If you’ve ever been tempted to leave a cat in a hot car, even for just a minute, you may not know about the tragedy that could strike.
Curiosity killed the cat, but so did heatstroke. If you leave a cat in a hot car, you might just lose your best furr-iend in a totally preventable way.
Pets & Hot Cars Don’t Mix
With summer officially starting, that means hot weather, beach trips, and fun in the sun with family and friends. Although cat parents don’t take their furbabies to the beach as much as dog parents do, traveling is still very likely during these months.
That’s when the danger sets in. Some cat owners don’t even realize how quickly damage can be done when you leave a cat in a hot car.
How Quickly Can Heatstroke Happen To Cats?
According to Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM, on the PetCoach app:
It can occur in a very short period of time, and the time shortens exponentially as the temperature gets higher. It can occur in as little as a few minutes, even with the windows open.”
Let’s say you’re taking a quick trip to the store or gas station, and you decide to bring Fluffy along. You don’t bother to cool down the car before putting Fluffy inside [STRIKE 1]. After all, the air conditioner will cool the car down in no time.
Already, Fluffy is feeling the effects of the 90 degree weather outside. Once you reach the store, you shut your car off [STRIKE 2] and crack the windows for Fluffy. That should be enough air flow to keep her cool, right? It takes you five minutes to get your things [STRIKE 3], but by the time you get back to your car, Fluffy is openly showing signs of heatstroke.
How Fast Does A Car Heat Up On A Hot Day?
While five minutes can seem like a ridiculously short period of time, science says differently. Your car’s internal temperature can rise well above 100 degrees in that amount of time. Just imagine what five MORE minutes could do.
Dr. Ernie Ward decided to lock himself in a parked car in the sun (with the windows cracked) to see how hot it got. After ten minutes, the internal temperature of the car had jumped from 94 degrees Farenheit to a whopping 106 degrees Farenheit. That’s more than a degree per minute!
You can watch the video here:
What Can You Do To Prevent Heatstroke From Hot Cars?
We talked about treating and preventing heatstroke in cats on this blog before, but what about in cars? What if you HAVE to take your pet with you to your destination?
Cool The Car Down Before You Put Your Cat In It
This will make the drive more pleasant (and safer) for the both of you. Putting a cat in a hot car is the first step to giving them heatstroke. Take care of them as you would a human child – you wouldn’t put an infant in a scorching hot car, would you? Gosh, hopefully not.
Leave The Air Conditioner Running
Why leave a cat in a hot car when you could leave them in an air-conditioned one? If you feel safe leaving your car unlocked with the AC on, go for it. If, however, you are afraid that pet theft may occur in your neighborhood, bring your cat inside with you if it’s allowed. Some cars can lock/unlock while still running, so if you’re fortunate enough to have one of those, just lock the vehicle while Fluffy stays cool with the AC blasting.
Place A Cooling Mat In The Car/Your Cat’s Carrier
Sometimes, air conditioning isn’t enough. If you feel the car is still not cool enough with the AC on high, you can buy your pet a cooling mat to keep them extra chill. Although some pet owners allow their pets to simply sit on the seat, we recommend using a crash-tested pet carrier. Just slip the cooling mat inside to provide extra comfort.
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