When you’re driving in the car with your cat, you know that they love the open window. But why do they always seem to pant when they’re riding shotgun? Turns out, cats have a lot of energy and they need to release it somewhere – whether it’s by scratching the windows or leaping out.
Cats Pant to Cool Down
Cats are able to cool down their bodies by panting. When the air temperature is too high, cats will pant to get rid of the heat and increase their body temperature.
Cats are social animals
Cats are social animals and need to be around other cats in order to feel comfortable. When you take your cat to the car, she is not only feeling uncomfortable, but also losing the social connection she needs in order to feel safe.
Cats pant to regulate their body temperature
Cats pant to regulate their body temperature by losing heat through their fur and skin. The panting cycle is regulated by the hypothalamus in the brain.
When the ambient air temperature is warmer than the cat’s body temperature, they will pant to cool down. When the air temperature is cooler than the cat’s body temperature, they will pant to warm up.
Cats pant to mark their territory
Cats pant to regulate their body temperature. When cats are hot, they pant to cool down. When cats are cold, they pant to warm up. Cats also pant when they are nervous or when they are exercising.
When a cat is panting, the air coming out of its nose and mouth is hot and humid. This smells bad to other cats and warns them that this is not a safe place to be.
Conclusion
There are many possible explanations as to why cats pant in the car, but the most likely reason is that they are overheated. Cats often perspire more than humans, and when it’s hot out, their sweat mixes with the air to form steam. When this happens, it becomes hard for them to breathe, which is why they pant. If you think your cat is having a tough time keeping cool in your car, try these tips: open all of the windows and doors so that air can circulate; give them plenty of water; keep a spray bottle filled with cold water in the car; and place an ice pack on their chest or head if they start to feel really uncomfortable.