Hot days for felines could spell trouble

Warm weather months present a host of challenges for feline caregivers, even if you are strict "inside only" enthusiasts. Warm weather concerns may range from heat exhaustion, dehydration, fleas, sun exposure and accidents, to the potentially fatal heatstroke.

It is fairly common knowledge that dogs cool themselves by panting. For inexperienced feline caregivers, they may assume the same to be true for cats. Nothing could be further from the truth. When a feline starts panting and breathing with an open mouth, it is already in distress and the anxiety will clearly be seen on its face.

These signs of distress can quickly bloom into full heatstroke, which can have fatal consequences.

When can such symptoms occur, and what are the symptoms you should be looking for to determine what action you should take?

First, most felines are not taken for car rides just for the fun of it. Let's say you have an ambulatory feline that loves car rides, or perhaps you are moving or relocating by automobile transportation. A car with only cracked windows on a warm day is a death trap. A confined space, with little ventilation and a lack of water, only invites trouble.

If you must travel to move, or even to the animal hospital if its is some distance away, travel with supplies. Anticipate an emergency or the car having a breakdown.

In the past, I have had several felines that really wanted to travel in the car every time I left the house. As a precaution, I would take bottles of water, bowls, towels, window blockers and a small ice chest packed to the hilt with ice and long, lasting frozen devices.

If a feline gets over heated, the general idea is to bring the body temperature down gradually. Professionals do not want you to shock your feline by bringing down the heat too quickly.

I am here to tell you if you panic and put your feline in the ice container with the lid off, you will be all right.

After an air conditioning failure, I placed a feline in the container holding the ice and made an ice pack for her head out of a towel, and all went well. I was able to get her to a veterinarian, the best I could, but only because I had supplies in my vehicle.

Now that your car is packed with supplies, here are the signs you are looking for that your pet is in distress. Your feline's breathing will look more and more labored. The vision of the panting animal is now in the rearview. This is full crisis mode. Think for a moment if you are irritated in a car without air conditioning. Magnify that for your feline in fur.

Also, realize with every gasp of air your feline breathes, she is breathing in air that is 100- plus. This is not cooling, but making thinks worse.

Even if you are saying my feline's resting body temperature is over 100.4 degrees, you have no consolation in this desperate situation. In a high heat situation, organ functions fail, brain dysfunction can occur and death is possible.

With these high consequences, think before you take your animal with you on a hot day, and never be one of those people that runs into a store for just a flash. Hot days in a car for even minutes can be a death sentence for your beloved pet.

With care, happy traveling.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a volunteer nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization, with all funds directly assisting its animals. For information, visit thebuddyfoundation.org or call (847) 290-5806.