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zen =
amnesia = book = notes = type = profile = nhwc = px
43things = soma = three dog party = fotolog = host
humidity wave tips for cat comfort
the moon is so hazed-over right now that it looks like it is behind a piece of wax paper and being inside our apartment is akin to being in a vegetable steamer. it makes it difficult to think clearly and i feel obsessed with the idea of eating popsicles while immersed in the ocean. this humidity is so oppressive that tonight when we took photos outdoors with the flash, it created the headlights-in-major-fog effect, destroying any depth of vision. we mugged it for the camera like scooby doo characters (from the pre-scrappy days of the cartoon) since my new haircut and the harry potter glasses i got for free at barnes & noble made me look like velma. this weather pattern is supposed to break on wednesday, and until then the only way i am able to fall asleep is with a cold can of soda or beer tucked behind my neck. i am worried for the cats because they can't employ this technique and with their fur coats are helpless to do anything other than lay limply across any remotely cool surface (lola prefers the bathroom floor). i wonder whether wetting them down (as you do for a hot dog) would be a good idea. they'd hate it but could it benefit them in the end? must do a google search...
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later:
thanks to an article from cats.about.com i learned that cats can indeed get heatstroke and per their advice i just created a cold compress for miss cat (the 21 year-old) by soaking a paper towel in cold water and then fastening it around her neck. it looks like a cool ascot and makes her seem quite aristocratic.
she's perking up a bit and purred as i applied this to her neck. i think she is grateful for the relief.
the tips are amusing, especially the one about the frozen peas:
How to Help Your Cat Avoid Heatstroke
You can help your cat survive extremely hot weather by keeping him indoors in a cool interior room. Rubbing him down with a damp towel will help; so will immersing his feet in a tub of cool water. Wrapping a cold compress under the cat's neck will also help cool him off. He may fight at first, but most likely will appreciate it once he gets used to the idea. Try wrapping a plastic bag of frozen peas in a towel, and placing it in his bed for a cool spot to lie. The peas will rearrange themselves to fit his contours and he'll have a "custom spa" for cooling off.
Make sure he has several bowls of cool water available. It doesn't hurt to drop an ice cube in once in awhile, not only to cool the water, but to pique kitty's interest in drinking. Strangely enough, cats affected by external heat may refuse to drink water, exacerbating the problem of dehydration, so you may want to "force" water by using an eyedropper or syringe. Be careful not to shoot the water down his throat as it can enter his lungs and/or cause choking. Just dribble a drop or two at a time in the corner of his mouth, which will help hydrate him and draw his interest to drinking on his own.
If your cat exhibits any of the signs above that lead you to think he is suffering heat exhaustion, cool him down as quickly as possible by immersing him in cool water, and then wrapping him with wet towels. Then get him to the veterinarian immediately. This is a serious, potentially fatal condition.
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