Does your cat love basking in a shaft of sunlight on the windowsill? Or perhaps they can generally be found lying out in the garden, the sun comfortably warming their coat? Sadly, they will have to wave goodbye to sunbathing as a pastime for a little while, as the colder weather now draws in.
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Today’s pet cat retains several of the characteristics of their desert-dwelling ancestors, including a love of heat and sunlight. Depending on their age, breed, size and health, cats may prefer an ambient temperature of around 30-38°C. Cats are very adaptable however, and will cope with our preferred household temperatures of around 15-20°C. Although I’m sure if they could, they’d be regularly annoying the bill-payer of the household by constantly turning the thermostat up.
We’ll stay warm by the fire – keeping your cat safe indoors at wintertime
When it’s cold outside, most of our cats will likely spend increased time indoors. For some cats, spending more time indoors can be a little bit stressful, due to the human hustle and bustle.
To make the indoor space more appealing and relaxing for your cat, it’s a good idea to give them a quiet ‘sanctuary’ space in the home; with a warm cosy bed to curl up in away from draughts. Your cat can be encouraged to toilet in their litter tray, instead of venturing outdoors in the cold, if it’s kept clean each day. Try placing the tray in a quiet, secluded area that is easy to access. And make sure you have at least one litter tray per cat, plus one extra. Sprays and diffusers which release comforting pheromones can be another way to help put your cat at ease indoors.
Be aware that there may be additional hazards for cats in the home at wintertime that may not be present all year round
Open fireplaces, space heaters and stoves can pose a risk during winter. Cats can be drawn to these in their search for a comfy spot to sleep. It’s not uncommon for cats to receive burns in return. Do not leave your cat in a room unattended when a fire is lit, and screen it off. Radiator beds can make an excellent compromise if your cat is a determined heat-seeker.
The Christmas holidays can bring their own hazards and stressors for your cat
When the tree and decorations go up and people come to visit, the house becomes more unsettling for your cat. Not only are they more likely to feel compelled to escape outdoors into the cold and dark, but the stress of the festive period can bring on a range of health problems such as cystitis, cat flu or stomach upsets. For male cats, Christmas is a peak time of year for urinary blockages. So make sure you are aware of your cat’s toileting habits. It’s really important to keep an eye on their health at this time of year. If you have any concerns, a well-timed visit to the vet is always the best course of action.
It’s important that your cat has a place to decompress over this busy period; that sanctuary space will become even more important for them at this time.
Decorations and seasonal plants can be a concern as well.
Most cat owners will be acutely aware of how tempting the fully decorated tree can be for their cat to climb and interfere with! Unfortunately for us, hanging ornaments and tinsel do look like an ideal cat toy, especially for a young, playful cat. It’s vital to secure your tree to the floor with a heavy base to prevent it from tipping over. If you are not there to supervise, it’s best to keep your cat out of the room the tree is in. Another top tip is not to place any presents for your cat under the tree until the big day itself; so as not to encourage your cat to investigate this hazardous area.
Although they tend to be more discriminate eaters than dogs, vets will still be called upon to operate on cats that have swallowed tinsel or bits of ribbon and wrappers. These items can cause intestinal blockages. It’s a good idea to fasten your decorations to the branches as tightly as possible. Also consider placing them higher up the tree. Glass decorations can be a real hazard if smashed and trodden on, so along with tinsel, it’s best to avoid putting these on the tree. Snow globes often contain antifreeze so should not be kept where they can be knocked over and smashed. Seasonal plants like poinsettias, holly and mistletoe are all potentially poisonous to cats and shouldn’t be in the home if you have a cat indoors.
Baby, it’s cold outside
But what about outdoor cats? At what point does the outdoor temperature become too cold for cats? Again, this will vary depending on whether your cat is older, short-haired, and small-framed, versus larger and more generously furred. Some cats will cope better with the chill than others. But it’s generally agreed that 7°C is too cold for cats, and anything below this brings a risk of hypothermia.
In the lane, snow is glistenin’ – winter hazards outdoors
Over 60% of pet cats have access to the outdoors, with an additional quarter of a million cats estimated to be living permanently outdoors as unowned feral and street cats in urban areas alone. For some, a lack of proper socialisation to the domestic environment between the age of 2-7 weeks means that they never fully feel at ease in the home. It can be very stressful for these cats to be brought permanently indoors over winter. Even for those cats for whom the human household carries positive associations, the drive to experience the mental and physical stimulation of the outdoors can make it almost impossible to keep them confined inside.
It’s best to go with the flow and allow your cat access to the outdoors during the winter if this is their desire.
There are some adaptions and things you can put in place to make sure they stay safe and happy outdoors this winter:
- Make sure your cat comes in at night and lock the cat flap once they are inside.
- Check that the cat-flap hasn’t iced over, or that snow isn’t blocking the exit.
- Consider placing a shelter in the back garden for your cat to cosy up in. A cardboard box covered in plastic sheeting can be a quick and easy way to provide this.
- If your cat doesn’t come home at their usual time, make sure to check local sheds, garages, and outhouses. They may have become accidentally locked inside while in search of a warm place.
- Car bonnets are another warm place, and before driving off, do a quick cat check to make sure you don’t have an unexpected extra passenger.
- Make sure your cat is microchipped (now a legal requirement in England) and that your contact details are up to date with the microchip database. This way, they can be easily returned home if needed.
- Be aware of antifreeze (ethylene glycol). Car owners will be adding this to their screen wash and car radiators. It’s also often used in ponds and in garden water features. Cats can be drawn to lapping up this tasteless liquid or may groom it from their fur after walking through a spill. It can be fatal for them to ingest antifreeze. Avoid the use of antifreeze if possible and clean up any spills straight away. Contact your vet if you think your cat may have ingested any.
- Check your cat’s paws for road salt or grit, as this can be irritating to the skin and may be accidentally eaten by your cat when they are grooming themselves.
- If the weather becomes particularly cold, encourage your cat to stay indoors by keeping them entertained with enrichment toys and puzzle feeders. Many of these can be cheap and home-made. Cats Protection has a fantastic series of videos on how to keep your bored cat occupied here.
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