Do Maine Coons Like Hot Weather?

The Maine Coon is a sturdy breed with a long, thick coat that was designed to keep them warm in the winter, but do Maine Coons like hot weather?

Maine Coons may be best adapted to the cold, but they can also thrive in hot climates. These cats are experts at thermoregulation, but they need a bit of help from their owners to stay cool. It’s important that you provide a Maine Coon with plenty of shady areas and access to fresh water at all times when it’s hot out.

If you live in a hot climate, you might be wondering if a Maine Coon is the right breed for you

While Maine Coons can thermoregulate to some degree, they can still suffer from heatstroke if they aren’t given access to cool areas and lots of water.

If you’re worried about your cat getting overheated during the hot summer months, read on to find out ways to keep your cat cool!

Do Maine Coons Like Hot Weather?

The Maine Coon is an incredibly popular breed that originated naturally in the state of Maine.

The Maine Coon became perfectly adapted to the extremely cold weather of this state, and their long, dense fur offered them protection against the cold and snow.

Click here to read more about the Maine Coon cat’s origins.

So, if these cats are so well-built for the cold, do Maine Coons like heat?

While it’s impossible to know for sure whether these cats enjoy hot or cold weather, they can live just fine in hot weather. However, they require a bit of extra help from their owners to stay safe in the heat.

All cats should be given access to cool, shady areas, and plenty of freshwaters.

Maine Coons in particular love drinking from moving water, so why not give your treasured feline this super cat water fountain. It’s available on Amazon and our male Maine Coon cat loves it!

While safe temperatures can vary based on humidity and other factors, you should avoid letting your cat outside in temperatures above 85 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ideal Temperature For Maine Coon

It’s incredibly important to learn what temperatures are safe for your cat, even if they are indoor cats.

Overall, temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit are potentially dangerous to cats.

While Maine Coons are technically well-built to withstand the cold, hot weather can still be very dangerous, so they should be kept indoors during the cold winter months.

A cat’s internal temperature, or body temperature, however, is quite different from that of a human.

The average Maine Coon Cat temperature is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

In hot weather exceeding 90 to 100 degrees, however, your cat will be unable to properly thermoregulate, and its temperature can spike, leading to heatstroke and even death (source 1).

Can Maine Coons Live In Hot Weather?

If you live in a place with a hot climate, you might be worried about bringing a Maine Coon into your home.

Before deciding whether or not a Maine Coon can survive in your climate, you must first learn how hot is too hot for cats.

Maine Coons can thrive in a variety of hot countries and climates.

Even countries that are very close to the equator, provided you have reliable air conditioning and are prepared to provide your cat with plenty of cool, shady spaces and lots of freshwaters for them to drink.

If you do live in a hot climate, however, you should keep your cat indoors rather than allowing it to roam outdoors.

This is because outdoor cats may not always have access to water and cool areas.

Furthermore, you will not be able to watch your cat for signs of heatstroke, and it could even die if it’s too hot out.

How Do Maine Coon Cats Cool Down?

You may look at a cat’s thick fur and wonder, how do cats cool down?

Cats are surprisingly good at regulating their internal temperatures, so here are some of the ways cats keep themselves cool when it’s hot out:

Sweating

Cats are capable of sweating, just like humans are!

While they technically have a certain kind of sweat gland on the skin beneath their fur, the primary way cats sweat to stay cool is through their noses and paw pads.

Finding Cool, Shady Areas

Cats often hide under beds or couches when it’s hot out.

These cool, shady areas are perfect for hiding from the heat!

Cats also like to lay with their bellies on cool surfaces, like linoleum, to keep themselves cool.

Limiting Activity

Cats become a lot more sluggish when it’s hot out.

In fact, during the heat, cats tend to spend most of their time sleeping!

This is because walking around and playing will significantly increase a cat’s body temperature.

By sleeping, your cat is keeping itself cool.

Drinking

Drinking lots of water is one of the best ways to regulate your own body temperature.

Cats drink a lot more when it’s hot out. This not only keeps them cool but also prevents dehydration.

Trapping Cold Air

Finally, a cat’s thick fur is perfect for trapping cold air when it’s cooler out, particularly at night and in the morning.

