As the chillier months press on, knowing how to tackle the colder months with your cat is important. Although they do slink around in their glamorous fur coats, our domesticated cats still need an occasional helping hand to keep warm through the Winter, and even the start of Spring.
Keeping outdoor cats cosy
If your cat is an outdoor cat come rain or shine, it’s essential to make sure they have access to somewhere warm and dry outside as well as in. Even if that is just a covered area of your garden they can shelter in away from the harsher weather day, or a snuggly shed.
If you’ve got a rebel kitty on your hands that refuses to be confined to four walls, make sure their coat is well dried off when they do return home. With the unpredictable winter weather, rain and snow are never off the cards. Though they may protest the towel, they’re bound to be extra cosy and warm once dried off.
One more important thing to mention in the colder months is antifreeze. With frosty weather, antifreeze will be out in full force for the morning commute, but this chemical substance is super toxic. It’s made up of ethylene glycol which has a sweet taste that is unfortunately appealing to our cats. Signs of antifreeze poisoning include drooling, vomiting, thirst, wobbliness and a lack of coordination. If you suspect anything isn’t quite right, get your cat to the vet as quickly as possible!
What to do with indoor cats
Though they can of course still enjoy the outdoors in winter, ideally try to keep your cats inside as much as possible when it drops down to freezing. Shorter days with less light means poorer visibility and puts your cat more at risk in the outside world. They are much safer at home in these conditions, and we’re sure they’ll come around to the idea of warm, winter cuddles indoors. If your cat is usually more of an outdoorsy type, it’s essential to make sure they have access to a litter tray 24/7 whilst they are spending more time indoors, to avoid any unwanted accidents.
To keep them extra cosy in the cold, why not add a few extra blankets to their usual sleeping spot, and even consider moving their bed to the cosiest and warmest room in the house for ultimate comfort. Cats are super adaptable, and will soon come around to the soft life. But keeping up their exercise during the colder spell will help keep them in tip top feline condition. Outdoor cats typically love to roam and wander, climb and hunt, so whilst they’re having a bit more sofa time it’s important they don’t become too much of a couch potato. Providing cat towers to climb, toys to hunt and even brain games will encourage activity and keep them exercising those natural behaviours they’d usually display outdoors.
