How to protect your cats in winter, by Aliyan Vets on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Bring your cat indoors for the winter, or at least keep it in from dusk until morning. Cold nights are the riskiest time for a cat left outside.
Set up a warm bed in a draught-free spot, raised off a cold floor and away from doors and windows. Add extra blankets so your cat can burrow in.
Put out fresh water in several places and refresh it at least twice a day. Use ceramic or plastic bowls outdoors, since metal gets painfully cold.
Skip baths unless your cat is genuinely dirty. Washing strips the natural oils from the coat, and a damp cat loses body heat fast.
Keep vaccinations and routine vet check-ups up to date. Kittens, elderly cats and sick cats struggle most when the temperature drops.
Check your cat once a day for shivering, cold ears and paws, a hunched posture or unusual sleepiness. These are early signs of hypothermia.
If your cat is cold and shivering, wrap it in a warm blanket in a heated room and let it warm up slowly. Call your vet if it does not improve.
Tips and common mistakes
Bang on the car bonnet before starting the engine in cold weather, as cats shelter near warm engines.
Antifreeze tastes sweet to cats and is highly toxic, so mop up any spills in the garage or driveway straight away.
A hot water bottle or heat pad is fine if it is on a low setting, covered, and your cat can move away from it.
Cats burn more energy in the cold, so ask your vet whether a small increase in food suits your cat.
Questions
How cold is too cold for a cat?
Below about 7 degrees Celsius is uncomfortable and risky for most cats, and freezing conditions are dangerous. Kittens, senior cats, thin cats and unwell cats are at risk even sooner.
Can my cat live outside in winter?
Most cats cope better indoors, and a cat used to living outside still needs a dry, raised shelter with bedding and constant access to unfrozen water. Bring it inside during freezing nights if you can.
What are the first signs of hypothermia in a cat?
Look for shivering, cold ears and paws, a hunched body, slow movement and confusion. Warm the cat gradually and contact your vet if the signs do not ease.
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.
