How to help your pets survive a heatwave

[@bjarnemcdonald6333]

No surprise that a guy that loves animals, also take care of his plants in the background.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Glad you noticed. I'm quite proud of my orchids.

[@onyxstewart9587]

This might sound weird, but I give my cat a light shower when it's really hot. He's one of those cats that doesn't mind water and will actually meow at me to demand his shower when it's really hot!

[@daisycocoa2557]

Exactly what I would do, a quick bath or wipe down with wet towel too.

[@Ember3221]

I’ve done this during a muggy, hot day here in Virginia, USA 🇺🇸 oh, yes, our power was out too…

[@little-rascal]

I do that too. My one eye baby actually has made it my duty to clean his blind side daily after my shower, winter or summer, does not matter. He would wait for me at the basin for his eye wash daily. Then during summer, he ask for bath as well.

[@amandashelton1162]

I have a water loving cat too. ☺️ He meows for his water play time too. I keep the show door closed because he will turn the water on and put a rag in the drain. He flooded my bathroom once. Luckily it wasn't too bad. I do let him have the bathroom sink though. He can't plug it up. My cat hordes bottle caps and pencils, he also hordes his favorite toy it's a floof I don't use. I thought it would be fun to put it in the sink and see what he did. He doesn't like it being in the sink so he takes it out and hides it. It stressed him out so I don't do it anymore. He does have a water fountain but he thinks it's a toy so he dumps the water out and takes the fountain apart. I put it away after he took it apart. LoL Cat's are smart.

[@sebethspilseth9957]

Now way! That we be so much easier. We have an older cat that can’t keep herself clean anymore. She’ll tolerate brushing once or twice a week and now she has begun to mat. Poor thing, it has to be uncomfortable but we are kind of helpless to interfere at this point.

[@LC-le9ew]

As a veterinarian (with 4 indoor cats) whose air conditioning was broken for a week Tennessee in July, I kept several fans going and kept the windows open at night. We all went outside in the evenings waiting for the house to cool off. We were so grateful when the air was fixed!

[@peterclarke7240]

Oh god... As someone who used to live in Vermont, who is naturally better suited to Scandinavian weather (I'm English and can sweat in a fridge), I can't imagine the horror... I went to South Carolina once, and I was miserable as all hell. Just for anyone from Europe or other colder places... I used to walk 20 minutes to my job in Vermont. I would carry my work clothes in a bag during summer, because by the time I got there, the heat and humidity would have rendered my shorts and tshirt utterly saturated, and this was at 7.30 in the morning.

[@LC-le9ew]

@@peterclarke7240 Sounds lovely! 😅

[@peterclarke7240]

@@LC-le9ew I think I was permanently depressed during summer. I loved winter, though! My first two winters back in the UK I spent in shorts and tshirts. I just didn't feel the cold anymore!

[@LC-le9ew]

@@peterclarke7240 I get it for real. I am more than 50% Scandinavian by blood, too. If I could move north I would!

[@MothGirl007]

@@peterclarke7240 I'm totally the same way - hate hot weather and Summer and totally thrive in Fall and Winter in the colder temperatures.

[@donnabaardsen5372]

My beloved cat, Babette, loves ice water. So three times a day, she gets fresh water with icecubes. Before drinking, she plays with the cubes, watches them, and then drink's a lot. This really cools her down. Also, wetting my hands with cold water, and then gently rubbing them all over her face and neck works really well too. Then of course open windows, my ceiling fans are always on, and air conditioning if necessary.

[@foxwaffles]

I've got a cat who sploots and flattens out spectacularly on the hardwood but only during the summer. It's so cute and hilarious and it's good to know she has her own ways of cooling off

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Cats are very self sufficient!

[@swan_tanya]

My cat does this all year round. I even thought he doesn't know how to curl into a ball like a normal cat, lol (he does though). Honestly, I think mine just likes catspeading. He often sleeps with his belly up and rear legs spread out.

[@foxwaffles]

@@swan_tanya catspreading LOL I love it 😂 sometimes she tips over when she sploots so she's not fully aligned and I call it a splot because it's not a perfect sploot

[@noomikifarkis9062]

I usually wet a kitchen towel and put it as a blanket on my cat. A couple of days ago, he had been sleeping under it at the very top of his cat tree and decided to jump down on the sofa. It was an epic moment, as the tea towel looked like a super hero's cape and stayed on during the jump. Just wanted to share that. 😝

[@lesijo52]

We have a large footstool in our living room that our Simon used to lay on to survey his surroundings. We called it the “Ottoman Empire.” (Similar to your observatory)

[@joannaedwards6325]

😄😄😄

[@moneek3027]

I gave my indoor rabbit a slab of marble to lay on and she loves it! It's so much cooler than the floor and it's her favourite spot to get cuddles :)

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Sounds like a very posh bunny!

[@moneek3027]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Sounds more lavish than it really is, I just grabbed a scrap piece from a countertop store. She is a queen though haha

[@amarketing8749]

This is an excellent idea!! Marble will even stay cool in direct sunlight.

