topic Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat in Community Chat

HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 01:36:39 GMT

It's really hot here (for San Francisco), about 90 degrees.

Our 3 year old Persian had been uncomfortable all day and just went in the kitchen and threw up bile.

What can we do to cool her off? I called the vet's office and they said ice in her water bowl or put her on a towel cooled with water.

Any suggestions? I have fans on all over the house, but no one in the city has AC.

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

Sammycat1 — Thu, 01 May 2014 02:21:06 GMT

We had this problem once when our AC broke:

- call the emergency vet in your area for tips and make sure they know she's a Persian (Persians are very susceptible to heatstroke)

- put extra bowls of ice water throughout the house to encourage her to drink more

- wet towels wrapped loosely around your cat are an excellent idea. While she's in/under/on the wet towels, direct a fan to blow gently on her.

- do not use too heavy of a towel; it will make it harder for her to breathe -- it's important that not too much weight is on her

- try a small ice pack or a small bag of frozen vegs and hold these on her head or between her legs for a few minutes, then remove

- wet her fur down vs. laying her in a wet towel. Then she can move about freely. Use COOL not COLD water so you don't trigger hypothermia

- if she vomits bile again, call/go to vet/emergency vet...you don't want her kidneys to fail

- watch for blood in her urine; if you see it, take her to the vet ASAP...she may be going into a severe heatstroke

- if you can take her temp, if it goes over 105 degrees Fahrenheit, the same applies - get her to the emergency vet. They know how to expertly take care of a cat with heatstroke.

I hope this helps your kitty!

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 02:35:46 GMT

Sammycat, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your excellent suggestions!

I'm going to start them right now. I also opened the door to the freezer and held her outside in front for just a minute. That may have helped, she got a little more active.

Love your suggestion about using a bag of frozen veg!

Again, thank you

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

Sammycat1 — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:13:50 GMT

You're welcome! I have a friend in SF who has a cat with lymphoma, and she's susceptible to the terrible heat, too.

Good luck and I hope you are your kitty are more comfortable overnight! Please let us know how she's doing in the morning.

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

GCR18 — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:20:52 GMT

My girl cat used to have problems breathing when it was really hot out. I would take her to the room with the air conditioner and position her head, so the air blew right at her. Since there's no air, I'd try it with the fan.

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:46:35 GMT

On 4/30/2014 Sammycat1 said:
You're welcome! I have a friend in SF who has a cat with lymphoma, and she's susceptible to the terrible heat, too.

Good luck and I hope you are your kitty are more comfortable overnight! Please let us know how she's doing in the morning.

Sammycat -

Again, I thank you for your advice and support It was really difficult yesterday, we're all worn out from the heat which reached 90 degrees. It will be hot again today, that's typical for SF. If we're going to get heat, it usually lasts three days before we get a break.

I was able to use several of your suggestions last night and they sure helped. I worry about the cumulative effect of the heat, though.

The girls are seemingly OK this morning. The 6 month old baby is as feisty as ever. She's a tortoiseshell Persian but she definitely doesn't have as much fur as the 3 year old who is a walking fur coat.

I hope your friend and her kitty have a good vet, I'm so sorry to hear about the lymphoma.

I have a bit of news you might want to pass along to her. SF has had one emergency all-night vet for years on 9th Avenue. It's almost always $1000.00 when you walk through the door. I just heard of a new one that people love. I don't know the name, but it's in Daly City (adjacent to SF) and gets high ratings. Tell your friend it's right near the cinema complex, right off the 280 freeway heading south. We were so glad to hear about it. I can always lookup the name if your friend needs it. I feel better just knowing it's available.

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:53:59 GMT

On 4/30/2014 graycatsrule said:
My girl cat used to have problems breathing when it was really hot out. I would take her to the room with the air conditioner and position her head, so the air blew right at her. Since there's no air, I'd try it with the fan.

Thanks, graycats We have several fans, including two ceiling fans, two stand up and two desk top. People in this city do not do well with heat, lol. I put up one of the smaller fans on the floor but the girls would not go near it.

Oddly enough, I got the fur girl to sit on a chair about six feet from the heavy duty fan. She doesn't stay long, but it helps. She does love to sit on the edge of the open door freezer, though. I stand there right with her for a couple of minutes and turn her, first one side, then the other.

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

Mama Mia — Thu, 01 May 2014 18:53:40 GMT

OMG, Noel, am so sorry to hear this. I have spent the last fifteen minutes looking for help for you, seems like you're doing it pretty alright.

However, if she keeps throwing up, go to the vet for fluids! Now. I also read you can take the veggie pack, with towel around it, hold it in armpits and/or groin as tolerated'

Bowl of ice on floor in front of a fan too. Front of every fan really.

I would also keep blinds/curtains closed. Feels cooler that way. I know you don't want to, but a lion cut is good, friend in LV did this on her Persian, or just shave belly. Too late now anyway.

"Showcats Online" , can't c and p, actually has several pictures of these show cat Persians sitting on the top freezer shelf of the frig.

the door is propped open with a spatula, and here these two beauties sit, side by side, for about an hour she said. She kept checking on them So you can try that, but really watch the "walking fur coat" girl if she needs fluids.

Can you get a window a/c installed for next time? Krrp us posted, Noel my friend and cat mom too. Prayers.

Love,mm

my edit sp

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

Sammycat1 — Thu, 01 May 2014 21:03:09 GMT

On 5/1/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 4/30/2014 Sammycat1 said:
You're welcome! I have a friend in SF who has a cat with lymphoma, and she's susceptible to the terrible heat, too.

Good luck and I hope you are your kitty are more comfortable overnight! Please let us know how she's doing in the morning.

Sammycat -

Again, I thank you for your advice and support It was really difficult yesterday, we're all worn out from the heat which reached 90 degrees. It will be hot again today, that's typical for SF. If we're going to get heat, it usually lasts three days before we get a break.

I was able to use several of your suggestions last night and they sure helped. I worry about the cumulative effect of the heat, though.

The girls are seemingly OK this morning. The 6 month old baby is as feisty as ever. She's a tortoiseshell Persian but she definitely doesn't have as much fur as the 3 year old who is a walking fur coat.

I hope your friend and her kitty have a good vet, I'm so sorry to hear about the lymphoma.

I have a bit of news you might want to pass along to her. SF has had one emergency all-night vet for years on 9th Avenue. It's almost always $1000.00 when you walk through the door. I just heard of a new one that people love. I don't know the name, but it's in Daly City (adjacent to SF) and gets high ratings. Tell your friend it's right near the cinema complex, right off the 280 freeway heading south. We were so glad to hear about it. I can always lookup the name if your friend needs it. I feel better just knowing it's available.

I'm glad to hear your kitties made it through OK -- praying for better weather for you! Thanks for your good news and well wishes for my friend -- her kitty has an oncologist who is so far working miracles. The lymphoma isn't the most aggressive kind. I'll pass along the word about the new emergency shelter. My friend doesn't live in the city proper, but in Brisbane.

Good luck today -- you're doing all the right things.

Re: HELP PLEASE: Cat Sick From The Heat

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