Do Black Cats Feel the Heat More? 6 Interesting Things Discussed

Do black cats feel the heat more? Black absorbs light and white reflects light, light is converted into heat so black cats may feel heat quicker than other cats.

However, many breeds of black cat are known to be attracted to heat so how much heat can a black cat tolerate is relevant.

Do black cats get hotter?

Cats are known to be very efficient at self-regulating their body temperature so you may see black cats seeking more shade than other cats.

Science shows us that the color black absorbs light rather than reflecting it.

Do black cats get hotter in the sun?

Black objects can absorb all wavelengths of light and then that light is converted into heat warming up the object.

This will apply to cats too but cats will use their ability to regulate their body temperature via sweating through their paws and nose and if a cat is very hot, the cat may begin to pant very similar to a dog.

So Do Black Cats Get Hot?

All cats are susceptible to potentially fatal heat stroke if exposed to heat for too long.

As black cats have pigment in their fur that will absorb heat rather than reflecting it, black cats may get hot.

According to Pet Central there are 7 signs of a cat overheating and they are:

• Panting
• Restlessness
• Rapid heart rate
• A change in color of the gums
• The cat being lethargic
• An increased body temparature
• Vocalizing

How do cats regulate their body temperature?

Cats do not have the same ability to produce sweat as us humans do.

We have sweat glands all over our bodies but cats only have a few and they are situated in their paws and on their noses.

Cats will produce sweat through the sweat glands in order to bring their body temperature down.

If sweating through the paws and nose isn’t enough you may see a cat pant very similar to the way that a dog does.

What is the normal body temperature for a cat?

A cat’s normal body temperature is in the range of 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

101.5 degrees is right in the middle so this is often referred to as the “normal” body temperature for a cat.

Cats have a higher body temperature than humans and can withstand higher temperatures than us as long as they have access to water.

The domestic cat originates from the desert so withstanding heat comes pretty naturally.

My Experience

We have an American Shorthair called Coco and he has a solid black coat.

We live on the sun-drenched island of Gran Canaria so black cats and the sun is a topic that is close to home.

There are many street cats here and all of them are in the shade most of the year-round regardless of their fur color.

Many of the cats in our particular street are black and I can see that they avoid the direct sun whenever they can.

We have a large roof terrace for Coco to run around on but most of the time he isn’t that interested in being up there.

He joins my Fiancee and me for a bit of family time on the roof but as soon as he feels the sun beating down on him, he looks for the nearest sun lounger to shelter beneath.

I’ve seen him on many occasions walk specific paths to stay in the shade. I’ve often thought to myself “Do black cats feel the heat more?”.

During the winter months (that are still sunny) he is in search of the sun in the house.

If we get a beam of sunlight coming into the house from a window, he will lay on the ground soaking up as much sun as he can.

Black cats are apparently attracted to heat but is there a mechanism in their minds that tells them to avoid direct sunlight especially during summer?

Coco came into our home from the streets at just a few months old and his fur was brown from exposure to so much sun.

He is very much a house cat now, he doesn’t seem anywhere near as relaxed outdoors as he does indoors and maybe the heat on this island has an influence on that?

Do black cats feel the heat more? – Summary

Do black cats feel the heat more? Potentially yes, science tells us that black absorbs light rather than reflecting it and that absorbed light turns to heat.

Cats can suffer from heatstroke so avoiding the sun can be critical to a cat’s health.

Cats regulate body temperature through sweating through the paws and nose and they can also pant just like dogs do.

The normal body temperature for a cat is 101.5 degrees.

In my experience, our black cat avoids the sun when he can especially when he’s outside during the hotter months.

Resources:

What is a Cat’s Normal Body Temperature?

Heatstroke in Cats and Dogs

Why Does Black Absorb Heat?

Is Your Cat Overheating?