Where Do Cats Sweat?

Sweating is an organic process of great importance both for us humans and for other animals. In the case of felines, heat, physical activity, fever, excitement, fear or stress can cause their body temperature to increase, when this happens the animal’s brain sends a message to start the process of releasing heat.

Felines have sweat glands located at strategic points on their body, for example the chin, lips, anal area and in the pads of their feet, where they release most of their sweat. That is why when the animal has gone through any situation that raises its temperature, it is capable of leaving wet tracks that can be seen on certain types of floors.

But this is not the only way that felines have to cool off, they also have other interesting strategies.

Surely you have noticed that your cat spends a large part of its day grooming itself, licking its fur to keep itself clean, a very common custom of felines that keeps a secret related to its way of cooling off.

And it is that although cats sweat through their paws, this system is not as efficient as to work by itself, that is why the feline has other alternatives, one of them related to grooming. It turns out that this measure allows the saliva that the cat leaves on its fur to evaporate and cool the animal when it needs it, helping it to regulate its temperature.

Another option is the gasp, a way to cool off also used by dogs. Panting, the cat allows the heat that is accumulated in its thorax to escape through the humidity it produces in its throat, mouth and tongue, helping to regulate temperature. However, unlike dogs, cats are not as physically active so it is very rare to see them panting. In the event that you detect your animal doing it, it is important to pay attention, since it could be accumulating heat in a dangerous way.

In this case, it is recommended to take the animal to the shade and administer cool water to its lips so that it can cool down its body faster. If you notice that the animal does not behave normally, it is best to take it to the vet because it could be suffering from heat stroke.

As we have explained before, panting is not common in cats and in most cases it indicates that the animal is really very hot. To prevent him from suffering from heat stroke that compromises his life and health, it is necessary to know the symptoms of this condition and the measures to take into account to help your cat.

Symptoms of heat stroke in cats

• The cat panted intensely.
• His breathing is rapid and labored.
• The animal is stunned, it does not want to get up or move.
• His heart rate is fast.
• The gums may turn blue.
• Presents muscle tremors, vomiting and in worst cases collapse.

How to act in this condition?

In the event that your animal is suffering from heat stroke, you should:

• Take it to a cool and shaded place, if there are fans or air conditioning better.
• Moisten his lips with cool water and let him drink on his own if he wants to.
• Moisten areas such as the groin, armpits, head and neck with fresh water, this will help refresh their fur and lower the temperature. You can apply a wet cloth to these areas, but do not wrap your pet in it.
• You can douse the cat with a gentle stream of cool water to reduce its temperature more quickly.
• Once the animal seems stable, take it to the vet for a checkup.

Puppies or elderly felines, with dark fur, obese and with a flattened face, are the most prone to this condition, so you should pay special attention to them.

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