How to care for your cat in winter?

If you share your home with one or several cats, you should know that the cold is not usually to your liking. Cats feel the cold just like us, and are usually quite sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, so they adapt better to warmer climates. But beyond the preferences of each cat, low temperatures can cause many health complications, from a simple cold to the risk of a hypothermia.

It is crucial to adopt certain preventive measures to offer an optimum quality of life to our cats, always prioritizing their welfare. Thinking about it, we have developed this article in, where we will show you some tips so you know how to care for your cat in winter.

1. Preventive medicine: check your cat’s health before winter

As we always remember in our articles, all cats they need to receive adequate preventive medicine throughout his life. This includes, not only taking it to the veterinarian every 6 months and respecting their vaccination and deworming booklet, but also providing a complete and balanced nutrition, a safe environment, and the proper physical and mental stimulation.

Some weeks before the arrival of winter, you can take your cat to the veterinary clinic to check your health status and update your vaccinations (if necessary). The veterinarian can also guide you on the best way to strengthen your cat’s immune system, to improve its physical resistance, strengthen the natural defenses of its organism and adequately prevent the appearance of associated pathologies.

2. Balanced nutrition: pay special attention to feeding your cat in winter

Cat feeding is a key aspect for a optimal health status throughout the year. However, with the arrival of winter, we must pay special attention to the nutrition of our cats, since they will need more energy to maintain their body temperature. In addition, a complete and balanced nutrition is essential for your cat to be strong and healthy physically and cognitively.

The Puppy and elderly cats They will need special care, since their body is more fragile and sensitive to low temperatures. Therefore, it is very important that you consult the veterinarian for the best nutrition for your cat in winter, considering its age, size, state of health and other specific needs of your body. You can also consult with the veterinarian the incorporation of some natural supplements and vitamins to strengthen the immune system of your cat.

In general, cats often reduce water consumption during the winter, for which we must be attentive, to make sure that our kitten drinks water and thus avoid a dehydration picture. If we play with our cat and offer an enriched environment for his body and mind, he is more likely to consume fluids after exercising. But if your cat does not show much interest in drinking water, you can incorporate wet food to your diet to bring you fluids.

Discover in this video how to make homemade wet food for your cat:

3. Cats for cats: build an ideal refuge for cats outdoors

The booths for cats are exceptional shelters to prevent cats with access to the outside from being exposed to the elements. In addition, it is an excellent idea to leave an extra booth on the outside of our home to help the stray cats to take shelter in the coldest days or rainy of winter, as well as the intense solar rays in summer. If you can, it would be great to leave them also a feeder with some food and a drinker with clean water, so they can satisfy a hunger and thirst.

In pet stores, you will find different models of cat huts. However, you can make yourself a good outer shelter for your cat, using all your creativity. In, we teach you how to make a house for wooden cats using recycled and economical materials.

Already inside the home, we recommend having a hiding place, nest or bed in the shape of a cave where your pussycat can play, rest and enjoy your naps, feeling safe and warm. A cardboard box with a good blanket and your favorite toys can also be a fun and economical shelter to take care of your cat in winter.

Likewise, it will be fundamental choose the perfect location for the hiding place of your feline, avoiding to leave it near doors or advantages where the cold wind can enter, and giving preference to rooms with good luminosity so that your cat can enjoy the natural heat of the solar rays.

When it is time to sleep, it is likely that your cat wants to sleep with you not only to take advantage of the heat of your body, but also to feel safe and enjoy your company

4. Coats for cats: help your kitten to keep his body temperature

Coats for cats are good allies to help our cats to keep your body temperature and avoid health problems from exposure to cold. In this regard, it is worth remembering that hairless cats are usually more sensitive to low temperatures, since the absence of fur makes it harder to keep the heat and leaves it more exposed to climatic adversities. If you have adopted a Sphynx or another type of “bald” cat, we recommend you to choose some very comfortable coats before the arrival of winter.

When deciding on the best coats for cats, we must pay special attention to the materials used in their manufacture. Ideally, they should be manufactured with hypoallergenic materials, to prevent our cats from having allergic reactions in the skin or in the respiratory tract. It is also recommended to choose garments without ornaments or buttons that can be released and end up being ingested by our cat.

Logically, we will also need know the measures of our cats to choose the ideal coat according to its size. Finally, remember that the welfare and comfort of our cats should always be in first place. Your cat will need time to get used to wearing this new coat (especially if it is the first time you try a garment of this type). But if you notice that your pussycat is not comfortable with his new coat, it will be best to take it off and respect his will.

5. Air conditioning: keep balanced temperatures in your home

One of the essential care of your cat in winter is to avoid exposing it to sudden changes in temperature and unfavorable environmental conditions. Therefore, the home interior It will be the safest and most protected place for our cats during the winter. With the help of heating, we can adequately heat our house, always maintaining optimum temperatures for the well-being of our pigs. But it is important to be aware of the humidity of the air, since excessive dryness is also harmful to the respiratory system of our cats. A simple way to maintain good average humidity is spray each 4 or 5 hours a little water in the environment, but without wetting the cat, its environment or objects, or acquire a humidifier.

As already mentioned, it will also be very useful to have at least one room with good lighting where your cat can enjoy the sun’s heat. But it will be essential to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight, controlling exposure times at safe times (until 10h or after 16h), to prevent burns and the risk of other more serious diseases such as skin cancer.

If your cat is used to outdoor rides, you will also need to take special care to avoid exposing it to the elements. During the winter, it will be better for your pussy to walk in the evenings, when the temperatures are more pleasant. If we talk about a rainy day or with snow, the ideal will be play with our felines at home so they can spend energy and have fun without the need to go abroad. In, we have many ideas of games of intelligence and activities to tire your cat without leaving home.

We also recommend checking your cat after his walks to make sure it has not been wet. And if you notice that your coat is wet, you will need to dry it very well with a clean towel. Do not use a heating pad, as it is dangerous to put electricity in contact with wet hairs. To give you warmth, you can wrap it in a clean blanket or towel and have it in your arms taking advantage of the heat of your body, or let it rest in its hiding place or nest.

Last (and not least), always be Attentive to appearance and behavior of your cat and do not hesitate to consult quickly with the veterinarian in case of observing any unusual symptom or behavior.

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