Why Don't Cats Like Air Conditioning?
In recent years, summer temperatures have almost consistently been between 36 to 37 degrees Celsius, or even higher. Naturally, feeling that the cats are hot, many owners turn on air conditioning for them. However, some cats would rather stay in a hot, non-air-conditioned area than come inside to enjoy the cool air! What is going on?
Currently, our guesses as to why cats don't want to enjoy air conditioning include:
- The air-conditioned area is less ventilated.
- The airflow from the air conditioner is uncomfortable.
- The cats don't want to be confined to a room.
- It may be too cold for their liking, making them uncomfortable.
- They might not actually feel hot yet (cats tend to tolerate heat better than humans).
At present, there is no definite research on this topic (would anyone conduct such a peculiar study? Yet I really want to know the exact answer). All these reasons are just speculation.
Until we know what exactly bothers our feline friends, a simple and practical approach is to give cats the freedom to choose whether or not to enter an air-conditioned room. This way, they have control over their environment.
Some easy ways to do this include:
- Installing various types of cat doors.
- Using air conditioning curtains.
- Leaving the door slightly ajar (particularly for cats who are accustomed to using human doors).
- Using plastic door attachments that help cats open doors themselves (search for cat doors or pet doors online. I haven't used these myself, so I'm not sure how well they work or if cats can learn to use them).
If your whole home is air-conditioned but your cat hides in rooms or corners that the air doesn't reach, it probably means they really dislike the air conditioning. In that case, it's best to respectfully adjust your cooling setup to accommodate your cat.
Preventing Heatstroke in Cats During Transport in Summer
Do not let your pet carrier or travel bag become a dangerous heatstroke hazard for your cat. As summer arrives, temperatures across Taiwan are rising relentlessly, as if without limits. In this kind of weather, it is especially recommended to pay attention to ventilation and cooling for your cat at home to avoid heatstroke.
Special care is needed for flat-faced breeds (such as Persians and Exotic Shorthairs), long-haired cats, and overweight cats, as they might require additional cooling measures like air conditioning, localized shaving, or cooling mats to help dissipate heat.
Avoiding taking dogs out at noon during hot summer days is common knowledge, but today we want to discuss precautions when taking cats outdoors in summer. Whether you regularly walk your cat, need to bring them for vet visits, or are relocating, how can you prevent heat-related harm when transporting cats in extreme heat?
First, it is important to know that compared to cold, high temperatures cause more rapid and often fatal harm to animals. When an animal's body temperature rises too high and causes shock, there is a risk of death within a very short time. Especially when "high environmental temperature" and "poor ventilation" combine, cats' body temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels.
Unfortunately, if the design of the transport carrier is poor or unsuitable for cats, exposure to direct sunlight or being outdoors can turn it into a small greenhouse or oven, rapidly increasing internal temperatures to dangerous levels.
Here is a simple summary of key points to prevent carriers or travel bags from overheating and causing heatstroke in cats:
1. How to Protect Your Cat from High Temperatures
To prevent your cat from suffering due to excessive heat, try to avoid taking them out during the daytime as much as possible. If going out during the day is unavoidable, choose transportation methods that have air conditioning, such as a car or public transit.
If you don't have access to a car and need to ride a motorcycle or walk, it is recommended to prepare an ice pack wrapped in a towel and place it inside the carrier to help lower the temperature. Avoid exposing the carrier or bag directly to the sun during transport to keep your cat cool and comfortable.
2. Tips for Proper Ventilation in Cat Carriers
Maintain good ventilation: if you will be outdoors for a while, consider preparing a small fan to increase airflow inside the carrier. If you don't have one, as a last resort, use your hand to manually fan the carrier.
Avoid wrapping the carrier so tightly that no air can get in, especially on extremely hot days. Also, do not choose carriers or bags with poor ventilation that have only a few small holes. Ideally, a carrier should have ventilation openings on all four sides, allowing for both air intake and exhaust to ensure proper airflow.
Avoid using carriers or bags that are too small. If your cat can only sit or be squeezed into a tight space, the carrier is likely too small. It is best for the cat to be able to comfortably change position while inside.
3. Reducing Stress for Cats in Hot Weather
High temperatures already pose an urgent risk to cats. If a cat enters a high-stress state during this time, it can be likened to adding fuel to the fire. To avoid placing additional stress on an overheated cat, it is important to pause activities and allow the cat to rest until it recovers.
Cooling down and calming the cat before resuming any activity—or even cancelling plans entirely—is essential. Avoid taking your cat out for unnecessary or unusual outdoor activities during hot days, such as pet exhibitions.
How to Care for Overheated Cats During Travel
Cats are creatures that are very good at hiding their pain and discomfort. Therefore, when a cat is overheated or stressed, signs such as open-mouth breathing and panting are already warning signals! At this point, you should help your cat cool down by providing ventilation. You can use a damp cloth to wipe its paw pads and body, avoid further sun exposure, and watch for any signs of improvement.
