Here are a few ways to help your furry friend beat the heat, including providing shade and giving them fun ice-filled treats.

• Keep cats cool indoors & out. Provide a shady spot for your outdoor cats, no matter where the sun is shining. During the summer months, indoor cats will appreciate rooms with concrete or tile flooring that they can lie on to cool off.

• The more water, the better! Keep your cats' water fresh, clean, and cool. You should refresh your water bowls several times a day if they are outside or if you do not have air conditioning. In addition to keeping the water cool, adding ice cubes will enrich the playtime!

• YUM, Cat-sicles! Cats can eat ice cubes with treats in them (such as catnip or frozen tuna water into ice cubes), or you can make wet-food catsicles. Here you can find a few frozen recipes that your cat will love: https://bit.ly/3zJwKGb

• Keep the air moving. Whenever possible, keep a fan blowing in the area where your cat likes to be. During the evenings, open the windows to let fresh air in (but be sure to check the screens first to ensure they won't fall out!).

• Keep active during cooler hours. Playing with your cat during the heat of the day is not a good idea - exercise should take place in the morning or evening when it's cooler.

• Recognize heat stroke. Get your cat to the vet immediately if she pants, drools, is lethargic, has a fever, or collapses. Heat stroke can lead to permanent organ damage or even death.