How do cats cool down?

[Ash]

I'm a bit puzzled about my cats' behaviour.

We live in India (I'm German, my husband's Indian) with two cats and two dogs. Two weeks ago, the hot season has started and temperatures have already reached 40 degrees (104-5 Fahrenheit). Even in the nights the appartment doesn't cool out anymore and stays around 32 (90) degrees. For that reason - we were all suffereing - we had an AC installed in the bedroom, which keeps the room at a constant pleasant 25-26 (just below 80) degrees. We enjoy it, the dogs enjoy it, we spend a lot of time there now - but the cats won't come in! (And yes, they are very good friends with the dogs.) Before, they used to sleep/hang out in the bedroom all the time, it's not that they don't like the room. But now they prefer to sleep and hang out (lethargically) in the other (hot) bedroom and living room. They are lazy, don't play much, and their bodies feel hot to the touch. (No, they are not ill; just the last few days we luckily had a respite and the temperature dropped a little, and they played and ran around like they normally do.) So, it's apparent they suffer from the heat, but why do they avoid the AC room?

We used to live in another house with a garden before, where they would sleep outside in the nights; it gets much cooler outside than inside a house/appartment in the nights. There they always had their cool-down periods in the nights, obviously. But now here they don't have that, they can't go out, and feel too warm 24/7. Could this be harmful to them, and if so, how can I cool them down? We sweat, dogs pant, but how do cats cool down? I've tried to make them a little wet with a cloth, but they hate that.

[Tina B and crew]

Cats will pant just like dogs to cool down, but don't seem to do it as often as dogs. Cats can get overheated...just be sure that they have plenty of fresh cool water available to them at nights. You might try giving them some wet towels to sleep on if you have a place you can put wet towels without hurting the floor or furniture. Do you leave the bedroom door open at night so they can come in if they choose too? I wonder if it could be the noise from the AC that causes them to avoid the room? It might just take them some time to get use to the sound of the AC. I know last year when we lost power we bought an AC to run on a generator for our bedroom..I can tell you the cats did not like the sound of the AC at all.

[Ash]

Yes, there is always water and yes, the bedroom door is always ajar.

I can't imagine they'd like wet towels, they both are very water shy. The floor wouldn't be a problem, it's all tiled. I could give it a try.

I also thought they might not like the noise, although it's a split AC, the noisy part is kept outside. Noodle is a bit nervous sometimes about new things, people and noises. But Tommy usually isn't. This afternoon, Noodle actually slept with my husband in the AC room for an hour, so maybe you're right and they just have to get used to it. But Tommy still refuses to come in.

I had just assumed they would be as happy as I am about it!

[Cleo]

I was going to guess the noise too. It takes my cat a while to get used to the A/C or fan at the beginning of every summer. I'm sure they'll adjust soon and I hope everyone stays cool.

[Ash]

Okay, thank you! So I'll wait and see

[Ash]

Just wanted to let you know that what you guessed seems to be right: they just had to get used to the AC. Now another week has passed and they sleep with us as usual, and hang out and play in the bedroom. Maybe they found the drop in temperature when entering the room weird at first.

So we're all now and set to face the hottest weeks of the year!