Do Cats Sweat?

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  • Do cats sweat?

    Yes, but unlike humans who have sweat glands all over the body, cats only sweat through their paws and nose. These glands are known as eccrine glands. Due to the small number of sweat glands and the location, sweating does not play a significant role in thermoregulation in cats. On scorching days you may see wet paw marks on the floor where your cat has been sweating.

    How do cats keep cool?

    Cats seem to have a much higher tolerance to heat than humans do even though they sweat very little. You may notice on a hot day your cat is grooming himself a lot and grooming transfers saliva onto the cat’s coat, which evaporates, cooling him down.

    • Cats will naturally seek out a cool and shady spot on hot days. You may notice him lying on the tiles in the bathroom or laundry.
    • They avoid physical activity when it’s hot — choosing to nap instead.
    • Cats drink more water, always ensure the cat has access to fresh drinking water 24/7. Make the cat more comfortable by adding ice cubes to the water on hot days.
    • Stretching out – you may notice on hot days your cat is stretched out. Whereas on chilly days, he will curl up to conserve body heat.
    • Panting – generally, cats don’t pant as much as dogs. Some are more prone to panting, but typically cats use other methods to cool down. Panting is almost a last resort and is a sign your cat is extremely hot and possibly suffering from heatstroke, which is a life-threatening condition.

    What not to do on a hot day

    • Never, ever leave a cat unattended in a car, but this is especially important on hot days. The internal temperature of the car can rise within a minute or two, resulting in fatal heatstroke in the cat.
    • Avoid over-exerting your cat on a hot day.
    • Always make sure your cat has access to a shady/cool spot.
    • Have fresh drinking water available at all times.
    • Regularly groom your cat, especially if he has long hair.

    Author

    • Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

      Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio