Dear Critter Corner: It’s getting warmer where I live and I’m not sure if I should trim my medium cat’s hair to help her stay cool. Any ideas?
Summer is here and it’s starting to warm up around the Bay Area. It’s a good time to start preparing for the hotter summer months and help keep our furry family cool. While trimming your cat’s hair may seem like a good place to start, this is not typically recommended.
For people a hair trim can help us stay a little bit cooler. However, our furry friends are different. Some pets have a double coat made up of a topcoat and undercoat. The topcoat helps repel moisture like rain or other debris like dirt. The undercoat helps to insulate, which acts to both trap heat during the winter and retain cool air against the skin during the summer. Typically, it’s not recommended to trim a cat’s hair, as trimming can prevent this natural circulation from occurring. If you have a medium-haired or long-haired cat, consult with your veterinarian as to whether a light trim will help. It is possible that it could increase the air circulation for some. Grooming can keep your cat cooler by removing loose hair and ensuring there are no mats that may trap heat.
Try also to evaluate your home for ways to keep the environment cool. This could mean using floor fans to circulate the air better or window fans to bring in cooler air from outside. Some homes do well with darker curtains that can reflect the sun and heat, keeping it cooler inside. If it’s an option, consider installing a portable AC unit or a window AC that you can use when the heat starts to pick up during the day. If it’s usually cooler at night, opening the windows and using fans will help circulate the cooler air from outside.
Some cats also enjoy cooling mats that help keep them cool or lounging on tile/hardwood surfaces. Keep these available to your cat as well, if that’s an option. Depending on your cat’s tastes and tummy you could even try making some homemade summer treats. A few easy ones include spreading their wet food on a lickable mat and then freezing it. Or try mixing their wet food with a little water and then freeze it in ice cube trays. These are just simple ways to explore what will keep your cat cool for a fun summer.