Are cats cold in winter?

Your cat’s relationship with winter frosts depends on its breed, size, quantity and quality of wool. 

If you are chilly at home, your Sphynx is probably uncomfortable too. In the cold season, such a pet needs warm clothes made of soft fabric. But in a fluffy Persian or ragamuffin, wool contributes to thermoregulation, such cats freeze only in the most severe frost. There is no need to wrap them in additional clothes.

Watch your cat to find out how to make her perfect winter!

The climate system not only saves in the heat. In winter, it can be set to work continuously so that the temperature in the house is two to three degrees higher throughout the day. It is highly desirable that your climate control system be located away from where the cat often prefers to sit or lie down.

In contrast to the cold outside, heating is turned on in the house. Because of this, the air in the apartment can become dry. Such air dries out the skin and mucous membranes. This is fraught with the appearance of dandruff in the pet and a decrease in immunity. The humidifier will keep the humidity in the room at the level of 40-60%. Make sure your cat is drinking enough fluids. She is motivated to drink more abundantly by a special fountain and several containers of fresh water placed throughout the house.

Ventilation will help saturate the air in the house with oxygen and cheer up. But remember the safety rules. The open window and the cat should not be near. The cat shouldn’t be around at all. The temperature difference between inside and outside is so significant that the mustachioed-striped one will instantly freeze. In winter and not only, all drafts are especially dangerous. Even if you have the most modern window model, in windy weather, hold your palms near the frames. If it is still blowing from the window, you need to be the first to know about it. And sealed all the cracks.

Cats often sit on the windowsill. Even if you sealed the windows or you have a reliable plastic window, the window sill also needs to be insulated. An excellent option would be a fluffy rug on a non-slip rubberized base or a soft cozy couch with sides (or a couch-house).

Pay special attention to where your pet sleeps. Place a folded blanket or blanket under the bed so that its “bed” is above the floor level. Give your four-legged friend an extra blanket or blanket, you can wrap yourself in it at night.

If the cat is cold at home, she may doze off next to the heater or stove. The pet itself does not understand that it risks getting burned, it intuitively reaches for a heat source. Avoid such situations. This habit of a cat can lead to burns and other injuries.

You can hide from the cold in a special house. It can stand on the floor or be on one of the tiers of the gaming complex. An elderly pet may experience particular joint problems in winter. An armchair or chair pulled up can be a good intermediate point on the way to your favorite shelf or cat house. The smaller the jumps, the less the load on the musculoskeletal system.

If you need to bathe a cat, prepare carefully. The apartment should be warm, without open windows and drafts. After washing, the cat should be wrapped in a towel that absorbs moisture well, dried with a hairdryer and combed.

Since cats get cold even in the house in winter, letting them out in the cold is not a good idea. But let’s say a few words about this. Even if you live in a private house far from the metropolis, it is better not to let the cat go for a walk in winter. In frost, striped mustachios prefer to hide in warm places, often sitting under cars. You should be especially careful if your ward can easily move from home to garage.

Did you go somewhere by car with a cat? Do not leave the ward in the car. In winter, the cabin quickly becomes cold. Have you decided to go out into the air with a cat in your arms in frosts? Limit yourself to ten minutes, otherwise the temperature difference in the house and on the street will become too much stress for the pet.

How to warm up a cat quickly? Take advantage of express methods. 

1. Warm water bottle wrapped in a blanket. 

2. Ironed old clothes. Remember how cats like to nestle on freshly ironed and neatly folded trousers. Nobody canceled active games with a cat. A great way to both chat and stop shivering from the cold.

How to warm a cat and not go too far? Fire safety comes first. Turn off heaters and other electrical appliances when you leave home. Keep your cat away from open flames.

Be careful when trying to surround your pet with warmth. If a thaw has come, it’s zero degrees outside, and the temperature at home is almost like spring, you don’t need to wrap the cat. But even in the cold, one cannot judge all cats in the same way. 

We wish your pets health, warmth and comfort even in the winter cold!

The article was written with the support of the Valta Zoobusiness Academy. Expert: Lyudmila Vashchenko — veterinarian, happy owner of Maine Coons, Sphynx and German Spitz.