This will keep your cat’s skin nice and cool later in the day when it’s extra hot.

Keeping A Maine Coon Cool Tips

On hot days, it’s natural to be worried about your cat.

Thankfully, there are a lot of things you can do to keep your cat safe.

Here is a list of ways you can keep your cat cool when it’s hot out:

1. Provide Lots Of Shade

Make sure your cat has lots of shady places to rest.

Cardboard boxes turned on their sides are great places for cats to cool down.

You can also place your cat’s favorite bed in a shady, cool place, possibly even right by the air conditioner.

2. Provide Lots Of Water

Of course, you need to make sure your cat has endless amounts of water when it’s hot out.

You might even want to place a bowl of water in every room, so your cat can easily access it whenever it needs to.

3. More Frequent Grooming

While a Maine Coon’s thick fur actually helps to trap cool air, too much dead fur can actually cause your cat to overheat.

During the hot summer months, you should groom your cat more frequently, possibly even every day.

4. Cooling Mats

You can purchase pet cooling mats that use special cooling gels to keep your pet cool!

These cooling mats last for a while but do need time to cool down, so they can’t be used non-stop when it’s hot out.

Still, by purchasing a couple of cooling mats, you can make sure your cat always has somewhere nice to rest when it’s hot out.

5. Close The Curtains

We all know that cats love warmth, but hot summer days just aren’t the right time for basking in the sun.

Keep the curtains closed to keep out the sunlight, and to insulate against the heat.

Now that you know some things you can do to keep your cat cool, here is a list of important things that you should never, ever let your cat do when it’s hot out.

Do Not Leave Your Cat In The Car

Even mildly hot weather can turn incredibly dangerous if your cat is left in the car.

Even by leaving the windows slightly cracked, a car can become much hotter than it is outside.

Too many pets have died tragically when left in a car.

Do Not Let Your Cat In The Greenhouse

If you have a greenhouse or conservatory, never let your cat inside while it’s hot outside.

Greenhouses trap heat and can become a death trap for an unsuspecting cat.

Do Not Let Your Cat Outside

In extremely hot weather (typically above 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit) it is best to keep your cat indoors, where there’s air conditioning and unlimited water.

If you let your cat outdoors, you will not be able to monitor it for signs of heatstroke, and it could die if it does not have access to water or shady areas.

Do Maine Coons Overheat?

The average body temperature of a Maine Coon is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the weather gets too hot, however, your cat won’t be able to thermoregulate, and its body temperature could go much higher than what is safe. This is called hyperthermia.

In more extreme cases, your cat can suffer from heatstroke.

Heatstroke in cats is highly dangerous, and if it’s not treated immediately, it could result in death.

Signs Your Cat Is Overheating

During hot summer days, it’s important to keep an eye on your cat to make sure it isn’t suffering from heat exhaustion.

Heatstroke in Maine Coon Cats can be deadly if left untreated, so here are the signs you should look out for that your cat is overheating:

• Drooling
• Panting
• Diarrhea or Vomiting
• Confusion, Dizziness, or Lack of Coordination
• Drooling
• Sweaty Paw Pads
• Warm to the Touch
• Red Gums or Tongue
• Rapid Heart Rate
• Excessive Grooming
• Vocalization

How To Treat Heatstroke In Cats

If you have noticed any of the above symptoms in your cat, then there’s a good chance it’s suffering from heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

The best way to treat it is to cool your cat down, but many owners take things too far and try to get their cat cold as soon as possible.

The number one tip to remember is that you should focus on making your cat cool rather than cold; lowering your cat’s body temperature by exposing it to cold things like ice can cause more stress and actually make things worse.

If you notice any signs of heatstroke in your cat, the first step is to get your cat out of direct sunlight into a shady, cool area. An air-conditioned area is ideal.

Use a damp, cool (but not cold!) towel and gently wrap your cat in it to help cool it down.

You should also make sure your cat is drinking water.

If your cat will not drink from a nearby bowl, you may have to use an eyedropper or some other tool to manually get your cat to drink.

Make sure you have eye droppers in stock, just in case.

These eyedroppers are easily purchasable from Amazon.

