Cats are not dogs! A panting dog with a wagging tail is normal, but a panting cat however, is alarming and often a sign of distress or being over heated. We have been getting calls about trapped cats panting and after some further questioning, we concluded that this is due to being over heated. When trapping cats, please be proactive in preventing cats from becoming over heated and dehydrated. Especially here in South Texas. Here are a few suggestions:
Place traps in a shaded area – Under a tree, a porch, or some hedges is better than any area with direct sunlight.
Never leave a trap unattended – This is stressed in the class but in this heat the wire traps can be even hotter.
Limit time in traps – Plan ahead. If you plan to trap, understand what the spay/neuter availability is at our subsidized clinics and plan accordingly. Before and after surgery cats must be kept in a climate controlled environment. Keep water in the trap over night as they are probably dehydrated.
Don’t leave cats in cars – Have you ever sat in a car with no AC in the summer? If yes, you know how it feels. If not, it’s because you wouldn’t dare! A trapped cat covered in fur will not survive this either. Only place the trapped cat in your car when you are ready to take it in for its spay/neuter surgery.
This same rule applies to anyone who feeds cat colonies. Please double check that none of your cats have jumped in your car when you were not looking. We hate to admit it, but sometimes curiosity does in fact kill the cat.
We know that 4th of July fireworks may also cause both cats and dogs to be stressed out. If you plan to pop fireworks, please read up on this article from the Humane Society.