🧊 Cool Pets, Happy Days: How to Keep Your Small Pets Chill in Warmer Weather

Sunshine season is here and while we’re loving the longer days and blue skies, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for our furry friends. Small pets like guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters can easily overheat and they rely on us to help them keep their cool. So here’s your quick, breezy guide to keeping your little companions safe, chill and utterly pampered this summer.

🌡️ Why overheating is a big deal for small pets

Guinea pigs and rabbits don’t sweat (jealous, right?). This means they struggle to regulate their body temperature in the heat and things like stuffy hutches, plastic cages, and direct sun can spell danger fast. Signs of heat stress include panting, drooling, lethargy, and even collapse. Not what we want for our little fluffballs!

👉 Top tip: Keep your pets out of direct sunlight between 11am–3pm – that’s the hottest part of the day.

❄️ Quick Tips to Keep Them Cool

Here’s the short ‘n sweet summer survival list:

✅ Shade is your best friend – Always make sure hutches and cages are shaded, especially outdoors. No trees? Try a parasol or even a reflective emergency blanket above their hutch.
✅ Frozen water bottles (not the drinking kind!) – Fill an old bottle with water, freeze it, and pop it in their space. Great for them to snuggle next to.
✅ Airflow matters – Keep indoor pets near a fan (but not directly blowing on them).
✅ Fresh, cold veggies – Treat time! Chilled cucumber, leafy greens and berries = hydration with a crunch.
✅ Hydration station – Make sure their water bottles are always topped up and not too hot.
👉 Check out our Water Bottle Holders – they help keep bottles upright and accessible, even in a heatwave.

💡 Need more guidance?

The RSPCA has brilliant advice on keeping pets cool in summer. We recommend bookmarking this:
👉 RSPCA: Keeping pets cool in hot weather

And for small pet-specific tips, our friends at Guinea Pigs Australia have a fab guide too:
👉 Guinea Pigs Australia: Heat stress & summer care

🐾 Don’t sweat it – we’ve got your back

At Buttercup Pet Products, we’re all about making life easy for pets and their people. Our gear is designed with clever solutions in mind, like our Hay Racks that help keep food fresh and elevated and our Water Bottle Holders that work beautifully even on the hottest days.

💌 Want more summer tips straight to your inbox? Pop your email in at the bottom of this page and join our community of pet-loving legends.

Stay cool out there – and give your floofy friends an extra cuddle from us.