Heat stress can be a problem in warm weather, especially for chubby, older or longhair cats. You don't need to worry about hypothermia and frostbite unless your cat goes out in the winter. Signs of hypothermia are decreased alertness, weak pulse, slowed heart rate and shallow breathing. Wrap the cat in a blanket. Until you can get your cat to the vet, slowly rewarm him by wrapping a hot-water bottle filled with warm water (or a warm chemical-gel-heating bag) in a towel and applying it to his body. Frostbite, commonly found on footpads, the ears or the tail, is indicated by pale, cool skin and numbness. Rewarm the frostbitten area with the heat of your hand, by applying a warm compress or by immersing in warm water (102 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38.8 to 40 degrees Centigrade). Get your cat to the vet immediately if he is in pain; if there is swelling, discharge or considerable discoloration; or if the skin remains pale, cold and hard after 20 minutes of rewarming. Otherwise, have a vet check the cat within a day.
