It's summer and it's getting hot, hot, HOT where I live. My three cats seem to be managing well enough so far, but I worry about them if it happens to get any hotter than it already is. The underside of our porch is dark and cool, add the occasional ice cubes to their water, and I try to brush them regularly. On the chance that these things don't work well enough, does anyone have any additional suggestions?

Your input is greatly appreciated!

Cats are clever creatures; they'll usually try and find ways to regulate their temperature themselves. If they're too hot, you may find them retreating to shadier areas, or lie on cool stones or tiled floors (or even in the sink/bathtub). Or you may find them just basking in the sun, loving every minute of it. Even my winter cat (she's a longhair with a thick coat, and has tufts of fur in between the pads of her feet, which is a sign she's more capable of handling the snow) will lounge in the sunlight coming in through the windows, even on some of our hotter days.

Of course, helping them keep cool a little during heatwaves is always a good idea. Generally one of the best way to do that is (as you mentioned) to brush them daily, as this helps them shed and pull away some of the excess fur that will cause them to overheat. Also making sure that your yard has some shady options (do you have a garden/bush/tree? Maybe put out an umbrella? Or even just a lawn chair they can hide under or curl up on, depending on their mood.)

If you don't have AC, fans will help keep the air inside moving. Keeping the curtains closed will also help keep the house cooler. You could also freeze a bottle of water or use those freezer packs for lunches and put them in their bed(s)/sleeping area for them to curl up with. I'm sure you know this, but make sure they always have access to fresh water, and you've got the right idea, adding the occasional ice cube to it.

When they're outside there's not a whole lot you can control, so making sure your house/yard is their retreat is really the best you can do. Do they have a cat door? If not, just be sure you're always on the lookout to see if they want in. And, if it's a particularly hot day and you're worried about their safety, just keep them inside. They may not be happy about it, but it'd be a lot safer for them.

Also learn to recognize the signs of heatstroke in cats (agitation, distress, panting, skin hot to the touch, vomiting, glazed eyes, drooling, staggering). If they're just starting to show signs of stress, bring them to a cool area and offer them water (but don't force them to drink) and watch closely for any improvements. If they're showing signs of heatstroke, soak their body in cool water (not cold), making sure you don't get any water in their nose/mouth, offer them water to drink and take them to a vet. If they fall unconscious, soak their body, but don't try to get an unconscious animal to drink; just rush them to a vet where they will hydrate them through an IV. You can read more about cats and heatstroke here.

Usually cats are pretty good about keeping cool on their own by finding cooler places to stay. I agree 100% with everything that said, and would like to add that if you're concerned about the heat, make sure you leave a way for them to get in. The place I'm staying now has an outdoor cat who goes in and out of the house, and she regularly heads in when it gets really hot. If you have any water tray where the water isn't still (e.g. one of those water bowls where it keeps the water circulating), that's always good to have out and it keeps the water from getting stagnant or dirty.

Thank you so much for your response, both of you. :)

Luckily we've got plenty of bushy plants that they can lie under. They seem to have recently taken to lying in the azalea bed, since it's normally cool and slightly damp from receiving so little sunlight. I've been wondering if wrapping up frozen water bottles would help, glad to hear it as a suggestion! That would certainly be a cheaper alternative to a cooling pad that our cats may or may not use. My mother and I would love to be able to bring the cats in, but unfortunately, my father hates animals indoors. He allowed them inside when we had a deadly cold winter, so hopefully he'll be as forgiving if the heat gets any worse than it is. In the meantime, we'll be doing our best to try and keep our furry friends as cool as possible.

I'll be sure to make a list of warning signs to put where my family can see, that way we can be properly aware of the signs and what to do. Again, I really appreciate the pleasant feedback. :)

They sell cooling mats at some pet stores. They're like large ice mats that you can put a cover over so it's not suuuper cold and the cats can lay on them to cool down. And yes, frozen water bottles are a good idea too - just make sure you don't fill them all the way to the top when you put them in your freezer as they can 'asplode in the freezer if they're too full. 3/4 full should be just fine. You should really have a talk with your father though, and let him know the dangers of keeping cats outside and the upsides of keeping them inside. If he likes them at all, I would hope he'd listen. I'm not saying any of that to be mean...it's just that I love cats and I worry about them when they're outdoors.

thanks for the tips about cooling mats, I didn't know those existed.

Our cat is dealing with her first summer outdoors (same situation, father doesn't want her inside) and so far she's been alright, one tip I'd give is, if you have a hose, hose down a shady spot you know they might like to chill out. It will help the ground stay cool. Bonus if it's a spot that doesn't get any direct sun during the day. The less direct sun the better. Make a spot on the west side of the house if you can, where the sun rises, it's cooler in the morning and shady in the afternoon. We brush her daily too, which she loves and it calms her down a lot.

We are looking for a way to let her in the garage during the day however, because it's been getting excessively hot. But on terrible days she's been allowed inside to cool off.