[@franfrofrug]

did the same with my cat companion, but no luck, its avoided as a resting spot kjashdkjasd

[@lisadieter-burns]

Thank You! Living in California, it gets HOT. Our cats have a Catio that they have the option to go in and out all day through a cat door in the house. The Catio is in the shade. One trick I learned:. I have some wheat cat grass in long planters with a drip system that goes on at night. My cats lay in those planters cooling their belly for a good part of the day. They love the moist/cool dirt. Seeing your video confirms that they are enjoying the cool belly time.

[@TianXiaoMao]

Watching this so I can learn how to survive the heat myself.

[@sideeggunnecessary]

A cat that can read!

[@wap9137]

@@sideeggunnecessary Chuckle.

[@peterclarke7240]

@@sideeggunnecessary All cats can read. They use their butts.

[@schrodingerthecat]

My cats avoid the AC and sleep in the hottest rooms in the house.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Yep...

[@Sashazur]

Mine do the same. But they still complain about the heat! And when I do run the AC they burrow under the bed covers. They’re cats so I gave up on making sense of it.

[@schrodingerthecat]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet I actually follow just about all of your advice for our kitties - plenty of water, plenty of cool places for them to sleep. I keep the closets open so they can sleep in shaded spaces too. They just hate the AC sound I think. A top place for them to sleep is the tile floors in the bathrooms.

[@karijaneify]

What about marble slabs or tiles? The rescue we adopted our guinea pigs recommends those for piggies to lay on.

[@tricialowrey8690]

@@karijaneify my dearly-departed all-black cat used to bake herself in the sun, then come in and lie on the unfinished concrete floor of the basement, so I imagine a marble slab or tile would be a decent heat-sink for a smaller creature

[@irbahtaqiyyahputri]

This is the most helpful pet channel ever!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Glad you think so!

[@lisakoumrian5301]

My cats splay themselves out on the hardwood floors, exposing their adorable "ploofies" (primordial pouches). My husband calls them "kitty throw-rugs" 😺 Total tripping hazard.., it's amazing how 6 lb cats can spread like liquid! 🤣 Love "other animal" content too, many of us have other pets too. I have had turtles, lizards, and snakes, and my son (always a cat guy) now has a new puppy too. Love to Mr. Pirate and Clawdia 😽🐈‍⬛

[@sharg0]

My favorite way to get a cat damp without annoying it: Damp/wet towel/rag - the dry fur will absorb water from the towel but the cat wont get that sudden "Ack - getting wet" reflex. Also those cooling blocks mentioned earlier in the vid and inside a towel could be placed at a fav resting place (for small dogs as well).

[@sarahmyk9356]

For my cat, I puree his favorite wet cat food and add extra water to this puree. I pour this mixture in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, I take an ice cube out in the afternoon (or when it is really hot) and place it in a cat bowl. Since the ice cube is his cat food he will spend the time licking it and thus intake more water. Plus, he is engaged until the ice cube is gone. My cat has access to water all the time and can drink when he needs it, but this gives me more peace of mind to know he is drinking more water and it is cooler water which will help cool him down. Thank you Dr. Berstein for the many tips in this video. I greatly appreciate your videos and you. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[@frostfang1]

Before I converted my family into accepting our big dog into being inside for long periods of time, he used to dig a dog sized hole on the shaded side of his dog house to stay cool in.

[@audeforcione-lambert4293]

In my family, we freeze damp towels and drape it over our cats when it's super hot. It works ok but as soon as they feel better they'll shake it off. :P Also I'm pretty sure breed plays a role in a cat's tolerance to heat. My parent's cat, who I swear has some norwegian forest cat / main coon in him, will go out for hours in frigid weather, but shows signs of overheating as soon as it's over 15°C (60°F). My own cat, who has more of a european shorthair type, does way better in hot temperatures.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Breed most certainly matters! I wish people considered it a bit more when picking pets in extreme climates.

[@janecat8753]

Didn't know cats panting was a bad thing! My 2 year old cat did that the other day when I played with her, and it was hot out so I figured it was normal for her to pant. I will be more careful about this in the future. Thank you for helpful tips! ☺️

[@marianeal3164]

Beautiful Mr Pirate, he's not bothered about what you do with him. He trusts you entirely. They are lovely❤🐈🐾

[@CikisHelyzet]

Thanks! Really appreciated the pre-existing conditions bit. Our A/C is temporarily out of commission so I rly needed this too! Tips • Keep food in the fridge and serve chilled. Its worth trying. Cools them from the inside out. • buy the very miniest gel packs and put them in a sock and bury them in the cat bedding. It provides a general cooling affect without the condensation. Some cats do not require this sneaky tactic and know to lay their faces and toes against them. • I change the water every 2-3 hrs as it's roughly 29°C with high humidity in here. • Check paws frequently • Run a comb through their fur to keep their circulation optimized and freshen up the weight of their rug. • fans, as mentioned • bags of ice if your cats prefer it with their drinks... mine do! If not they'll come for my drinks! Even coca-cola! • a non-heat generating dehumidifier if you have one. Heat is one thing, but humidity is a whole other consideration that your cats can do without. That's all I can think of! Thank you again, Doc! You're the best!

