Feeding Cats and Dogs Through an Egyptian Summer: Food, Water and Storage
Summer here is not only heat, it is humidity too. Pets change their eating and drinking behaviour in these months, and many owners assume illness when the animal is simply adapting. Here is what actually happens, and what to do about it.
Why appetite drops in the heat
Digesting food generates heat, so the body reduces intake automatically to lower its internal temperature.
This is normal up to a point
A mild dip in appetite at midday is normal. A complete refusal to eat for more than a day is not, and warrants a vet.
Move meals to the cooler hours
Instead of midday, make the main meal early morning or after sunset. You will often see the full portion eaten.
Do not cut the daily amount on your own
If intake drops for several days, review the amount rather than guessing: petzybites.com/pets-calculator
Water is the real battle
Dehydration develops far faster in summer than most people expect, and cats in particular hide the symptoms.
Change the water twice a day
Standing water warms and changes taste, and the animal stops drinking it.
Place bowls in more than one spot
The more opportunities, the more they drink, especially in larger flats.
How to spot dehydration
Gently lift the skin at the scruff and release it. If it springs back immediately, fine. If it stays tented for a moment, there is dehydration. Dry gums and lethargy are further signs.
Dry food and water
An animal on dry food alone needs more water than one on wet food. That is not a flaw in dry food; it simply makes water your responsibility.
Storage in summer
This is what makes excellent food spoil before its date.
Heat oxidises the fats
Fats in the kibble oxidise, the smell and taste change, and the animal refuses it. Keep the bag away from the balcony, the kitchen and the car.
Humidity grows mould
Coastal and Delta humidity is enough for mould inside an opened bag. Close it firmly after every use.
Buy a size you finish in a month
The large sack is cheaper per kilo, but two months open in summer costs more than it saved.
Do not leave food out all day
In humidity it loses its crunch and attracts insects. Serve the portion and remove the rest after half an hour.
Other things that matter in summer
Small details that reduce heat stress.
Fur is not a blanket
Shaving to the skin is not always helpful. Fur insulates and shields the skin from the sun. Regular brushing beats shaving.
Asphalt burns
If you can barely hold your hand on the ground for five seconds, it is burning your dog's paws. Go out early or at night.
A parked car is lethal
Interior temperature reaches fatal levels within minutes. Never leave an animal inside, not even for a minute.
Our brands, made in Egypt
Petzy Bites is an Egyptian factory in the industrial zone of Banha. We produce our own brands for the Egyptian market: 101 Bites and Doggo for dogs, Bessa, MshMsh and CatCoty for cats, formulated to international standards with a lot number on every batch.
Where to buy
In our store at 101bite.com/store, priced in Egyptian pounds with delivery inside Egypt, or through the retail points we serve in Cairo, Giza and other governorates.
Thinking of manufacturing your own brand
We manufacture for third parties with a minimum order of three tons. Request a quote at petzybites.com/private-label
