American Shorthair Cat

　　1. What is "Air Conditioning Sickness"?

　　The temperature difference between air-conditioned rooms and outdoors is large. If people frequently go in and out of air-conditioned rooms, they may experience symptoms of cold such as coughing, headache, and runny nose. People who often use air conditioning in the height of summer commonly have these experiences.

　　If one stays too long in a place with low air-conditioning temperature while wearing light clothing, symptoms like joint soreness, stiff neck and back, heavy waist and hips, limb pain and numbness, joint stiffness and pain, dizziness, head pressure, or shoulder and neck numbness can occur. Staying too long in air-conditioned rooms with poor air quality may cause dizziness and vertigo. These symptoms constitute the air conditioning syndrome, commonly known as air conditioning sickness.

　　Cats that often stay in air-conditioned rooms can easily suffer from mental depression, sneezing, runny nose, coughing and other cold symptoms due to alternating hot and cold, poor air circulation, and cold air stimulation. In severe cases, their body temperature rises, breathing and heart rate accelerate, and sudden death may even occur.

　　Cats with weak constitutions may develop gastroenteritis showing symptoms of poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea; elderly cats may have joint pain and arthritis, and in severe cases, show limping and cramps. When cats show these symptoms, they are telling you, "I have air conditioning sickness"!

　　2. Treatment of Cats' "Air Conditioning Sickness"

　　1. If the cat shows sneezing and other cold symptoms

　　Cold is the most common sign of "air conditioning sickness" in cats. When cats show sneezing, runny nose, and tears, you can give them some Banlangen granules or a small amount of Shuanghuanglian and other traditional Chinese patent medicines for summer colds. Be careful not to use Western cold medicines for cats.

　　If the symptoms do not improve the next day, you should seek help from a veterinarian.

　　2. If the cat shows diarrhea and other gastroenteritis symptoms

　　Cats with sensitive stomachs easily get vomiting and diarrhea from cold in air-conditioned rooms, and these cats tend to like cool places, causing symptoms to worsen. If diarrhea persists, antidiarrheal medicines such as MamyLove or Smecta should be used. Severe cases should be taken to a pet hospital promptly to avoid dehydration.

　　3. Elderly cats showing arthritis symptoms

　　They should receive timely veterinary care and may have appropriate massage therapy. (Source：PetsZone)