[@shroomyk]

When we had bunnies outside we would fill milk jugs with water, freeze them, and put those in the hutch during hot days. I don't know if it actually helps but our reasoning was that it would be like air conditioning for them. We didn't have any roasted bunnies at least but of course it didn't get as hot back then as it does now.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Excellent tip!

[@Happyheretic2308]

It’s about the same temp now as then, my dear, but the frozen jug idea is a good one.

[@gadelle24]

When I lived in Tokyo (the summers are brutal), I would freeze a large plastic bottle of water overnight and stand it in a dish when I left for work in the morning. My cat liked to lick the condensation from the bottle and in the dish throughout the day and it would stay cool as the bottle thawed.

[@jackieheidorn5875]

We used to have a turtle sand box that we kept filled with water in a shady spot in the yard for pets, kids, and neighborhood critters. Changed the water daily to keep the plants watered.

[@danielletanguay7272]

I love how docile Mr. Pirate is!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

He's not docile, he is a vicious Pirate! We just have a really good relationship :-)

[@miriam4235]

There are mats available filled with some kind of highly conducting gell which make them feel very cool. They are specially made for animals. I always have them laying around for my cats on hot days.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

I believe you. But I bet they cost more than a dirty rag soaked in cold water.

[@CikisHelyzet]

Yeah.. those are great if you're cat doesn't resort to Herculean measures to avoid them! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@supermegaultrazdivek]

I bought it, my cat ignores it so I use it instead. My sister’s dog on the other hand uses it regularly.

[@karijaneify]

The local guinea pig rescue recommends a marble tile or slab for them to rest on.

[@NickUncommon]

Those glass cutti g boards with feet to not scrach the surface are a favourite of the cats I take care of at the moment. And I see them laying on the tiles in the bathroom and in the sink. Being rubbed down with a damp cloth also works. They also are not playing a lot right now, and feeding them cool food does not work so well, since it messes up their digestion.

[@bjarnemcdonald6333]

My cat Mr. G likes to drink out of the birdbath in the summer, even though there is a toad living in it. He have three water bowls that we change and clean daily. Guess he likes the toad water...

[@amandashelton1162]

My cat Ginger Beans has a water fountain but I put it away after he dumped the water out and took the fountain apart. I was very surprised that my cat took a water fountain apart piece by piece without damaging it. He even showed me his work after he got done, as if he was proud of himself or he thought I would give him a treat for doing it. 🤷 He's only a year old. He also got into the cabinet and took mug's out and sat them on the counter below the cabinet. He used his mouth to pick up the mugs by the handle and gently sat them on the counter so he could lay in the cabinet. I have to tape up that cabinet. I don't trust he will not break something. I was impressed with his ability to be gentle with the mugs.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

You have an awesome cat. DO NOT buy a gun. Humanity isn't ready.

[@Shadowhunter995]

I wish i had a pet doctor nearby as good and knowledgeable as you!!!!

[@gr8tbigtreehugger]

Thanks for this timely video!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

You are so welcome!

[@FulloutPostal]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet bit untimely for europe tho, our heatwave has (hopefully) just passed... helpfull nonetheless :3

[@Ember3221]

Thank you so much for this video topic! You and Jackson Galaxy are my favorite online veterinarian advisors. 🥰😻

[@Bearleena]

My hot weather cat care routine involves: - more wet meals with smaller portions each day, so the food will be eaten fresh and won’t be in danger of drying out - or even worse, of flies laying eggs in it . On really hot days I‘ll serve six tiny meals. - my feline overlord doesn’t drink much from his water bowl so I often mix his wet food with water to create a mush that is easier to eat and increases his water intake. - Just in case he wants water from the bowl, I clean it out at least once a day rather then just topping it up. - If we‘re planning on being out all day - which isn’t that common - I don’t want his wet lunch hanging around too long, so on those days only he gets dry food that will stay fresh (but it’s all the more important that he drinks extra water in that case). - If I tried to mist his tummy I think he would kill me. But he is happy to lie stretched out under the ceiling fan.

[@carolhayes7750]

I wish my 2 indoor cats let me hold them and be as chill as Mr. Pirate! There is a feral cat I feed and water, but I worry so about him in this 90-100 degree heat. I do let the garage door up a bit and he sometimes lays on the concrete floor to cool. I put a fan in the garage especially for him and now he won't go in the garage, lol.

[@ragdollqueen.tabbyking]

Thanks for your information 💗 it's really hot in the UK....🔥🇬🇧

[@sallylucas1277]

My Turkish Van liked to sit in the waterfall that goes into my fish pond. Also, I would fill the bath and leave the door open so he could go paddling.

[@KizetteandTotoro]

My neighbour has a nine year old frenchie and she has what looks like a neck brace (thick, padded neck collar) but it is cool to the touch. She cools it down before she takes her out in the evening. She looks very cute, it has a bow and everything!

[@floraposteschild4184]

Thanks for helping keep our critters cool!

[@lorrie2878]

We have multiple cats and some hang outside. (Arizona, USA, no shade) Chopper the cat patrols the garage. I keep a large glass of water out there for her, a big pan of water outside for whoever is out there (there's a stray or two that come around) , a big cat fountain and glasses of water around the house. Dogs love it too.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

That is really sweet. I wish I'd thought to mention a spare dish outside for strays! We don't b really have them in Vancouver. You'd be more likely to attract a racoon or coyote.

