Analysis of the causes of heat stroke in cats

Feline heat stroke (heat stroke) means that cats do not take any protective measures when exposed to high temperatures, which results in an increase in body temperature and excessive accumulation of heat in the body, leading to damage to nerve organs. If sick cats do not receive timely treatment, the mortality rate is extremely high. So what are the causes of heat stroke in cats?

　1. Confined spaces cause heat stroke

The owner takes the cat out and leaves the cat in a closed car while running errands. Due to the lack of air circulation and the stuffy heat in the car, the cat suffers from heat stroke. There have also been cases where owners locked their cats in the trunk and took them on long trips, causing the cats to suffer from heatstroke.

　2. The cat locked in the balcony

Many irresponsible owners keep their cats on the balcony because they are afraid that the cats will dirty their homes, resulting in many cases of cats suffering from heat stroke in summer. I would also like to ask all cat owners here, if you really love cats, don’t do such irresponsible things to cats, and cats love to be clean. Please don’t keep cats because you are afraid that cats will make your home dirty or scratch the furniture. On the balcony or in the toilet or in a cage.

　3. The temperature at home is too high

Some cities are really very hot in the summer. It is impossible for owners to turn on the air conditioner for their cats at home when they go to work. If the air in the home is not circulated and is hot and stuffy, it is easy to cause heat stroke in cats.

4. On the sun-exposed road

Because cats can get heat stroke very quickly. In the hot summer, the hot asphalt road can cause a cat to suffer from heat stroke in about 5 minutes. But generally speaking, cats will look for a place to escape the heat. Cats suffering from heat stroke on the road are mostly sick cats or injured cats. ​​​​​​

What are the symptoms of heat stroke in cats

Feline heat stroke is a potentially fatal disease, clinically characterized by high temperature and impaired consciousness. Heat stroke can be divided into exertional and non-exertional. Exertional refers to the excessive endogenous heat production of cats in high temperature environments. Non-exertional refers to the reduced heat dissipation caused by the malfunction of body temperature regulation in cats in high temperature environments. So what are the symptoms of heat stroke in cats?

1. Manifestations of heat stroke in cats

1. Shortness of breath. In severe cases, the patient will stick out his tongue and gasp like a dog.

2. The body temperature rises, generally to 41 to 42 degrees Celsius. If the cat cannot lower its body temperature quickly, it may cause severe brain damage or even death.

3. The heartbeat is accelerated, the nose is red but dry and hot, and the conjunctiva of the eyes and oral mucosa are flushed.

4. In severe cases, dehydration symptoms may occur, such as foaming at the mouth and purple mucous membranes.

5. When the cat has convulsions,The symptoms of coma can be life-threatening.

2. Symptoms of dehydration in cats

Some parents don’t know what the symptoms are of cat dehydration. The symptoms of cat dehydration are sunken eyeballs, red tongue, dry mouth, and poor skin elasticity. If you pick up the cat’s neck skin with your hands, it will not recover quickly. When a cat shows symptoms of dehydration, it should be rehydrated quickly. If the cat can drink water, it is fine. If the cat cannot drink water, it should go to the pet hospital immediately for infusion.

First aid measures for cats suffering from heat stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious type of heatstroke. This disease can occur in any animal regardless of age. Once a cat suffers from heat stroke, if it is not treated in time, it will cause heat stroke. Cats that do not receive timely and proper treatment have a very high mortality rate.

1. Urgent rescue of cats suffering from heat stroke

1. If a cat is found to have heat stroke, the first thing to do is to immediately lower the temperature of the space where the cat is. If the cat is indoors, ventilate the room or turn on the air conditioner immediately; if it is outdoors, move the cat to a cool place quickly.

2. If the cat’s body temperature rises and feels hot to the touch, it is best to immerse the cat in cold water (note that cold water at room temperature is sufficient, not ice water) or wipe the cat’s body with a cold wet towel, and Put a soaked towel on the cat's head to cool it down to speed up the relief of congestion on the cat's head. When the cat's body temperature drops to about 39 to 40 degrees, the cat can be taken out of the cold water and kept warm or maintained. Otherwise, hypothermia will occur due to excessive cooling.

Cooling work is very important. If the cat's body temperature cannot be lowered in time, symptoms such as cerebral edema, heart failure, and renal failure will occur, resulting in the death of the cat. In addition, to cool down a cat, the cat’s body temperature should be monitored at all times, with the cat’s rectal temperature as the main basis.

3. If a cat with mild heat stroke has saliva in its mouth, the saliva in the mouth should be cleaned. This can make the cat breathe smoothly and provide the cat with plenty of drinking water. If the cat shows symptoms of dehydration, it is best to go to the pet hospital for rehydration in time. If you can't go to the pet hospital, you can use a syringe to give the cat water with a small amount of salt.