With spring's arrival, you may take your cat outside with you, or allow your cat to go out more often. Now is the time to prepare him for the outdoors so both of you can enjoy the spring and summer seasons more safely. Many cats live indoors and are able to spend their days in the comfort of our air-conditioned home. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, or if you don't have air-conditioning, then those dreadfully hot days can be uncomfortable and even life threatening for your cat. So here are some tips for keeping your cat cool and safe.

•    With Spring and Summer upon us, cat owners are opening their windows in the hopes of enjoying the warmer weather; however, windows without screens pose a real danger to small pets, particularly cats, who can fall out of the windows and to their death. If they don’t die from the fall itself, they can become disoriented and stray in traffic where they are hit by a car.

•    Cats have excellent survival instincts and they don't deliberately "jump" from high places that would be dangerous. Most cats fall accidentally from high-rise windows, terraces, or fire escapes.

•    Cats can slip through childproof window guards. To fully protect your cat, you should install screens in your windows.

•    Cats have an incredible ability to focus their attention on whatever interests them. A bird or other animal attraction can be distracting enough to cause them to lose their balance and fall.

•    Because cats seem to have little fear of heights and enjoy perching in high places, pet owners assume they can take care of themselves. Although they can cling to the bark of trees with their claws, other surfaces are much more difficult such as window ledges, concrete or brick surfaces.

•    When cats fall from high places they don't land squarely on their feet. Instead, they land with their feet slightly splayed apart which can cause severe head and pelvis injuries.

•    It is a misconception that cats won't be injured if they fall from one or two story buildings. They may actually be at greater risk for injury when falling shorter distances than by falling from mid-range or higher altitudes. Shorter distances do not give them enough time to adjust their body posture to fall correctly.

•    Always have cool, fresh water available. For an outdoor cat, locate the water bowl in the shade and change the water several times a day.

•    Outdoor cats must have access to shade in order to stay cool. If the temperature is very high, bring your cat indoors during the hottest part of the day.

•    If you don't have air-conditioning, help your indoor cat remain cool by using fans to circulate air. And make sure the fans are out of reach of the cat.

•    When traveling, never leave your cat in a parked car. Even in the shade, the internal temperature can rise to dangerous levels in minutes. And hyperthermia can be fatal.

•    Outdoor cats need protection from fleas, ticks, and heartworm. See our article for the appropriate product for your cat. Even indoor cats are at risk if the family dog goes outdoors or if the cat sits near an open window.

•    Watch for signs of overheating, such as panting, drooling, or vomiting.

•    Make sure your pet doesn't overexert herself. Though exercise is an important part of keeping your cat at a healthy weight, which helps her body stay cool, overdoing it can cause her to overheat. Keep playtime and outdoor exploration short and make sure she plenty of water is available. If she's panting a lot or seems exhausted, it's time to stop.

•    Take it easy on pets that can't deal with the heat. Elderly, very young, and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on steamy summer days. Cats with flat faces, such as Himalayans, Persians and American Shorthairs have a hard time staying cool because they can't pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight cats are also more prone to overheating, because their extra layers of fat act as insulation, which traps heat in their bodies and restricts their breathing capabilities.

•    Keep an eye out for heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke (see "Signs of Heatstroke,” below), you must act quickly and calmly. Have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. With this in mind, remember that it is imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately. Once your pet is in the veterinarian's care, treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage. Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal.

•    Signs of Heatstroke:   

    • Panting

    • Staring

    • Anxious expression

    • Warm, dry skin

    • High fever

    • Rapid heartbeat

    • Vomiting

    • Collapse