Cats have some sweat glands, but their skin is covered in fur, so this minimizes the amount of cooling the sweat can provide. Paw pads have the most sweat glands. You may see damp footprints from your cat walking on a hard surface in the summertime. Panting is the most efficient way cats cool themselves. It works by allowing heat from the hottest part of the body, the inner thorax, to escape through moisture produced by mucous membranes of the tongue, mouth and throat. The cat exhales the moist air and the process of evaporation cools the cat. Although it is the most efficient way of cooling, panting is not an everyday occurrence in cats. Most cats are not outside running and exercising at the same level as dogs. On a warm day a cat will lie down in the shade and nap. Only very heat stressed cats will pant, so if your cat is panting you need to be concerned that she is too hot, unlike the common panting we see in dogs. Help your cat to cool herself by wetting her fur with cold water, providing cool water to drink, and moving her to a cooler area. Cats also lick the fur over their bodies to distribute saliva that will evaporate to cool them, much like sweat would do.

How Does Body Temperature Stay Within the Normal Range?

Body temperature is controlled by the brain. When there are increases in outside temperatures, or a cat is excited, stressed, or has been recently active, the body gets a signal from the brain to lose the extra body heat. The primary way is through panting, but other methods are also important. Dilating blood vessels in the skin allows heat to escape as the warm blood is brought closer to the surface. Sweating, stretching out the body, or getting wet are other ways cats stay cool. If these processes cannot be performed, or the body is overwhelmed and cannot cool itself enough, heat stroke and death may occur.

Fever or Just Hot?

A temperature consistently over 102.8 degrees Fahrenheit is cause for concern in cats. Signs of fever include reluctance to move, increased frequency of breathing, depression, anorexia, and lethargy or listlessness.

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