Finally, you need to get your cat to a vet as soon as possible.

While you can help cool your cat down initially, a vet will be able to determine exactly how best to get your cat back to a healthy temperature.

Many vets will use an IV to help rehydrate your cat and stabilize its temperature.

Do Cats Recover From Heatstroke?

Heatstroke is a very dangerous condition that can sometimes result in death.

However, if your cat is suffering from heatstroke, don’t lose hope!

Cats can still recover perfectly well from heatstroke, provided they receive the proper treatment as soon as possible.

If your cat is showing signs of heatstroke, you’ll need to try and cool it down and get it to the vet as soon as possible.

Many owners simply move their cat to a shady area and provide some water, and as soon as their cat is back on their feet, they assume all is well.

However, heatstroke can cause internal damage that may not be visible in your cat’s body language, so it’s essential that you get your cat to the vet.

Your vet will need to determine just how dehydrated your cat is, as well as find the best way to cool your cat to a healthy body temperature, which simply can’t be done by someone who wasn’t medically trained.

If you do get your cat to the vet in time, however, there’s a good chance your cat will make a full recovery.

How Long Does It Take For A Cat To Recover From Heatstroke?

The amount of time it takes for a cat to recover from heat stroke can vary.

Usually, your cat will be considered fully recovered by the time its temperature has become healthy and stable.

However, your vet will need to monitor your cat for organ damage; prolonged exposure to high temperatures can damage a cat’s organs and even its brain!

Signs of organ damage can take a few days to become apparent, so you’ll want to monitor your cat and contact your vet if you notice any worrying symptoms.

In mild cases, a cat should be perfectly fine once a vet has stabilized your cat’s temperature.

Still, your cat will be weak and tired for possibly a day or two after suffering from heatstroke, so be sure to help your cat take things easy and stay in a cool, shady area with plenty of water (source 1).

Can Cats Live In A Hot Apartment?

Cats can stand warm environments, but a good rule of thumb is, if you’re uncomfortable then so is your cat!

If your apartment doesn’t have air conditioning, not only will your cat be uncomfortable, but that’s also potentially dangerous. You should also never leave your cat alone in a hot apartment.

If your air conditioning suddenly stopped working, or your apartment is much warmer than usual, don’t worry too much if it’s just a temporary problem.

Simply follow the steps illustrated earlier to keep your cat cool until you’re able to get your air conditioning fixed.

For more information on whether a Maine Coon should really be living in an apartment, in the first place, read my article Can Maine Coons live in apartments?

Should I Shave My Maine Coon In The Summer

If you’re looking at your cat’s long, thick fur, you might be wondering, can I shave my Maine Coon?

There are a lot of Maine Coon grooming styles out there, like the Maine Coon lion cut, that might have you thinking a haircut would be perfect to help your cat beat the heat.

However, you might be surprised to learn that shaving your cat can do more harm than good!

Cats use their fur to regulate their body temperature by trapping cold air, so shaving your cat can actually make it much harder for a cat to stay cool when it’s hot out.

Furthermore, cats’ fur protects them from sunburn, so a shaved outdoor cat will be very vulnerable to the sun.

I have detailed everything you need to know about the Maine Coon Lion Cut in my article.

Older Cats And Hot Weather

Hot weather is more of a danger to senior cats.

Heat can cause extra stress on the heart, which can be dangerous for cats with a heart murmur or other conditions.

Extra care should be taken for senior cats so that they don’t suffer from heatstroke (source 1).

Conclusion

Maine Coons are perfectly adapted to cold weather, but do Maine Coons like hot weather?

These cats are excellent at thermoregulation and can thrive in warmer conditions, provided they have plenty of cool, shady areas to rest, as well as access to fresh water.

If your cat is exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period of time, however, it can suffer from heatstroke.

If you suspect your cat is in heat distress, cool it down with a cool (but not cold) damp towel, and contact your vet right away for treatment.

It is always better to prevent heatstroke by keeping your cat indoors and making sure you’ve taken precautions to help your cat beat the heat.

Related Questions

Maine Coon Price

The Maine Coon is an expensive breed, often costing between $400 and $2,500 per cat.