[@nyxcin1]

You're the best and most helpful vet. Thank you for the great tips.

[@justanotheryoutubechannel]

My cat has developed her own methods for surviving the British heatwaves, she lays out on the cold stone tiles and enjoys it

[@liisad.5100]

I've had 10 cats so far. Right now I have two Maine Coons and both do something which I haven't seen and experienced from any of the earlier cats and which quite worries me. They both don't drink anything. I've tried all possible ways and tricks to get them to drink. They don't do it. This year both will turn 5 years old. Besides the strange "not drinking at all" they are fine and healthy. But I think they are still quite young and worry about it when they get older. And I am also worried if it gets so hot like this summer, that they might dehydrate. I still offer them fresh water at different places they come along. Yet, they don't touch the water. They also don't drink any other liquids offered for cats. It doesn't matter in what kind of bowls they get the water offered, or if from little fountains (I tried if moving water might attract them - no, not at all). They don't drink fresh water, they don't drink older water. They don't lick water from sinks or whereever else water might appear. It's an absolute mystery to me, why they both don't drink at all. I've never met any other cat owners with this problem with their cats. I try to calm myself a bit down on this by watching them closely and observing if they are doing good, and of course they see the vet on a regularly base. Three different vets have seen them so far and everyone told me they should drink, but couldn't offer any new idea how to get them to drink.

[@sunset6010]

A PET MATE 3 tier water fountain did the trick here. In 10 YEARS (!) Never ever saw my cat drink water. Not 1x ! Got the 3 tier water fountain, she drink alot more now. Hope this helps you ✔

[@joannaedwards6325]

Lisa D. If you read through ALL the comments you will find answers.

[@liisad.5100]

@@sunset6010 Thanks for the tip! I'll take a look!

[@dkleath8697]

My cat is 7 yrs old & he won't drink water in ANY form or formula...🥴

[@avicennitegh1377]

Love your energy and your placid cats. I've never had a placid cat.

[@anndebaldo7381]

Thanks so much for all of the helpful tips, especially about cats! Love your videos and look forward to when you offer more classes! ATB to you and dear kitties!

[@TangoDeltaZulu]

Great vid. It's Yurij BTW. Thanks for the advice last week. It definitely helped.

[@darlene2861]

Thank you Doctor for the great tips! ❤

[@amandashelton1162]

My cat Ginger Beans love's playing in the sink with running water. I also have a swap cooler and mobile AC. I play with my cat in the sink to help both of us to cool off. He's a house cat so I don't have to worry about him. He also can turn on the water by himself, I just make sure I check the sink and turn it off. I do have ice packs for emergency. I put one under a towel and Ginger Beans will lay on it. I am lucky that my cat loves bathing because he likes getting wet to cool off. ☺️

[@MonikaBury]

Thanks for the tips!

[@wheatpuncher27]

excellent video & information as per usual, thanks!

[@pinkdagger]

As the owner of a plant-eating cat, I'm very envious of the beautiful, untouched plants all over the home. We have a water fountain, water bowl, and add water to every wet meal (3x/day), and when our AC broke, I also wet the back of her ears, armpits, and belly. We now have a cooling pad too. It only makes a couple degrees difference but when a cat's whole body is lying across it, it's definitely better than nothing. Sometimes she would still opt to find a different room to sit in the sun anyway so we were definitely more stressed than the cat.

[@preetis.567]

Tuxedo cats make for such great doglike cats. My aunt's tuxedo cat fetches, comes to you when called and loves being petted. He also has a sense of responsibility and used to take care of my diabetic cat when she couldn't groom herself and would keep a watch on strangers entering the house. So unlike a normal cat. We used to think he was an exception to the rule but after meeting many more tuxedos, it seems like an ill-tempered tuxedo is the exception.

[@cm9439]

Thank you for the excellent information. I think you're a true optimist.

[@harrodsfan]

Doctor, you hit in on the nail at the intro. All over the world heatwaves are going to be more frequent (:

[@joannaedwards6325]

Thank you very much for the suggestions Doc. Been putting ice cubes in my cats water bowls but will now stop and serve bottled water from the fridge. I also give her mushed up pate style cat food in a bit of cold water and she laps it up!!

[@kateisblue]

I have two cats, one's good f9r drinking water, he other not so much. I ended up blending some wet Cat food (a luxury)with a bit of water and freezing it into ice cubes, and that worked!

[@dopeknuckles5374]

I really need this video 💕

[@roxannesmaldone3465]

My Cat is a Strict Indoor cat. I live on the Second floor. I have tile floor. He has a Fountain but Prefers his water bowl. I give Ice Cubes in his bowl. 😻

[@debnordman1640]

It was so sweet & funny when you were holding Mr Pirate, he was just gazing at your shoulder longingly, "Let me up there, Dad!" 🦜☠️

[@washtubz]

22:00 Mr. Pirate is a single celled organism

[@kashesan]

Thank you Dr B-so helpful. I don't have AC at this time and its great to know how to keep my kitties cool.

