--- title: Cats in Central Valley Heat | Happy Paws Kennels url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cats-and-heat/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Cats in Central Valley heat # Cats in Central Valley heat Vacaville, about 8 miles from Dixon, averages about 28 days a year with a high of 100 degrees or more, and July highs average 97.3 degrees, so keep cats indoors in the cool and watch for panting. Panting in a cat is a warning sign to act on. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Cats handle warmth better than most pets, but Central Valley summers push past comfortable. A few habits keep a cat safe. ## What the numbers say NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Vacaville station, about 8 miles from the kennel, show an average of 101.5 days a year with highs of 90 degrees or more, and about 28.4 days at 100 or more. The average July high is 97.3 degrees. These are long-term averages, so some summers are hotter. A closed car or a sunny upper-floor room can be far hotter than the air outside. ## Signs a cat is too hot Look for restlessness, searching for cool spots, damp paws, drooling and open-mouth panting. Cats rarely pant, so treat it as a signal. Rapid breathing, a bright red tongue, vomiting, wobbling or collapse are emergencies. Move the cat to a cooler place, offer water and call a vet right away. The AVMA's hot-weather pet safety page has more on prevention. ## Keeping a cat cool at home Keep indoor temperatures steady, close blinds on sunny windows, and leave water in several spots. Provide a tile floor or a cool surface to lie on. Never leave a cat in a parked car; California Penal Code 597.7 prohibits confining an animal in an unattended vehicle under conditions that endanger it. On a hot day the drive itself needs air conditioning on and a ventilated carrier. ## Boarding in summer Cats at Happy Paws stay in individual four-level condos with their own litter box and blanket ; ask on a tour how the cattery is kept comfortable in summer. Drop-off windows are 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM; a morning drop-off avoids the hottest part of the day. The 2026 rate is $35 a night. For the dog side of this, see [how hot is too hot for dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-hot-is-too-hot-for-dogs/). For the cat service page, go to [cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/). ## Older and flat-faced cats Senior cats, overweight cats and flat-faced breeds such as Persians often handle heat less well, so keep them in the coolest room and check them more often. Make water easy to reach on every floor of the home. If a trip is planned in the hottest weeks, early or late drop-offs are gentler on any cat. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Vacaville station)](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/normals-monthly/1991-2020/access/USC00049200.csv) - [AVMA, hot weather pet safety](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/hot-weather-pet-safety) - [California Penal Code 597.7 (animals in vehicles)](https://california.public.law/codes/penal_code_section_597.7) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [How hot is too hot for dogs? Dixon summer numbers](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-hot-is-too-hot-for-dogs/) - [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/) - [Choosing and using a cat carrier](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-carriers/) - [Dixon heat & cold by month for dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/data/dixon-heat-and-cold-for-dogs/) - [Traveling with a cat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/traveling-with-a-cat/) ## Heat and cold near the kennel **NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Vacaville station (about 8 miles from the kennel)** | Month | Avg high | Avg low | Days 90°F+ | Days 100°F+ | Nights 32°F or below | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Jan | 57.6°F | 39.6°F | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | | Feb | 63°F | 42.2°F | 0 | 0 | 1.8 | | Mar | 68.5°F | 44.8°F | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | | Apr | 74.9°F | 48°F | 1.3 | 0 | 0.1 | | May | 82.8°F | 52.9°F | 8.2 | 1 | 0 | | Jun | 90.7°F | 57.7°F | 15.9 | 4.3 | 0 | | Jul | 97.3°F | 60.2°F | 27.1 | 10.1 | 0 | | Aug | 96.5°F | 59.5°F | 25.3 | 9.3 | 0 | | Sep | 91.9°F | 57.5°F | 19.1 | 3.3 | 0 | | Oct | 81.2°F | 51.8°F | 4.6 | 0.4 | 0 | | Nov | 67°F | 44.5°F | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Dec | 57.9°F | 39.5°F | 0 | 0 | 5.5 | A normal year: about 101.5 days at 90°F or hotter, 28.4 at 100°F or hotter, 14.2 freezing nights. Source: [NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/normals-monthly/1991-2020/access/). ## Read next - [Litter, food and familiar smells for a boarding cat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/litter-and-food-for-boarding/) - [Long-term cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/long-term-cat-boarding/) - [Rabbit care while you travel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/rabbit-care-while-you-travel/) - [Bird care while you travel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/bird-care-while-you-travel/) - [Guinea pigs while you travel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/guinea-pig-care-while-you-travel/) - [What to pack for a small pet's stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/what-to-pack-for-small-pet-boarding/) - [Cage-free boarding and indoor/outdoor runs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cage-free-and-indoor-outdoor-runs/) - [Dog hotel, pet resort or kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-hotel-vs-kennel/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Is panting normal for cats? No, not usually. Treat open-mouth panting as a sign of stress, heat or illness and call your vet. ### Are the cat condos air-conditioned? The dog runs are heated in winter and air-conditioned in summer. Ask on a tour how the cattery is kept comfortable. ### What is the safest time to drive? Early morning or evening, with the air conditioning on.