Do cats sweat?

It's a question many of us ask when we see our feline friend bathing and chilling in the sunlight: do cats sweat? How do they regulate their temperature? How are they staying in the sun that long?

Dogs make it fairly obvious how they cool down since they pant so much. But cats are mysterious and cool, so they don't show off things like how they regulate temperature so easily.

Here, we discuss if cats sweat, how they regulate their body temperature and why you should understand this as an owner.

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How do cats sweat?

So, do cats have sweat glands? Yes, they do, but they're not as numerous as other mammals (like us). You can find sweat glands in the hairless parts of their body, like their paws.

Next time it's hot, check where your cat has walked outside, and you may find sweat paw marks littered around. Cute. Also gross. But mostly cute.

Cats don't sweat anywhere near as much as humans, but it still happens. Sweaty paws mean your cat is feeling hot or stressed - keeping them in a shaded area, having water on hand and offering them a few ice cubes can help.

Excessive sweating can mean your cat's struggling with something, so contact a vet if you're concerned.

Alternative cooling methods

Panting

They might not pant as enthusiastically as dogs, but cats pant to release heat and moisture, too.

Panting allows water to evaporate from your cat's tongue, which wicks away heat.

Grooming

As we've mentioned, cats can't sweat through fur. But they can cover themselves in saliva to mimic sweating.

Cats usually groom themselves by licking their fur, but this will have the secondary advantage of cooling them down.

Behaviour

Cats, despite their love of sunbathing, will instinctively seek out cooler spots when they're too hot, like shaded areas and places with a breeze.

They'll have some biological adjustments too, like their nose becoming dry.

Signs of overheating and emergency measures

Of course, if your cat is exhibiting a lot of the above, then they may be struggling with the heat. This means they run the risk of getting heatstroke.

Recognising heatstroke

Heatstroke symptoms include:

• Drooling

• Excessive panting

• Increased heart rate

• Lethargy

• Red gums

• Very hot skin

• Weakness

Severe symptoms include:

• Collapse

• Disorientation

• Seizures

• Trembling

• Unconsciousness

Our heatstroke in pets guide covers more.

Immediate actions

Seeing your cat suffer from heatstroke is concerning, but you can take immediate action.

You should:

1. Move your cat to a cooler environment

2. Offer them cool water

3. Apply cool, wet cloths or towels

4. Seek vet care as soon as possible

Preventing heatstroke

Preventing heatstroke centres on three key areas

Hydration

Dehydration is the leading reason for heat exhaustion and heatstroke in pets. Always make sure there's plenty of water around for your cat.

There may be numerous reasons why a pet won't drink water, but in hot conditions, they should drink enough if it's available. If not, there could be an underlying health condition, particularly if combined with a loss of appetite.

Environmental control

Make sure your cat has access to shaded and cool areas. Don't lock them outside or in a room with little shade.

Products like fans and cooling mats can help, as well as some of our recommendations from our summer product essentials for cats.

Manage their activity

Exercise is important, especially for cats, but in hot weather, you need to plan it out more carefully.

Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, and time your summertime walks and playtime in the early morning or evening.

We cover more in our article on preventing heatstroke in cats.

Staying prepared in hot weather

So, hopefully, you have your answer - cats do sweat, but it's a little different to us. After all, they have behavioural and grooming (and world domination) strategies of their own.

But it's imperative that you, the owner, prioritise preventative measures to avoid heatstroke in hotter weather; cats are smart, but they still need a little help.

Monitor your cat carefully during hot weather, and contact a vet immediately if you see overheating signs.

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