[@larsonfamilyhouse]

Sometimes cats don’t like the tap water so I’ve been giving mine filtered water when I can and it seems to help. I recently had an older kitten start panting when it was extra hot and noticed she was sneezing too. I turned the air on immediately and am giving her lysine chews the vet gave- I thought maybe she could have allergies because mine were bad too. Another trick is to give them wet food with a teaspoon or so of water added- not mixed in to make paste but just dribbled over the food. I then fill up the wet food can with water up to the very tippy top to get “flavored” water and it’s a big hit with both my older kitten and my other cats! Just fill and with hold for them to drink or set it down. I recently purchased low mercury tuna and am going to try a tuna water/water combo a few times for another cat that was dealing with constipation. She’s no longer straining and things are going much better but I’m going to keep a close eye on her and make sure things are running smoothly for awhile. I won’t overdo the tuna water, I know even the low mercury isn’t great but I’ve been up for days worrying everyone is okay and I’m going to try a mix of tuna water/water and share with all the cats (I take care of a feral colony I TNRed as well) so hopefully they’ll be enticed to drink the diluted juice 😁 I’ve heard place chicken broth with no sodium and no seasoning (definitely no onion or garlic) can work well too but I can’t seem to find a kind without onion and am unfortunately unable to make my own at the moment. Someone mentioned on another video of yours you could add a drop of food grade glycerin- is this true? They pointed out a video of yours saying it said it was good to lube up a pill with but when I watched the video I never heard you say that lol PS. Are your eyes two different colors? So cool! I never noticed until you wore the blue shirt. And is that an orchid? Wow! So beautiful! How do you get it to thrive? Lol I had one but I’m very sorry to say I killed it from overwatering it (I was like LET ME LOVE YOU!!!) :/ from then on I only overwater cats lol and by overwater I mean lead a cat to water and have it not drink. My mother literally said that phrase to me the other day in the midst of me trying to figure out what to do so it cracked me up when you said it. I can’t go to the vet for subcutaneous fluids right now (since all the other efforts seem to be working) but you have my interest piqued from all your videos mentioning it! I’d like to know how to do it in cases of somewhat emergency like previous panting older kitten and straining cat Saturday. Next time I go to the vet I’m definitely going to enquire if it’s something I could when there’s a problem like noticing signs of dehydration. For now it’s fresh bottled water in multiple locations (with a fresh clean dish every time!) and wet cat food with added water multiple times a day! Your tip about bringing the wet food to wherever they’re laying hanging out has worked really well and was the extra bump up in moisture they needed to get everything working well again! Thank you so much for you help! #squishthatcat

[@JosieJOK]

Hey, if you freeze that flavored water, even better: popsicles for cats!

[@MrsBrit1]

We live in England and my two boys (kitties!) have been so sluggish this summer. We had the hottest day on record (ever) a few weeks ago and are set to hit 90F again this week. I know this is going to become a regular occurrence. Air conditioning isn't something people here have or that most can even afford and British homes are not built with extreme temps (either direction) in mind. But I'm not really worried about the cats....have you got any tips for 41 year old woman? 😂😂 Honestly, I haven't recovered from the last heatwave and here comes another! 🥵🥵 Come on, October!

[@phoenixfire8978]

As an American who grew up in the desert and now lives in the UK, I have some suggestions for humans. Most importantly, stay hydrated. Get a cheap plastic pitcher from Wilkos or Asda if you don’t have one, fill it with water and keep it in your fridge to drink throughout the day. By the time you start feeling thirsty you are already slightly dehydrated. Take a cool shower once you get home from work. Set your mixer lower than normal. It doesn’t have to be cold to be refreshing. Grapes frozen in the freezer make a cheap cold treat (just take them off the stem first) Frozen banana (again, peel it first) is also a thing. Where I grew up chocolate covered frozen bananas could be purchased on a stick like an ice lolly. If your windows get direct sunlight during sunrise or sunset close your curtains before the light hits to help reduce the heat coming in. Leave multiple windows open to take advantage of any breezes if its hotter inside then out. Try to limit using your oven or hob for cooking to avoid adding more heat into your home. For example, if you are cooking pasta boil your kettle and transfer the water from your kettle into your pot instead of boiling water directly from the tap on your hob. A cool washcloth on the back of your neck can be very soothing. Lastly, icepacks. If you work at a desk or from home an icepack on your lap is very nice. Forget the lap cat, it’s lap icepack. An icepack wrapped in a towel at night tucked under your duvet is also nice. Ice packs don’t have to be expensive you can make them by freezing water in freezer bags. Double bag them if worried about leaks. Personally, I find it easier to sleep at night during hot weather if I can keep my feet cool. I didn’t say anything about fans, which can help, but with electricity costing what it does currently, I’ve found keeping extra icepacks handy in my freezer cheaper to running an electric fan.

[@DArtemis]

Same here, girl :) Where's this proverbial thunderstorm? :) Feels like there's no air to breathe in London.

[@donnabaardsen5372]

@@DArtemis I absolutely love extreme heat. During an almost two month visit to Palm Springs, CA, the desert temps reached 120, my very happy place. Average temps here in Michigan have been between 85-94, with storms mixed in. Love this too. However, I'm extra careful with my Siamese mix, Babette: fan's, blinds closed, cold food, change water x3 daily/with icecubes. She plays with them before drinking; actually drinks a lot more. Make sure cubes are fresh.

