The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Five reasons why cats love to lie in the sun and when it becomes dangerous

2022-04-21T08:38:59.868Z


Cats: five reasons why they love to lie in the sun Created: 04/21/2022, 10:30 am By: Nina Marie Jarosch Cats love to lie in the sun for hours. But what is this behavior about? We reveal five reasons why they love doing it. Munich – Hardly any animal likes to lie in the sun for hours like a cat. Cat owners who have always wondered what this behavior is all about will find some answers here. We


Cats: five reasons why they love to lie in the sun

Created: 04/21/2022, 10:30 am

By: Nina Marie Jarosch

Cats love to lie in the sun for hours.

But what is this behavior about?

We reveal five reasons why they love doing it.

Munich – Hardly any animal likes to lie in the sun for hours like a cat.

Cat owners who have always wondered what this behavior is all about will find some answers here.

We reveal five reasons why cats love sunbathing so much and when too much sun can be dangerous for the cat.

This is why cats love sunbathing: need for warmth

Before domestication, cats* lived in hot areas because they are the descendants of steppe dwellers.

Because of this, they have a genetic component that draws them to warm places.

In addition, cats have an average body temperature of about 38.9 degrees.

For an animal with a high temperature, it can be quite chilly in our house.

So it's only logical that cats use the sun to regulate their body temperature and warm up.

Hardly any animal likes to lie in the sun as much as a cat, because she has good reasons for that.

(Iconic image) © Panthermedia/Imago

That's why cats love sunbathing: save energy

Cats love to sleep during the day, but while they do so their body temperature drops.

Because when a cat is in the resting phase, it conserves energy and lowers its metabolism.

During this phase, important functions of the body can fall below the norm, which can cause the cat to feel cold during sleep - and they don't like that very much.

That's why they like to lie down in the sun to take a nap and still keep their bodies warm while doing so.

Why cats love sunbathing: Vitamin D

Cats use the sun to get vitamin D just like we do, but they have a slightly more complicated system.

How exactly it works is not known.

But one theory is that certain oils and fats in cat fur react with sunlight and break down to create vitamin D.

When grooming*, they lap up the vital nutrient while grooming.

Therefore, it is common for them to sit in the sun for hours, grooming themselves during and after.

Why cats love sunbathing: Nutrition

Cats normally eat high-protein food* that does not directly lead to heat production in the body.

This is because it takes much longer for proteins to be broken down to create enough energy for the body.

That's why cats try to bridge this and get the heat they need from other sources, such as the sun, in the meantime.

Why Cats Love Sunbathing: Pain Relief

Senior cats* often stay in the sun longer to relieve pain in their joints and body.

This is especially common in cats with arthritis, as the sun's warmth warms their joints, making them more flexible and temporarily reducing their pain.

Cats suffering from osteoarthritis should never lie on cold floors or pads.

When sunbathing can become dangerous for cats: Sunburn

While sunbathing has many benefits for cats, it can also be dangerous and can lead to sunburn.

You can tell a cat is sunburned if it becomes irritable to touch or profusely scratches after being in the sun for too long.

A slight sunburn leads to reddening of the skin*.

In severe cases, blisters form, inflammation and crusting can occur.

It is best to make sure that the cat is not in the sun for more than 40 minutes on hot days, or for more than 15 to 20 minutes on very hot days.

When sunbathing can become dangerous for cats: heat stroke

Although our house tigers are descendants of steppe dwellers, too much heat is uncomfortable for the cats, because the animals can only sweat to a very limited extent.

In the worst case, it can be life-threatening for the velvet paw: heat stroke is still the greatest danger a cat faces in the summer heat.

If the cat has been outside for a long time in extreme heat, the following symptoms indicate heat stroke:

  • restless behavior

  • Body temperature above 39°C

  • apathetic lying on stomach

  • severe panting and shortness of breath*

  • dark red gums

  • Vomit

  • tip over

  • fast pulse

If you notice these symptoms in your cat, you must act quickly as heat stroke can be fatal.

In such cases, the cat must immediately go to the vet!

*

Landtiere.de

is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2022-04-21

You may like

Life/Entertain 2024-03-07T14:46:45.098Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.