Hot days call for all sort of touchstone to beat the warmth . Besides drinking mint of water supply , we perspire , dogs gasp , and cats ? Well , they might retire into a shady office or dash deep down . Chances are , you ’ve never seen your Arabian tea show any polarity that she ’s actually perspire it out .

As a result , you might wonder : Do cats sweat ? And if not , how do cats cool down ?

Keep understand to learn whether or not cats sweat and how they contend to keep cool no matter the weather , with insight from experts in feline physiology .

Cat laying outside in the sun

Do Cats Sweat?

First , know this — although you might not be capable to see it , cats do indeed sudate , say Dr. Kristi Flynn , an assistant professor in the section of veterinary clinical skill at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul , Minnesota .

But as it turns out , the overall resolution is more or less complicated , allege Dr. Joseph Taboada , associate doyen for curriculum and academic affairs and professor of companion animal internal medicine at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge .

There ’s a reason you ’ve never seen your bozo shake off beading of perspiration in the summertime . Exactly where , why , and how cats perspire is a little unlike compare to man .

Cat laying in bed with its paws up and eyes closed

Do Cats Have Sweat Glands?

Like us , cats have sweat glands , but theirs are n’t locate all over their body . Rather , cat ’ sweat glands are come up in only a few comparatively hairless areas such as between their foot pads , around their lip , and on the skin surrounding their anus , aver Taboada .

So , how do cats sweat ? This is where it receive a piddling complicated . quat do n’t typically sweat in the same manner that we do to cool down off — often , it ’s more of a response to stress , Taboada adds .

When a computed tomography sense scared or accentuate out , her soundbox releases stress hormones which in bout actuate her sweat secreter to release fret . “ Because of this , astressed catin the clinic will sometimes leave footling wet pawprints on a stainless steel table , ” he says .

Cat grooming itself outdoors in the sun

Still , even though computerized axial tomography do n’t sweat so much to beat the heat , they do involve to keep up a stable consistence temperature . All mammals — world , dog , and cats alike — need to keep their consistence temperature in substantiation as a part of homeostasis , or the body ’s internal counterbalance necessary for essential chemical processes . A cat ’s body temperature needs to remain within a normal mountain chain of about 100.5 to 102.5 degrees .

How Do Cats Keep Cool?

“ The master agency that cats cool down themselves is by licking themselves , ” tell Taboada . This is why you may notice your khat grooming herself more often throughout ardent spring and summertime months , he read .

As it turns out , your cat does n’t just figure out her fur coat to remove isolated hairs or pest like flea . With every sweep of her tongue , she leave behind spittle which help cool down her off as it vaporize off of her skin , according to a2018 study inPNAS .

Caterpillar also chill themselves by bed to cooler areas and take a open frame from play and other activities when it ’s raging . “ They ’ll find a cool spot and hunker down , using less energy and , as a event , making less heat , ” explains Taboada .

Cat outdoors in sunny garden drinking water

An significant note : While dogs often habituate panting to chill down , cats do n’t , says Flynn . You might mark your kitten orcat pantingafter particularly vigorous drama ( which is fine ) , but if there ’s no apparent grounds for her panting , it could be a sign of a deep wellness issue likefeline asthma attack . If you find your cat panting , she could be in serious distress , so take her into see a veterinarian immediately , says Flynn .

Tips for Helping Your Cat Stay Cool

As a pet parent , it ’s pretty soft to keep your cat safe and healthy throughout the class .

Make certain your cat always has a full water bowl to rehydrate , as well as access to a cool and suspicious area inside in edict to turn tail the heat , tell Flynn .

And if you see tight paw prints that could betoken anxiety in your computed tomography , consider asking yourselfwhy your kat might be feeling stressed out .