[@MrsBrit1]

I'm also American. I grew up in WV, but menopause heat is extra level. 😂 Btw, I've been in England 18 years. I never did well with Hest, but in my 40s, it is something else entirely. I just have to sit in front of the fan drinking ice water when it's hot. 😂 Definitely glad the school year has ended (although I had to walk up to collect the boychild on the hottest day of the year, which was supposed to also be his last sports day of primary. Thank god they cancelled it. It was 98 here) and I'm still bloody waiting in my thunderstorm!

[@DArtemis]

@@donnabaardsen5372 I'm quite the opposite, can't take the heat. Anything over 25 degrees C and I'm running for the hills :)) My Ragdoll girl has to get a little shower if it gets really hot in our flat. Luckily, she doesn't mind too much :)

[@roxannesmaldone3465]

My Cat does use his fountain.

[@thedestiney88]

I can't even say how many owners I see walking their brachycephalic dogs during the hottest time of the day (12 - 2pm) outside on super hot asphalt. I don't get it.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Yep, and I can't believe how many of them don't have upper airway surgery, but that's humanity for you.

[@c.w.8200]

Even though we keep the house cool our outdoor cats prefer to spend the hottest hours of the day somewhere deep in the bushes where we can't even find them, we have a little fountain, they love moving water and that way they drink more than from a bowl.

[@belmum1689]

A few yrs ago I had two greyhounds they were sensitive to heat and cold weather. RIP girls

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Greyhounds are very sensitive creatures.

[@jdlazar]

Wonderful video, as always. Beautiful home, by the way. How about a video tour someday?😉

[@chimeyyo6304]

I bought cooling pad for my cat this year. I think it also helps, since he likes laying on it.

[@monana1711]

If you only have carpeting or even wood floors in your house, buy a couple of large inexpensive ceramic tiles and place them where your cat can lie in them during the heat of the day

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Great advice

[@wombat.6652]

Watching this approx every time summer comes around. We cannot afford air con. This advice also helping the human. for humans, drape wet cloth around your body, put your feet in a bucket of water - dont spill it on electricals. I also put freezer packs NEXT to my cats when they look hot. The can move away / closer whatever.

[@blakebella2273]

Thank you for the timely suggestions pertaining to felines... Niot knowing the other sensitive body parts, thinking logically, I did cool my 17 yrs old boys' ears...but he didn't appear to appreciate it.. go figure it.. Glad to learn of more ways to help him deal with this heat, without air conditioning....hopefully we will ALL get safely through it..🙏😊💖

[@cjc9535]

We had a really hot couple of days here in the UK. In anticipation of the hot weather, I had a wet sponge at hand and sponged my cat from time to time to help keep her cool. If she was asleep, I snuck up on her to give her a swipe with the sponge.

[@marymayer4875]

I knew a dog with obsessive compulsive fetching disorder. 🤪 He was a neighbor who would get a bottle from the recycle and wait at the garage door to play. Last time my kitty was panting a chipmunk got into the house and he ran himself ragged trying to catch it. I humanely caught it and let it go outside.

[@yve_w40]

I love clawdia the dog

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Woof

[@christianeraphael1270]

Thank you, very helpful 💐👍🏻. As always. Sorry if I did not interpret correctly Labcelot last time. Surely my fault. Anyway, Dont mind, I might have an additional idea for cats to let them cool. I let my cats hunt a table tennis ball floating within my bathtub filled a few centimeters with not too cold water. Usually they like it and do not over do it when it is hot. But they get wet while playing.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

So cute!

[@fritzi.aus.preussen]

My 17-year-old cat absolutely loves being outside. On hot days he would nap behind the shrubs on the bricks framing the basement windows. The bricks probably cool him down. Too bad I can't upload a photo of this. Looks very cute

[@joa7929]

Thank you!

[@kenziebender998]

If there are cool areas in my house and multiple fountains and water sources, but my cats constantly go upstairs to flop out in the hottest rooms (nearly 30°), do they genuinely prefer the heat or are they just not very bright? Will they find their way to cooler rooms if they start to over heat? I keep having to drag them out of the boiling upstairs hallway and I’ve moved all their favourite things to lie on to cooler rooms, but they just keep running up there!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

I bet cats think the same thing of humans they see laid out on a beach towel in the sun :-). Best thing to do is give them options, and put a water source (like a bowl) close to where they like to hang out (even if its the hottest room) and let them enjoy their 'thermal bath'.

[@PrinceDuCiel7]

Sometimes they're just dumb. but i do find that 30 isn't too bad even for the long haired cats. But when it was over 40 in my apartment, but cooling down outside, my fluffiest cat kept trying to run inside, even if he started panting the minute he did! I had to sit in the doorway to the deck, keeping him outside till it was cool enough inside to not over heat him. which of course took hours cuz I couldn't keep the door open all the way.

