Pacific Siamese Rescue strongly believes in cats being indoor-only; however, we do realize that many pets also go outside during the cold season. Here are some facts and tips to get your cats and dogs through the winter safely.
Please remember, if you are cold, chances are they are too. Keep their beds slightly elevated away from cold and draft, and make sure they have a dry, warm, safe place to sleep. If you have a pet suffering from arthritis or severe osteoarthritis, they may experience more joint pain during cold weather conditions.
While many people think animals wear fur coats and should be fine in the winter, it is simply not the case. Prolonged exposure to cold results in a drop in the body temperature of dogs, cats, and other pets. Never leave your pets in the car for any length of time; it is just as dangerous in the winter as it is in the summer heat. If you have a puppy, an older dog, or a short-haired dog, just let them out to relieve themselves and, if need be, get them a sweater. If their skin turns red, white, or gray and becomes scaly, it may be a sign of frostbite and you need to contact your vet.
Outdoor cats, as well as other animals, may seek shelter beneath the hood of a car. This is potentially a deadly trap, and the animal may be killed by fans or belts. This can be avoided by banging on the hood and honking your horn before starting your car.
Coolants, antifreeze, and melt salts are lethal poison for cats and dogs. Be sure to consider “pet safe products” such as Propylene Glycol. Always clean your pet thoroughly, wipe off their paws, and keep them dry!
Then, of course, there is the other extreme. If you use a fireplace, put up a fire screen to prevent burns. You should also avoid using a space heater. Pets can chew on the cord and be electrocuted. They can also knock over the space heater, resulting in burns, or worse, set fire to the house.
Your animal’s nutritional needs may change in the winter. They may become less active and, therefore, may need less food during these months. Increase the amount of calories if your pet goes out.
Please keep your cats inside, both in summer and in winter. In addition, think about microchipping and providing your cats with name tags, just in case they get out.
Outdoor cats can freeze to death, get stolen, injured, poisoned, killed, or become lost. More pets get lost in the winter than any other time of the year. Cats who are allowed to roam the neighborhood may be exposed to infectious diseases, including feline distemper, feline leukemia, feline aids, and rabies.
There really is no place like home!
This blog post was adapted from a newsletter article originally written by Andrea Stuewe-Lawrence.