How to keep dogs and cats safe in hot weather

Humans sweat. Dogs pant. Cats groom and seek shade. Both panting and grooming are far less efficient than sweating, which means pets heat up faster and have less room to manage it on their own. A dog left in a parked car on an 85°F (30°C) day can develop life-threatening heat stroke in under 30 minutes. Even at home, without shade or water, the risk builds quickly.

How dogs and cats handle heat differently

Dogs rely almost entirely on panting to cool down. As they breathe rapidly, moisture evaporates from the tongue and respiratory tract and carries heat away. It works, but not well enough in very high temperatures or humidity, or when a dog is already warm from exercise.

Cats are better at self-regulating. They instinctively seek out cool spots, reduce activity, and groom themselves so that evaporating saliva cools the skin. Outdoor cats can manage heat reasonably well when they have access to shade and water. Indoor cats in a closed apartment with no air circulation are more vulnerable than they appear.

Both species are at risk in enclosed hot spaces, and both can develop heat stroke. Cats just tend to hide it longer.

Signs of overheating

Open-mouth panting in a cat is always a warning sign. Cats almost never breathe that way unless something is wrong.

What to do if your pet overheats

For early overheating, before the pet loses responsiveness:

Which pets are most at risk

All dogs and cats can overheat, but some are significantly more vulnerable and need extra precautions whenever temperatures rise.

Flat-faced breeds

Brachycephalic dogs — Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus — have narrowed airways that make panting less effective. They overheat faster and recover more slowly. The same applies to flat-faced cats: Persians, Himalayans, Exotic Shorthairs. These animals should be kept in air-conditioned spaces during hot weather and should not be exercised in the heat at all.

Older animals and those with health conditions

Elderly pets, overweight animals, and those with heart, lung or kidney conditions have a reduced ability to regulate temperature. Their risk in hot weather is higher even with moderate temperatures.

Puppies and kittens

Very young animals have not yet developed a full ability to regulate body temperature. They need shade, cool water and close monitoring in warm weather.

Thick or dark coats

Dogs with dense double coats — Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Shepherds, Labradors — absorb and retain more heat. Dark fur absorbs more sunlight. These dogs can still enjoy outdoor time but need shorter sessions and more frequent water breaks.

Practical steps for hot days

• Walk early or late. Before 9am and after 7pm are safer in summer. The pavement test: hold the back of your hand on the surface for 7 seconds. If it is too hot to hold there, it will burn paw pads.
• Never leave a pet in a parked car. On a 30°C (85°F) day, car interior temperature reaches over 50°C (120°F) in 35 minutes. Cracked windows do not help.
• Fresh water, always. Refresh it several times a day. Consider a second bowl outdoors if your cat or dog spends time outside. Ice cubes in the water can help on very hot days.
• Create cool zones indoors. Tiled floors stay cooler than carpet. A damp towel on a cool floor is an easy cooling spot. A fan positioned to move air at pet level helps significantly.
• Shade outdoors. If a pet has outdoor access, they need shade they can reach at all times of day as the sun moves. A single shaded corner in the morning may be in full sun by afternoon.
• Do not shave dogs. A dog's coat provides insulation against heat as well as cold. Trimming is fine. Shaving removes the protection. Brushing regularly is more helpful — it removes dead undercoat that traps heat.
• Brush cats more often. More grooming removes excess coat and helps cats regulate temperature through their own cooling behaviour.
• Watch indoor cats in sealed apartments. A closed apartment without ventilation can reach dangerous temperatures quickly, especially on upper floors in direct sun.

Sunburn

Dogs and cats with thin coats, light or white fur, or pink skin around the nose and ears can sunburn. Areas most at risk are the ear tips, nose bridge, belly and any shaved patches. Repeated sunburn increases the long-term risk of skin cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. Pet-safe sunscreen is available and can be applied to exposed areas. Standard human sunscreen is not safe for pets.

Hot pavement and paw burns

Asphalt and concrete absorb heat through the day. On a sunny 30°C (85°F) day, the pavement surface can be above 57°C (135°F). At that temperature, paw pad burns can happen within a minute of contact. Signs of burned paws include limping, reluctance to walk, redness or blistering on the pads, and licking or chewing at the feet. Walk on grass or shaded paths during peak heat hours, or walk early and late.