How can you keep your pet comfy in hot and cold weather?
Pets can’t turn on a fan or grab a jacket. You can help by watching their water, their shade and their favorite spots.
Why pets need a helper
Dogs and cats wear a fur coat all year. In an Austin summer, that is a lot of coat. Dogs cool off mostly by panting, which means quick, short puffs with the tongue out. Cats look for cool, shady spots and stretch out. In winter, small pets and short-haired pets get chilly fast.
Your pet is counting on your family. Here are ten jobs you can do.
Ten Pet Comfort Patrol jobs
- Water bowl check. Look at the water bowl every morning and after school. Is it full and fresh? If it is empty or dirty, help fill it with fresh water.
- Shade spotter. If your pet goes outside, find where the shade is. Is there shade all day, or only in the morning?
- Pet spot NOT in front of the air grille. The big air grille, on a hallway wall or ceiling, is where the AC breathes in. A pet bed, crate or litter box in front of it blocks the air. Is anything in the way? Tell a grown-up so they can move it.
- Hot ground test. In summer, sidewalks and blacktop get very hot. If the ground is too hot for your bare feet, it is too hot for paws. Tell a grown-up before a walk.
- Cool-time walks. Walks are best early in the morning or in the evening when it is cooler. Help plan walk time with a grown-up.
- Paws off the outdoor unit. The big metal box outside that helps your AC is not a pet bathroom. Dog pee can wear away its thin metal fins over time. If your dog likes to go there, tell a grown-up.
- Coolest spot finder. Where does your pet like to nap on a hot day? On tile? Under a table? That is a clue about the coolest spot in your home.
- Freeze night roundup. When the news says it will freeze, remind your family to bring pets inside. Tell a grown-up if you know a pet that lives outside.
- Space heater space. Keep pet beds and blankets three big steps away from any space heater. If a pet is curled up too close, tell a grown-up.
- Never in the car. A parked car gets hot inside very fast, even on a day that does not feel very hot. Pets never wait in a parked car. If you ever see a pet alone in a car, tell a grown-up right away.
Coolest Spot Finder
Pets are great at finding the coolest place in a house. Be a pet scientist for a day.
| Time of day | Where is my pet napping? | Sunny or shady spot? | Floor: tile, wood or carpet? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||
| Lunch time | |||
| Afternoon | |||
| Evening |
My pet care chart
Tick a box each day you do the job.
| Job | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water bowl full | |||||||
| Shade or cool spot ready | |||||||
| Pet spot clear of the air grille | |||||||
| Checked how my pet is doing |
Pet questions kids ask
Do dogs sweat?
A little, through the pads on their paws. But fur covers most of a dog, so sweat can’t dry well. Panting works better. When a dog pants, water dries off its tongue and mouth, and drying takes heat away with it.
Why does my cat sleep in the sun in winter?
Sunshine warms whatever it lands on, including fur. A sunny patch on the floor is like a free heater. Cats are very good at finding them.
Should we put ice in the water bowl?
Ask your grown-up and your vet what is best for your pet. Every pet is different. The most important thing is that the water is fresh and the bowl is never empty.
Can I give my pet a fan?
A fan moves air over fur and skin, which can feel nice. A grown-up can set it up with the cord out of the way.
More to explore
How Animals Keep Cool
Panting, big ears and bat wings.
🗺️Safe Spots
Where kids and pets can and can’t go.
🎯Missions
More home jobs for heroes.
🤝Help Austin
Ways families help animals and neighbors.