If your cat shows more severe symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy (but still has a high body temperature—check if the ears feel hot to the touch), or unsteady walking, it is a serious emergency and you must take your cat to the veterinarian immediately!
In general, the most dangerous situation is taking your cat outside around noon on a hot day without proper shade or the ability to seek shade. Using small, poorly ventilated transport carriers or bags made of plastic shells or fully enclosed designs, combined with travel by bike or on foot exposing the carrier to direct sun, makes the cat extremely anxious and puts its health at risk.
The ideal scenario is to travel at night with your cat, using a spacious and well-ventilated carrier. The main route should have air conditioning or additional fans. Your cat should be accustomed to going outside and relaxed, and the trip should be short enough so that if your cat gets tired, you can return home quickly.
Tips to Encourage Cats to Drink More Water
Keeping your cat well-hydrated is essential for its health. Here are some practical tips to help your feline friend drink more water:
- Place the water bowl separately from the food bowl to encourage drinking.
- Choose water bowls made of glass or ceramic. Avoid materials like shiny metal or plastic that create distinct reflections.
- Use bowls with wider openings to make it easier for your cat to access the water.
- Try offering running or flowing water, which many cats find more tempting.
- Provide multiple water bowls in various locations to increase access.
- Clean the water bowls daily and frequently replace with fresh, clean water.
- Place water bowls in several spots where your cat already spends time regularly.
- Use containers with a stable base to prevent tipping over.
Cat Water Intake and Feeding Tips
The daily water intake for a cat is approximately calculated as body weight multiplied by 40 to 60 cc. Most cats cannot completely regulate this intake on their own, so incorporating wet food either partially or fully into their diet is a great idea.
Many cat owners tend to be too forceful when transitioning their cats to wet food. Some even use methods that let the cat get so hungry that it has no choice but to eat the wet food. This approach is not recommended. The guiding principles should be gradual and giving the cat choices.
Although adding water to canned food or feeding wet food is an excellent way to increase a cat's water intake, the importance of having fresh water available in a bowl should not be neglected.
Never assume that a cat eating only wet food is getting enough water to skip the water bowl. Do not put away the water bowl or ignore it and change the water only infrequently.
Some ask whether a drinking fountain for cats is worth buying. Honestly, humans tend to be lazy. If you are not confident that you will clean it every two or three days (at most every seven days), it is better to save that money and instead buy canned food.
How to Care for Your Cat in Hot Weather
The weather is so hot, and your cat refuses to eat. What should you do? The first reaction cats have to rising temperatures is a decrease in appetite. If you're a cat parent, here are some tips to help you deal with this situation in three key areas: cooling down, appetite, and energy.
- Cooling Down: Make sure your home is cool and comfortable for your cat. Provide shaded areas and plenty of fresh water to keep them hydrated. Using a fan or air conditioning can also help lower the ambient temperature.
- Boosting Appetite: To encourage your cat to eat, try offering smaller, more frequent meals. You can also experiment with wet food or add a little bit of warm water to dry food to make it more appealing. Avoid sudden changes in diet to prevent digestive issues.
- Maintaining Energy: Limit your cat's physical activities during the hottest part of the day. Encourage playtime during cooler hours in the morning or evening. Keeping your cat relaxed and stress-free helps maintain their overall vitality.
By addressing these three areas, you can help your cat stay healthy and comfortable despite the heat.
Cat Cooling Options
1. Cooling Without Air Conditioning: Ventilation Insights
Ventilation (exhaust fans/circulation fans/total heat exchangers): For knowledge related to cooling methods other than air conditioning, please refer to the books or articles from the Taiwan Green Living Association.
Last year, we installed two 14-inch Xunfeng DC exhaust fans in our three-bedroom apartment. After establishing a good airflow pathway running 24 hours a day, we barely needed to turn on the air conditioner. However, last summer was relatively cool, which made the cats very happy and it kept us quite comfortable as well.
2. Review of the Beetle Four-Season Pet Cooling Mat
I recently bought the Beetle Four-Season Pet Mat. It is made of metal and plastic materials. When plugged in and turned on to cool, it consistently lowers the temperature by around four degrees Celsius. So far, it feels quite effective and satisfactory to use.
3. Experiences with Cooling Mats for Cats
I have spent a lot of money on various types of cooling mats—metal, gel-like, slush, and bamboo varieties. I have tried almost every category to the fullest. However, my overall conclusion is that these mats are somewhat ineffective.
Regardless of the type, they tend to reach room temperature relatively quickly. As a result, their cooling effect for cats is quite limited. Still, if there are no other options available, these mats can be used as a temporary solution.
