Cats have a reputation for finding the warmest spot in the house, but hot weather can still catch them out. They have their own ways of keeping cool, and knowing how those work, and what it looks like when they aren't enough, keeps a cat safe through a heatwave.

How Cats Cool Themselves Down

Cat seeking cool surfaces

Most of a cat's cooling is done through behaviour. A cat who's warm stretches out on the bathroom tiles, moves under the bed or finds the draught from an open door, letting body heat drain away into a cooler surface. They also do less. A cat sleeping through the hottest part of a summer afternoon is managing the heat sensibly.

Grooming does more than people expect. Saliva spread across the coat evaporates and takes heat with it, so a cat who washes more in hot weather is cooling down. There are also small sweat glands in the paw pads, which is why cats sometimes leave damp prints on a hot day, though they contribute only a little.

Panting is the last resort. A cat who's panting has run out of gentler options and is working hard to cool down.

Cats adjust their days when the temperature climbs, with play put off, long rests taken through the middle of the day, more visits to the water bowl and the liveliest hours moving to early morning and evening. Heat exhaustion builds gradually, though, and the early signs are easy to miss because they look like a cat being lazy in the sun...

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Research rating: ⭐⭐ (2 of 5). Last updated 25 August 2026.

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