As we move into the coldest months of the year and abide by the message to ‘wrap up warm’, spare a thought for your cat(s) who don’t have the luxury of just slipping on an extra layer ?.
Cats are pretty good at hiding their discomforts so there are a few tell tale signs that Tiddles might be getting a bit cold:
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Extremities, such as paws, ears and tails feel colder than normal. ?
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A cat seeking a warm radiator to sleep next to is a sure sign that beneath that lovely fur coat, he/she is feeling cold. ?
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If your cat has ignored you all year but now wants to curl up in a bundle on your lap, it’s probably not because you’ve been admitted into the ‘inner sanctum’ but rather that they are trying to warm up (sorry!). ?
So, what simple things can you do to keep your cat warm?
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Take advantage of any ‘indoor sunshine’ by placing your cats bed by a sun-drenched window during the day. It might be freezing outside but inside, the suns rays can provide a great natural source of radiated heat (and it’s free ?).
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Elevate their sleeping location. We all know that heat rises so put their bed on a high up shelf where the room will be naturally warmer. You might also find that they feel more secure and relaxed in high up locations.
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Give them an extra blanket to sleep on. Just like humans, cats will love an extra blanket when it’s cold but unlike humans, they don’t like to be wrapped up tightly like a sausage roll ?.
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Find ways to keep your cat active. Like humans, cats body temperatures will rise with exercise so find ways to keep them busy. Playtime can take many forms and usually involves instinctive behaviors such as climbing, stalking and chasing so find ways to let them do this.
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Give them extra food. Don’t worry, it won’t make them fat as in cold weather they will be burning more calories to simply stay warm. After all, it is unusual to see an overweight eskimo isn’t it? ☃️
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Finally, if you have an indoor/outdoor cat, make sure that they have some shelter outside the home where they can curl up away from the harsh winter elements. This can be as simple as a small hole or cat-flap to access to garden shed or garage. Simple, but effective.
Most cats will adapt well to cold conditions providing they have the right environment to do so. A few small adjustments can make a large impact for cats in the home so let’s play our part in helping cats stay warm during these dark winter months.
