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Certainly, one of the things that is most attractive about cats, besides their independent personality, is the beauty of their fur and the multiple color combinations, which make each feline unique thanks to each spot or stripe.
When you see them lying in the sun, or in very hot weather, it's normal to ask yourself how they can withstand the high weather with all that fur, and more, you might also want to know where they sweat?
That's why this time in Animal Expert we explain how the mechanism works in your pet, because we know that more than once, in the face of high temperatures that make humans suffer, you asked yourself, where do cats sweat?
feline sweat glands
First, clarify that cats do sweat, although they do so to a lesser extent than humans. Perhaps you're surprised to know this, since you've never seen your feline covered in anything like sweat, much less considering that it has a fur blanket.
A cat's sweat glands are sparse, and are concentrated in only specific points on its body, unlike humans, who have them on the entire surface of the skin. As is well known, the body generates sweat to release the heat it feels and at the same time to cool the skin.
In the cat the mechanism works the same way, but it only sweats through some very specific zones: the pads of your paws, the chin, the anus and the lips. Here's the answer to the question where do cats sweat? But read on and be impressed by the amazing mechanism of this animal.
The feline's fur can withstand a temperature of up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit without suffering any damage, although this does not mean that the animal does not feel heat. They simply have other mechanisms to alleviate the sensation.
Likewise, it is necessary to bear in mind that the cat not only sweats when temperatures increase, as this is also its way of reacting to certain situations that produce stress, fear and nervousness. In these cases, the cat leaves a trail of sweat from its pillows, which emits a sweet odor that humans are able to perceive.
How do you cool the cat?
Despite having the sweat glands already mentioned, these are usually not enough to cool the animal in very hot weather, especially if we take into account that the fur does not contribute much to keeping it cool.
The cat has developed other mechanisms to release heat and maintain a stable temperature in the summer, so it is very common that on excessively dry days you observe them doing the following:
Firstly, the frequency of hygiene increases. The cat licks its entire body and the saliva that remains on its fur evaporates, helping the body to cool down.
In addition, on hot days he will avoid making any unnecessary effort, so he will be much more inactive than at other times, that is, it is normal to find him taking a siesta with his body stretched out in a ventilated and shaded place.
Similarly, will drink more water and want to play less to stay cool. You can add an ice cube to your drinking fountain so that the water stays cold longer.
Another way you use to refresh your body is the panting, although you should be aware that this mechanism is more common in dogs, as they perform more physical activity.
How does the panting work? When the cat pans, the inner chest, the hottest part of the body, expels heat through the moisture that builds up in the mucous membranes of the throat, tongue, and mouth. In this way, the cat can exhale this air that it is expelling from its body and use the steam to cool off.
However, the panting method is not common in cats, so if you do it then it means you are feeling an excessive amount of heat and you should help as follows:
- Moisten your fur with cold water, wetting the underarm area, loin and neck.
- Wet her lips with fresh water and let her drink water by herself if she wants to.
- Take it to a more ventilated location, if it is possible to place it near a fan or air conditioner, even better.
- Consult your veterinarian immediately
Why should you take these measures? If after following the steps described above your cat continues to pant, you should talk to your veterinarian, as it is very likely that the cat is suffering from a heat stroke produced by the high temperatures, a condition that could kill you if you do not act quickly .
Why does the heat stroke happen? In the face of high temperatures, the brain tells the cat's body that it must release body heat, which is why a sweating process begins, during which the blood vessels in the skin dilate to allow the expulsion of heat.
However, when this process fails, or if this or none of the other mechanisms the cat uses are sufficient, then the body heats up too much and can suffer a heat stroke, the consequences of which can be lethal.