[@CikisHelyzet]

Preach! I have one cat that jumps on a cooling mat, drinks icey water, sits in front of the fan and cuddles the little ice packs I give her. The other one THE BIG BRITISH SHORTHAIR WITH PILES OF FUR sits in the hottest spots.. the window! She is black! And avoids cooling mats like they're poison. I have to wait until she gets too tired to move from her bed, and then sneak gel freezer packs into her bedding so she doesn't roast. She lets me wet her head and neck and no chance of getting near her belly. 🤦🏻‍♀️ so stressful! Luckily I have trained both cats to drink on demand... basically it reminds them, but they're obviously not forced to drink. I have been changing their water every few hours and bought bags of ice to keep it cold. They like the novelty of the ice imo. I agree with the doc, you can make suggestions and encourage but I have to trust that she knows her preferences, and my only job is to keep tabs on her paws, comb her a couple times a day, so her coat feels freshened up, make sure she's eating and drinking... provide fans and gel packs. It's 29°C here so I feel like this is my full time job right now! 😩 You are not alone!

[@lopoa126]

One of my cats will go upstairs when it has to be 120+ midday in that room. I just check on her to make sure she is breathing okay. Eventually she'll leave and come downstairs by the AC. My dog used to lay on the pavement when it was 100+ out.

[@joannaedwards6325]

@@CikisHelyzet Keeping a cat or cats is definitely a 'job'. You're right. I was a 75 y.o. couch potato until Mookie came into my life. Now I'm a much healthier 76 y. o. because doing for her keeps me active. I love my new 'job'. p.s. since she came I've lost 15 lbs. and my cholesterol is down. Maybe she's my nurse. 😄

[@kiute.c]

One of my babies has a heart murmur and is terrified of the AC 😿 I’ve been working on desensitization for about a month now and their vet suggested that I give him Composure 2x a day. That seems to have helped a bit but I hope he realizes that the AC is a friend soon. He’s always been lean but now he’s lost weight because he refuses to eat sometimes. He normally loves food and loves stealing his brother’s food. I love him so much and my heart breaks for him 💔

[@_romy_03]

I'm sorry, but your vet's advice is just so wrong 😥... You need to always stay under threshold and never just expose the animal to a degree that leads to full-blown fear. Look up "counter conditioning", it's a very effective tool to help the animal with their fear and to actually change the emotion as apposed to desensitization using "flooding" which only leads to learned helplessness.

[@kiute.c]

@@_romy_03 Hi there, thank you for this advice because I know that it’s coming from a good place. I just wanted to say that I completely agree with you. We only began supplementing with Composure about three/four weeks into the desensitization process when I literally was breaking down crying from being unable to take away my baby’s fear of the AC. He was scared of the sound, the cold air, and to a lesser degree, the unit itself. We had sweltering heat in NY in July and my electricity bill only went up ~$20 because I chose to suffer in the heat as much as possible to keep him calmer. Despite my own discomfort, my cats showed no signs of overheating and my other baby still loved sleeping in the sun. Unfortunately, I couldn’t remove and put back the unit daily; but when I was home, I’d turn the AC on and off, and I started with just a few minutes on every hour-ish. It wasn’t working and he’d keep crying. There were times when he’d crawl into my lap if I sat by the sofa but he’d go back under if I got up. A few days into taking Composure twice daily, he started coming out of hiding briefly again. I noticed one day when I piled all my bedsheets on the coffee table (I live in a studio) that he decided it was okay to be on the sofa because he couldn’t see the unit. So I started to leave throw blankets and pillows on the coffee table. He eventually began to sleep on the sofa if the unit was off. I cried from relief on the first day that he slept in his normal crazy-looking sprawled out position with his mouth wide open. That’s how he sleeps when he feels safe. He’s normally a very energetic boy who plays hard and sleeps hard. The desensitization process has been long and he still runs to hide if the AC makes the loud noise that means it switched from fan to cool mode, but I’m happy to say that he’s eating, playing, and sleeping deeply again. He’s actually taken to sleeping on the throw blanket on the coffee table so now I guess I just have to leave it there when I have no guests. I also started cutting Composure to once a day last week and didn’t give him any this weekend. So far, he’s been okay and yelling at me to play with him constantly again 😸

[@kiute.c]

@@_romy_03 I forgot to add that counter-conditioning was not an option in the beginning because his fear of the AC was crippling. I was only able to try to associate it with positive things like snacks and extra kisses and cuddles after he calmed down a bit. For example, no amount of his favorite treats or extra hugs and kisses (he lovessss being held like a baby) could convince him to go near the unit in the beginning. He was too scared and would practically fly out of my arms. Now, I hold him like a baby every day while passing by the unit and letting him feel the cold air. And I tell him, “see, it’s not scewy!“ every time 😹

[@Astrologus-Auctrix]

Hey, a few questions about something specific: So I’m moving at the end of this month, pretty much all the way across the country (the US). We’re driving and we have 4 cats and a dog. What’s the best way to make sure they (especially the cats because they had a hard time last time we moved. The boys would start panting if we turned the air conditioning below the middle setting!) don’t get too hot? We’ve already talked about getting window covers for the row they’ll be in but do you have any other tips? One of our cats is 10 and has a heart murmur (and he’s long hair) so I’m especially worried about him. Also, we’re going to be moving to somewhere more rural. There’s a lot of wild animals around. Since everywhere is getting hotter is there something we could do to help nearby wild animals (deer, rabbits, many different size birds, foxes)?

