distress may need to be ventilated and inflated to help them breathe.

How to Prevent Heat Stroke in Your Cat?

Fortunately, there is a way to avoid heat stroke. Throughout the warmer months, there are several things you can do to keep your feline companion cool. Among them are:

Water: Ensure your cat has access to enough fresh water.

Shade: Ensure your cat has a few excellent, shaded areas inside and outside of the house where they may escape.

Grooming: Regular brushing will help your cat stay cool. If your cat has long fur, you might want to consider cutting it. On the other hand, cats with light-coloured or white fur have pale skin that is prone to sunburn. In addition to helping with cooling, belly clips provide sun protection.

Eating and drinking Habits: To increase your cat’s fluid intake, feed it wet or dilute dry food with water or tuna water. To keep the water cool, add ice cubes to the bowls.

Keep in mind that your cat might not be able to tell you when it’s getting too hot, so keep a close eye on it as the weather rises to ensure you both enjoy a relaxing summer. 

What to Do If Your Cat Has Heatstroke?

Since heatstroke is a dangerous condition, it is important to treat its symptoms immediately! If your cat is showing symptoms of heatstroke, visit your veterinarian immediately or take them to the closest animal emergency hospital.

If you believe your cat may be suffering from heatstroke, move it to a cool area, moisten its fur with cool (NOT COLD) water, and then carefully place ice packs on its feet.

When taking your cat to the veterinarian, ensure the air conditioning runs full time or leave the windows open to let fresh air in and help your cat stay cool.

Your veterinarian’s efforts will lower your cat’s body temperature to normal. You can use ice packs or cool water to do this.

Your veterinarian may also inject intravenous fluids to reduce your cat’s body temperature, counteract the effects of shock, and reduce the possibility of organ damage. Oxygen therapy could also be necessary in some cases.

Summary

In summary, cat heat stroke is a severe issue requiring immediate action. Your cat may have heat stroke if you see it drooling, panting heavily, or seeming sleepy. It’s critical to relocate it to a cool area and provide water very far away. Using a fan or wetting their fur with cool water can help reduce their body temperature. Never shock their system with ice packs or ice-cold water.

See your veterinarian as soon as possible for more advice. Preventative measures are essential, so never leave your cat in a parked car; give them plenty of shade and drink, and keep them inside on hot days. Following these guidelines can prevent summertime illness and save your cat’s life.