4. Understanding the Limitations of Electric Fans for Cooling
Electric fans are an item found in almost every household. However, if the airflow distance is not sufficient, the fan essentially just moves around the same pocket of hot and humid air. This means its cooling effect is limited, especially for pets.
While electric fans can help lower the temperature slightly for cats, their effectiveness is quite restricted. Nevertheless, if there are no better options available, it's still advisable to use them for some relief.
5. Cooling Solutions for Cats
Air conditioning: If a cat is willing to use air conditioning, it can be a good solution. However, a certain percentage of cats do not like air conditioning, and considering the noticeable electricity cost, it may be better to combine other cooling strategies.
Dealing with Your Cat's Loss of Appetite
1. Adjusting Feeding Times for Cats in Hot Weather
Changing feeding times to cooler periods of the day, such as early morning or late at night, can help keep your cat comfortable. If you feed your cat three to four times a day and find that some meals always fall during the hottest hours, consider adjusting the portion sizes. By allowing your cat to eat larger meals during the cooler times, you can minimize feeding during the heat and help them stay refreshed.
2. Adjusting Your Cat's Meal Plan
If your cat's appetite has decreased significantly, don't stress over insisting that they eat only specific foods to stay healthy. You can appropriately add complementary canned food or freeze-dried treats to their diet, or even switch their entire meal to more palatable options.
It's important to focus on three key aspects of your cat's diet: hydration, calorie intake, and nutrition. If your cat doesn't get enough water and calories for two to three days, they can quickly develop health problems, so owners need to pay extra attention during this time.
One personal favorite for encouraging water intake is the Aishiya black water fountain.
3. Food Storage Safety Tips
Pay attention to the time food is left out: in hot weather, food spoils faster, so it should not be left out for too long. Because different types of food and their initial bacterial counts vary, I cannot give a precise time for how long food can be safely left outside. However, if the smell of the pet food starts to seem off when you get close to sniff it, you should discard it entirely.
Generally, raw food does not last as long as cooked food because the cooking process kills bacteria once.
Coping with Declining Cat Energy and Low Spirits
1. Using Catnip and Related Herbs for Cats
Catnip, silvervine, and galls can be given to cats several times a week to help soothe their irritability and encourage playful behavior. If your cat tends to be less responsive, giving these herbs once or twice a week is sufficient. Some cats may show no reaction at all to these scents, which is perfectly normal, and you can simply choose not to offer them these types of herbs.
A recommended brand for catnip products is Yeowww's catnip pouches.
2. Enhancing Playtime with Your Cat
Changing the time you interact with your cat using a teaser wand can make a big difference. Just like feeding times, try to play with your cat during cooler periods of the day. Cats tend to be more willing to engage when the temperature is lower.
We recommend using a fishing rod-style teaser wand paired with feathers or other small interchangeable heads for variety. Aim to have two play sessions daily—once in the morning and once in the evening—each lasting about 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Choosing a Dehumidifier for Your Cat's Comfort
Sometimes, lowering the humidity makes cats happier. Generally, maintaining a relative humidity around 60% is considered a comfortable environment.
There are many brands of dehumidifiers on the market. It is advisable to choose well-established, reputable brands with a proven track record to avoid any risks of malfunctions or hazards such as explosions.
4. Using Cardboard Boxes to Keep Cats Comfortable
Sometimes the floor can be damp and warm, which is uncomfortable for cats. Providing a cardboard box for your cat allows them to rest off the ground. This is an easy and effective solution to help keep your cat comfortable.
Personal Recommendations and Summer Inspiration
This article contains no sponsored content or any exchanges of benefits. All the products mentioned are ones that I or my friends have personally used and found useful, so I am recommending them sincerely.
I hope that cat parents can find some inspiration from this article to help them get through the long summer days with ease.
Dengue Fever Spraying Precautions for Cat Owners
Dengue fever spraying is toxic to cats! During the summer dengue fever outbreaks, the government sprays insecticides uniformly in alleys and streets to control mosquito populations.
Currently, the insecticides used in Taipei City contain ingredients such as "pyrethroids" or "organophosphates," which are highly toxic to cats! Although we are not familiar with other counties and cities, cat owners everywhere should pay close attention. Many insecticides commonly contain these two ingredients that are extremely poisonous to cats, so caution is necessary.
If your area plans to conduct spraying this summer, please take care of your cats to prevent accidental poisoning:
- Do not let your cats roam freely outdoors.
- Stay informed by monitoring epidemic news and neighborhood spraying notifications.
- Keep doors and windows tightly closed during spraying.
- If pest control personnel will spray inside your home, consider boarding your cat elsewhere to keep it safe.
- Avoid taking your cat outdoors in sprayed areas.
- Watch your cat's health closely and seek veterinary care immediately if any signs of discomfort appear.
