Brrrr, isn’t it getting chillier on a daily basis?
You probably wouldn’t mind getting up during a movie or in the middle of your favorite meal to adjust the temperature of your home. Naturally, what good is the move or the meal if you or your family isn’t comfortable.
However, how many times do you think you would’ve done the same for your feline? After all, if your comfort is your top priority then why shouldn’t you consider the best temperature for cats?
Typically, pet parents don’t realize that a cat’s body temperature is not the same as the average human’s. In reality, it is only a few degrees higher.
In other words, if you think you feel comfortable in your home, chances are that your cat wouldn’t agree. What you need to do to get in-sync with your cat’s needs is to understand how they regulate their body temperature. In doing so, you can make sure they are as comfortable as possible all year-round.
What is the Best Temperature for Cats?
The average human being’s core body temperature typically stays constant at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37 degrees Celsius). In contrast, the average feline’s body temperature stands around 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or 38.6 degrees Celsius).
Still, experts suggest that the best temperature for cats can vary around 99.5 – 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37.5 – 39.1 degrees Celsius).
Since their core temperature is a tiny bit higher than human beings, cats generally tolerate higher external temperatures as compared to their counterparts. In other words, cats are much more comfortable during the summertime. Similarly, your feline friends tend to feel a lot colder than you during winter time, especially if you double-up on layers and lower your heating to save money.
Fortunately for them, these furry creatures are remarkably good at utilizing their bodily processes and intelligence to regulate their body temperature. This is probably why they get into the habit of squeezing themselves into the coziest areas of your home.
What we’re saying is that if you see your cat curled up in, perhaps, a box under your bed or in a sink, they are, in fact, trying to regulate their body temperature to account for the fluctuating external temperatures.
How to Keep Your Cat Comfortable All Throughout the Year
Even though felines are quite self-sufficient, they may require a little help when it comes to regulating their body temperature. Now there are a few things that can be done to make the change of seasons easier for them and we’ve broken them down to the 2 seasons where we experience extreme temperatures.
Winter
If you live in an area where the climate gets really cold, make sure that your feline has enough spaces in your home to warm up. If you can, try buying additional blankets, pet-safe electric heating pads and warm cat beds to lay on.
In addition, you may allow well-behaved kitties access to some warm spaces in your home such as boxes under your bed or even your closet if this helps them feel comfortable and cozy. Make sure, however, that you know exactly where they are in case they get locked-in mistakenly.
Alternatively, you may try opening the curtains and letting the clear skies grace your house with some warmth during daytime. During these hours, felines can soak up all the warmth they need to prepare for the long and cold winter nights.
Finally, you should also avoid shaving your cat’s fur a couple of months before winter so that they have enough of it to insulate and when they need it most. Granted, they may look a little shabby all-throughout the winter season, but at least their health isn’t compromised.
Summer
When the temperatures begin to climb and the sun shines closest to the earth, cats are at the peak of their self-sufficiency. You see, cats were bred as desert animals and therefore, they have an innate ability to handle high temperatures. Of course, just like any human being, overexposure to extreme temperatures may be uncomfortable for them and potentially dangerous for their health.
For this reason, if your weather forecasting app or your local news channel alerts you about a potential heat wave, allow your cats access to areas that may be a little cooler; such as your basement. You see, cats can easily cool off by laying on different surfaces around your home, such as cool concrete or tiles.
Additionally, it is crucial that you keep providing them an adequate amount of water or they have access to a non-extinguishable supply at all times. You could also top that by doing the same for each different level of your home.
Lastly, if you see your cat panting, it is a surefire sign that they are uncomfortable and you should keep them indoors and perhaps even crank up the air conditioning so they can cool-off faster.
Our Final Thoughts
The age of your cat is another important factor that goes into determining the best temperature for cats. Generally, kittens require higher temperature environments than their older counterparts. So much so, that kittens may also suffer from hypothermia while your body senses normal environmental temperatures.
Similarly, the smaller your feline friend is, the harder it is for them to regulate and retain their average body temperature. This is also why felines with low body fat look for more sources of heat as compared to chonky and obese cats.
Perhaps the sudden increase of obese cats in the world may be a butterfly effect of our world spinning its way toward the next Ice Age. Food for thought.