[@awxriot]

Just in time for the heatwave hitting Western Europe this week 🥵 thank you for the tips!

[@Happyheretic2308]

Ah, that thing called “summer”!!

[@Howlin000]

I love your channel!

[@captainred441]

Dogs have no common sense. I love that one!

[@zamzar2]

Some cats don't drink when they're lazy when very hot so I use to give them for them tasty wet food and double of water mixed with a fork 💧💧💧💧🥣🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🪣

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Not lazy, they just get water from their food so don't need to drink as much.

[@zamzar2]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Thank you for your reply !😻 my male cat has got a very tasty *Hills Prescription Diet Feline c/d Multicare Ocean Fish - Dry Cat Food* so my female feeding on it too. My experience are also of Persians and that males didn't like the wet food's big chunks only the gravy. So are my now ex-feral kitten now 11-years that doesn't like wet food until I mash the mousse with food with 50 _%water and especially on hot days is good. I am scared of male cats getting kidney stones it seems so common but serious . I got some very urgent experience . Thank for all your info of cats I subbed Regards from Sweden 🐱😻

[@Medsas]

my cat just hides in the basement when its hot 🤣

[@amandageorge8137]

The things I do to help my cat are : - Wipe him down with a wet cloth, get down to the skin.I make sure to wipe the tips of his ears as well. I have a fluffy maine coon mix, he's very docile! - Leave the cool cloth in an area for him to lay on - Leave out at least 2 fresh cold water sources. I have an electric fountain in a common used area, and a cold bowl I change often in the basement. It's cooler there for him - (In addition to the water bowls)Put water in a container safe for the freezer. When ice forms, I put it in the fridge to melt a little bit. That way he has ice water to drink ,or flink on himself

[@hy930807]

I got the cooling pad ready for my cat months prior already ready for the hot days. But he just don’t use it. He will sleep every where else. Even back to the conservatory that’s full glass fully exposed to the sun no idea why. It’s so hot in there

[@TheVicdub]

I love how you’re cooling your dog 😂😂

[@mtcynthus]

I live in a hot climate during summer, and my vet told me that cats eat a lot less during hot weather. I have found that to be true-my cat eats way less in the summer. Though I run AC every day, and he is an indoor-only kitty, he seems to sense the temperature outside somehow and his appetite diminishes when it’s hot.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Makes sense. Humans too.

[@dianemauer6185]

My cat Lightfoot runs like he's crazy in the morning and at night.. He seems to enjoy the a/c. When it's really hot he sleeps in his cat carrier . I leave the door open and he sleeps. It's hard plastic with lots of air holes. When it comes to eating he wants his kibble. Might eat a little wet but doesn't seem too happy .

[@DancingNinja007]

No matter how hot my house gets, my cat still sleeps on his electric heated bed... I do not understand how/why lol

[@crazylittlethingcalledjuchka]

I've literally never seen Juchka drink water, she must be really sneaky about it because she's doing great in any weather (thank goodness) :v

[@joannaedwards6325]

I hardly ever see my Siamese Mookie drink from her water bowls. I knew cats need to stay hydrated so I make her 'soup'. Which she happily laps up. I mash up chilled pate style cat food in a bit of cold water. Really liquidize it by mushing it with my fingers. I've been putting ice cubes in her water but now I'll stop that and give her bottled water from the fridge. I really like this vet...so winsome 😊.

[@pjcifulleli2655]

Have an older outdoor stray cat. VERY wary. How do I cool him??? I do put ice cubes in the water

[@nijego]

My cat is definitely struggling with heat, yet he always rather lies outside dieing instead of staying inside the house where there's an AC and refuses to drink anything except a bit of milk every few months ^^

[@runningcafe1]

Squish that subscribe button 😂

[@monicaperez2843]

LOL!

[@DianeKovacs]

Clawdia does not look happy about being a small dog. ;)

[@sophitsa79]

The main question is do I give my long hair cat a haircut?

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Yes!

[@sophitsa79]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Thanks for replying. I've been wanting to ask you for a long time but didn't expect an answer! 🙏

[@alcina22]

What is your opinion regarding putting on "dog shoes" when it's really hot to protect your dogs' paws (e.g. when you have to walk them on hot ground in the city)? I've rarely seen people use them but I've always wondered whether a vet would approve...?

[@biancaluedeker]

Oh good. Mr. Pirate is okay.

[@eric2500]

Happy International Cat Day!

[@silveryfeather208]

How are your cats so chill with being handled. Lol the cats must be thinking, wtf are you doing lol.

[@Tiger351]

I'm always worried about my longhair boy in summer, good to know I've been doing the right things for him. The wet fur thing for cats must be instinctive for them too, if I leave the shower door open in summer OJ will go and loaf in the water drops that didn't drain lol.

[@papeya]

Oof the panting part scared me a bit. My youngest cat (8 months) pants regularly when she is in play/hunting mode, regardless of my room temperature. Is that it in the realm of normal behaviour?

[@dma93-ch]

might wanna tell that to your vet, could be a heart problem