Coats for Climates

Evolution has equipped the cat with excellent defenses against heat and cold.

Breeds that have adapted to northern climates, such as the British Shorthair, Maine Coon, and Norwegian Forest Cat, are densely coated with insulating down.

 In cold weather, the hair erects, trapping a layer of air, much as double glazing traps a wall of air between the cold outside and the warmth indoors.

A layer of fat under the skin insulates the body; heat is lost through fat one third as fast as it is through muscle. In extreme cold, a cat curls up and covers its face I tail to protect it from freezing air.

Breeds adapted to hot climates radiate heat more efficiently. Siamese lack down hair; cats that have this insulating coat shed it in hot climates. If still too warm, they shed primary hairs.

Blood vessels in the skin dilate, speeding the loss of body heat. Cats do not sweat to lose heat as we do. Instead, they lick their fur, and the evaporating saliva carries away body heat.

While these control mechanisms are efficient, cats are still prone to both heat prostration and frostbite.

Sensible cats avoid high temperatures and humidity but, like dogs, they die quickly if trapped inside a hot car in sunshine.

Cats are prone to frostbite, because their fur loses its insulating capacity when wet; cats are most at risk from hypothermia in freezing, wet weather.