How to Keep Barn Cats Warm, by Hidden Spring Farm on YouTube. 2 min 10 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 10 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a spot out of the wind, ideally against a south-facing wall of the barn. Raise the shelter a few centimetres off the concrete or ground on bricks or pallets so damp cannot creep in.
Choose a shelter just big enough for the cats to stand and turn around. A large box stays cold inside, while a snug one holds their body heat.
Cut a small doorway, about 15 cm wide, and fit a flap of thick plastic or rubber strip. Keep the opening low and small so wind and rain stay out.
Line the floor with a thick layer of clean straw, around 10 to 15 cm deep. Straw traps air and drains moisture. Avoid blankets, hay and towels, which soak up damp and freeze.
Add a second shelter or a smaller box inside a bigger one, so cats can huddle together without being trapped by a dominant cat.
Set out a heated water bowl or a thermal bowl and run an outdoor-rated cord safely along a wall, out of reach of chewing. Check the water twice a day and break any ice.
Feed a little more than usual in cold spells. Extra calories help cats hold body heat, and wet food should be served fresh so it does not freeze solid.
Check the cats daily for shivering, frostbitten ear tips, weight loss or a hunched stance. Bring any cat that looks unwell inside or to a vet.
Tips and common mistakes
Never rely on heat lamps or space heaters in a barn, since bedding and dust can catch fire and cords get chewed.
Straw beats hay every time, because hay holds moisture and goes mouldy against a cat's skin.
Insulate the shelter roof and walls with foam board or layers of cardboard, but leave the entrance clear.
Bring cats in during severe storms or below about minus 15 C if you have a safe indoor space.
Questions
Will barn cats be warm enough outside?
Healthy adult cats with a dry, insulated shelter, straw bedding and plenty of food cope well in most winters. Very young, old or thin cats need indoor space or a heated area.
Should I use a heated cat bed in the barn?
Only if it is designed for outdoor use and the wiring is protected from chewing and damp. A plain straw-filled box is safer and still effective.
How do I stop water freezing overnight?
Use a heated bowl plugged into an outdoor-rated cord, or swap to a thick insulated bowl and refill it with warm water last thing at night.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
