Keeping Dollar Cool Through the Bangkok Heat

Dollar is an indoor cat, so I didn't think the heat would affect her much, until April arrived and our balcony tiles were too hot to stand on barefoot. I got excited about setting up a new routine right away. We have a cooling mat, a glass bottle of frozen water she likes to press against, and the curtains closed from ten until four. She prefers the bathroom tiles, stretched out flat like a loaf.

A vet friend taught me a simple check before any walk: if you can't hold the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds, it's too hot for paws. Dollar rarely goes outside, but when we visit the park on her harness, we go very early in the morning. Her paws stay pink, her coat stays smooth, and she's been far more relaxed. I'm already excited for the cooler months.