If you ever wonder why your cat seems to clean itself more during the hot summer months, it's because cats don't use sweat to cool themselves in the same way that humans do. Sweating cools down the body's temperature as it evaporates off the skin. Unlike humans, cats don't have sweat glands all over their bodies, only on their tongues and paws. Cats, therefore, have developed several methods apart from sweating to regulate their body temperature and keep cool.
Sweating Through Paws
The only place on a cat's body that emits sweat is at the cat's paws. This is most noticeable when a cat is scared, at the vet's for example, and it leaves little wet prints on the vet's examining table. The surface area on a cat's paws isn't great enough to effectively cool it down, however, so cats use other methods to keep themselves cool.
Panting
Like dogs, cats will pant in the heat. It is common for cats to pant in over 90 degree Fahrenheit weather. Panting is a function of the respiratory system and it helps regulate a cat's body temperature. When the weather is hot enough for a cat to pant, make sure it has lots of cool water available, as panting uses energy and water also helps regulate the cat's temperature.
Bathing
Bathing is a method of coping with heat that is effective for a cat as it essentially performs the same function that sweating does in humans. The cat coats itself with a layer of saliva, which cools its body as it evaporates and lowers its temperature.
Lying in the Shade
The simplest way for a cat to keep cool is for it to find a shady spot under a tree or in a basement where it can sprawl out on the cool ground. The cat will stretch itself out so as much of its body as possible touches the cold ground. In hot conditions, cats will probably spend most of their time in shady spots resting, as it will keep them from overheating.
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