Keep Your Cat Safe and Happy This Winter

Introduction

Changing weather means changing needs for your cat, especially during the winter. If you keep your cat indoors (or keep her in just for the winter), she won't be affected by the drop in temperature or the hazards of cold weather. But there are still a few things you can do to give your cat a little extra help.

Be Careful Using Antifreeze

 Ethylene glycol, otherwise known as antifreeze, can be fatal to cats if they ingest it. This is an issue because cats are attracted to the taste of it. Antifreeze is most commonly used in car radiators and can be found in screen washes and de-icers. It is also sometimes wrongly used in garden ponds and water features to stop them from freezing over, but this poses a significant risk to cats (and wildlife), so should be avoided.

You should store any products securely and clean up any spills straight away. If you think your cat may have ingested antifreeze or been exposed to it in any way, get in touch with your vet immediately, as it's vital to act quickly. Signs that your cat may have ingested antifreeze include an increase in urination or drinking, vomiting, lethargy, seeming uncoordinated or "drunk", seizures, unusually fast heart rate, and fast and shallow breathing.

Tap The Bonnet of Your Car

As the temperature drops, cats have a habit of crawling under car bonnets and wheel arches to soak up the warmth from car engines and tyres. Make sure to tap the bonnet of your car and check around the wheels and on top of the tyres before you start the engine and drive off.

Check Your Cat's Paws

When your cat comes in from being outside, check their paws and gently wipe them with a damp cloth or towel to remove any rock salt or chemicals. Roads may have been salted or gritted, so you'll need to remove this from your cat's paws, so they don't ingest it when grooming. It's also good to check your cat's paws frequently for any signs of frostbite, irritation from the salt or other injuries. This is especially important with long-haired cats as they are prone to snow compacting between their toes which then turns into ice balls which can be very painful.

Provide a Litter Tray

Cats should ideally have access to an indoor litter tray all year round so that they always have somewhere safe and accessible to go to the toilet. Even if your cat usually prefers to go to the toilet outside, during the winter months, you should give them a litter tray so they can go to the toilet without having to go outside in freezing temperatures. This can be particularly important for more senior cats or cats with medical conditions or disabilities.

 Enrich Your Cat's Indoor Environment

As the weather gets colder, your cat will probably prefer to spend more time indoors. Make sure they are kept entertained and can still get plenty of physical and mental exercise by providing them with lots of interesting toys and games. Keeping your cat active will also help keep them healthy and ensure they're not overeating for the amount of exercise they do during the winter months. Some cats will continue to exercise as normal but may eat more for insulation, and that's OK too. It's also a good opportunity to ensure your house is set up in an enriching and cat-friendly way so that all your cat's needs are catered for indoors during the rest of the year.

Keep Your Cat Warm and Dry

If your cat gets wet while outside, gently dry them off with a towel. Once they're inside, ensure they have plenty of different warm and snuggly places that are draught-free where they can curl up. This is particularly important for older cats and cats with medical conditions such as arthritis. Any cats who may be less active or have lost some muscle tone/weight may also have trouble maintaining their body temperature on their own, so make sure they have lots of warm, cosy options where they can settle down.

Provide Places to Shelter Outside

Some cats will want to stay in more during the winter, but many will still want to come and go as they please. It's a good idea to provide your cat with outdoor shelter too, so they can stay dry and warm and continue to enjoy the outdoors during the colder weather if they wish. This could be an outdoor shelter or cat' house', an insulated cat' snug', or you might want to give them access to a safe garden shed or similar with a cat flap.

Keep Hot Things Out of Reach

Keep an eye out for hot things and wintery hazards at home, such as roaring fires, stoves, hot radiators, open coal, wood and gas fires, wood-burning stoves and candles. Never leave your cat alone around open flames and candles, and ensure, wherever possible, that sources of heat are kept well out of reach or at a safe distance.

Give Your Cat Access to Fresh Water

Make sure your cat has access to fresh water both inside and outside the house. Your cat might prefer to drink from places outside, but if these freeze over, then it's important that your cat still has access to fresh water. If you have bowls or other items outside that you know your cat drinks from, it can help to clean them out regularly and get rid of any ice.

Keep an Eye on the Cat Flap

If your cat does venture out, make sure she can get back in again easily. Check regularly that the cat flap doesn't freeze shut or get blocked by snow.

Check Your Cat's Microchip Details Are Up-to-date

Your cat's microchip should always be kept up to date, especially your contact details. This is especially important during the winter when they may wander off to find the nearest warm place. You can do this online, by telephone or by post with the database that your pet is registered to. If you have your cat's microchip number but can't remember which database, then you can search for the relevant company using the microchip number on www.check-a-chip.co.uk

For more information on keeping your cat warm in winter, please read our previous article - Keep Your Cat Warm in Winter

Sandra James

Owner & Founder

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in recognition of the fact that a stay in a cattery can be unsettling for many cats and also their owners.