In this summer marked by severe heat waves, Alley Cat Allies is sharing information and resources on how to keep community cats cool and safe. Because though community cats thrive in all climates, you can still lend a helping hand.
Find all of our top tips at alleycat.org/SummerWeather.
Hydration is key
Provide cats outdoors with plenty of water sources and keep them topped off. Use deep bowls to prevent water from evaporating and place them in shaded areas. You can even freeze water bowls!
Choose wet food
Throughout the summer, feed community cats wet food instead of dry—it’s nutrition and hydration all in one. To ensure bugs don’t swarm the food, pick up any uneaten food after the cats have finished. You can also create a “moat” with baking soda or food-grade diatomaceous earth around the bowl!
Provide outdoor shelters for cats
An outdoor shelter built specifically for cats gives them a cool, shady space to hide away in the most extreme weather. Be sure to place them in hidden, shaded areas!
Provide cooling items for cats
Place frozen water bottles beneath the bedding in cats’ outdoor shelters. You can also try a cooling mat created for cats. Cover them up, or cats may find them unpleasant to step on.
If it’s too hot to be out, it’s too hot to TNR
Community cat advocates can do Trap-Neuter-Return in all seasons, but should always use best judgment. If there are dangerous heat advisories, save the trapping for another time. While trapping in the summer heat, it’s more critical than ever to only set traps in grassy, shaded areas and move trapped cats IMMEDIATELY to a temperature-controlled area.