Do Cats Sweat?

Cat by Pool

Have you ever had the thought of Cats sweating? Well, Just imagine chilling outside with your cat next to you on a hot sunny day, and amazingly as the sun gets hotter, your cat is soaked in sweat, making its fur look humid and soggy as though it was dipped in water. That sounds funny yet weird, right? Yes, I know it does. But the verity is, cats do sweat. Unlike humans, who sweat all over their bodies, cats do sweat in subtle ways. If you look at them closely on a hot sunny day, it may seem as though they are not affected by heat. But surprisingly, they are affected. It’s just that they have intriguing ways to cool themselves off in hot weather that you wouldn’t even think of. Are you eager to know how these amazing pets sweat? Well, I got you covered because right from the first sentence, I did tell you why this article matters. Now, it’s about time we get to know more about cats’ sweat. So, let’s get started right away.

Why Do Cats Sweat?

A cat’s normal body temperature ranges between 99°F and 102.5° Fahrenheit (37.2 –39.2 degrees Celsius). Cats tend to sweat to maintain their normal body temperature. This mainly happens in the summer seasons when the temperatures are pretty high. Cats may also sweat when they are stressed out. One of the external reasons why the cat may freak out is a veterinary visit, and here, the paws leave wet footprints on the exam slab. (A clear evidence that cats do sweat) Cats may also get stressed out because of fear, sickness, a menace to their habitat, such as a new cat and being stroked more than they do.

How Do Cats Sweat?

Cats have limited sweat glands, which are concentrated majorly on specific areas where there is less fur. This could be on the bottom of their paw pads and their noses.

Sweating Through The Paw Pads

This is one of the strangest ways, yet a fundamental means cats emit sweat and regulate their body temperature. Cats have very small sweat glands primarily located on their paw pads and between their toes. With their paws being cute and colorful, they are versatile and dignified in a cat’s wellbeing. According to behavioral research done by Stanley Finger* and Ulf Norrsell, from the department of physiology, the University of Göteborg, the nerve receptors in a cat’s paw are very sensitive, by the same token, very susceptible to temperatures.Though paw pads have sweat glands, they don’t have enough surface area for thermoregulation because the paws are quite pronounced. Hence, they have secondary ways of cooling off their internal body temperatures in addition to sweating. This includes licking their fur, stretching out on a cool surface, drinking water, and hanging out in areas with shades. Let’s see how these secondary means adjust their body temperatures.

Licking their fur

By licking their fur, the cat cools down to the normal body temperatures, which is brought about when the saliva gets into contact with the skin and gradually evaporates, leaving a cooling sensation. This works closely like human sweat when it evaporates off the skin. So, using freshwater will help the cat with the extra grooming done when the weather is hot, without it getting much thirsty.

Stretching out on cool surfaces

When cats stretch out on a cool surface, it exposes more of their body surface to release heat to cool down. This allows their bellies to illuminate heat and enables them not to yield more heat internally and keep their cool.

Sweating through the nose

You may wonder why the cats’ noses are typically wet. This wetness is predominantly sweat, and its significance is to help the cat achieve heat regulation. A cat’s nose has a Rhinarium– a furless skin surface around the nostril openings. The rhinarium, known as the tip of the snout or a moist snout, contains sweat glands that create moisture. To boost the relevance of sweat glands located on the rhinarium in contributing to a wet nose, the interior tear duct also creates drainage to achieve the same result– a wet nose. A wet rhinarium is a sign of a healthy cat. But you ought to be careful when it comes to a wet nose and a running nose. If a cat exhibits a runny nose, then that should be a course of concern because, a runny nose does not denote sweating but a prodrome of a serious illness.

How To Make A Feline More Comfortable During Summer Time

If you are more concerned about your feline companion, you can help out by showing these little yet crucial compassionate actions. Firstly, you can stroke the cat with a damp, cold washcloth. This will help them cool down faster than a cat licking itself. Secondly, you can always stroke the cat more often to keep it well-groomed during the summer months. Thirdly, it is advisable to leave bowls of fresh water around the house. This will provoke the cats to drink the water more often, hence, allowing them to stay hydrated over time. Lastly, you can keep cool flooring uncovered just in case you have dressed the floors with fluffy carpets. By uncovering them, the cats will gravitate on the cool surface and will aid in cooling the heat. According to Dunlogginvet, it is possible to underrate a sweating cat. Remember, cats are not panters like dogs. When you notice your feline panting, take the necessary immediate actions to cool it off. This is a sign that the cat is overheated. You can click here to know the signs that a cat could be overheating.

Final Word

Cats are sunbathers, and we get it. Their efforts to invariably bask in the sun and not show any drastic sweating should not make you infer that they are not affected by heat. Just like humans, cats also get warm during sunny days and so it’s natural for a cat to lick their fur or gravitate on cool surfaces such as kitchen sinks and floors or even leave damp footprints on the floor. Sometimes, the cat may be overheated and signs such as panting, drooling excessively, and wobbly walking may be present. Don’t hesitate to intervene and help the cat to cool down. If the situations are beyond your rescue, it’s advisable to seek veterinary attention.

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