There's no mistaking that winter chill in the air, and cats can feel it too, whether they live primarily indoors or outdoors. Even if your cat loves being outside, when temperatures drop closer to 0°C, you need to bring your cat indoors to keep it warm and reduce the risk of hypothermia or frostbite.
At around 12 – 15 degrees most pets will probably be quite safe. At 10 degrees, you need to keep an eye on them as it can be potentially unsafe depending on their age, general health, and breed.
In general, all cats will begin to feel cold when the temperature goes under 7-8 degrees °C. Although this species prefers warmth, it can do well with an indoor temperature of at least 10-15 degrees.
Anything 45 degrees and below is too cold for outdoor cats, so be sure to bring in your feline friend to prevent frostbite on their ears, tails, and toes.
It's unrealistic for humans to keep their homes at the cat's ideal temperature, but luckily cats can adapt comfortably to temperatures of 15°C to 20°C in the home. Putting their bed near a source of heat can provide them with extra warmth to keep them safe and happy.
We'd strongly advise that anything below 7 degrees Celsius is too cold for a cat to go outside. If your cat is hairless, has a particularly short coat or is old, young or sick, this temperature will be much too low for them, and we'd highly recommend that you keep them indoors, and warm.
What Temperature Is Too Cold for Cats? "As a general rule of thumb, anything below 45 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold. If the temperature dips below freezing, they are at high risk of hypothermia if they are outside for extended periods of time," says Arpino.
Yes, their thickened winter coats help feral and stray cats weather winter's chill, but they still need warm, dry, well-insulated and appropriate-sized shelters. It's cheapest to build your own, and there are many plans and instructions that can help you get started.
Cats Protection recommends that you keep your cats in at night. Cats are natural hunters, making them more active at night time, and some studies show that more road traffic injuries happen at night.
Feral cats seek out abandoned buildings, deserted cars, and even dig holes in the ground to keep warm in winter months (and cool during the summer heat). If you have feral or community cats in your neighborhood, here are a few ways you can lend a helping hand: Set out extra food during winter.
Check their ears, paws and tail
If your cat is cold, their extremities may start to feel cold to the touch. So have a feel of your cat's ears, paws and tail and if these body parts feel cold, then chances are your cat is cold.
For Warmth and Comfort
Cats may be more relaxed and less stressed when covered by a blanket, which can help them get better sleep. Blankets also carry their owners' scent, which cats recognize as part of their home and family.
Yes, cats do get cold, and most of them don't like the cold temperature all that much. If YOU think it's cold, your cat will probably think it's cold, too. The normal body temperature range for a human is 97.9 to 99° Fahrenheit. According to research, a cat's normal body temperature range is 99 to 102.5° Fahrenheit.
Cats love a warm patch of sunlight or a cosy blanket-covered lap even in the heat of summer, but in the winter they will do just about anything to stay warm.
How cold is too cold? Below 13° - If your home is this cold, it may increase your blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease. 14-15° - If your home is this cold, you may be diminishing your resistance to respiratory diseases. 18° - This is the recommended night time bedroom temperature.
The Life Expectancy of an 'Outdoor Cat'
While cats kept safe inside generally live for about 12 to 20 years, cats left to fend for themselves outdoors are usually dead before they reach 5 years old. If they're not hit by vehicles—the most common cause of death for cats allowed outside—they succumb to other dangers.
Cats love to roam, especially at night. This is because they are creatures whose instinct is to hunt when it is dark outside, especially at dawn and dusk. Those are the times of day that a cat is most active.
Cats love to sleep in high places. Not only is it usually warmer, but they have the advantage of being able to watch for danger. It is not unusual to find ferals in rafters of barns and sheds, or even in hollow trees. Garages are full of great hiding places for cats, both high and low.
Cats have different sleep-wake cycles than other animals and are often busy at night. This is because cats are crepuscular, which means they hunt and are active in the evening or early morning. This cat behavior at night is sometimes called the night crazies and may cause lack of sleep for cat owners.
Insulate the shelter with straw to repel moisture.
they soak up moisture like a sponge and make the shelter wet and cold. Learn the difference between straw and hay. You can also line shelters with mylar blankets, those distinct silver blankets that reflect radiant heat. Lay straw on top of the blanket.
Age — Kittens and older cats can't regulate their body temperature as well as adult cats, so they can get cold more easily. Type of coat — Hairless cats are more sensitive to the cold than cats with fur since they have nothing covering their skin, and they sometimes need a sweater even when inside.
Check the cat flap
If you have a little furry friend then their cat flap is often a large source of cold air intake. Locking it stops the draft but stops your cat from being able to get in, and even when locked the gaps around the flap itself are hardly wind-proof.
Cats can be social, compassionate and incredibly loving. And what this means is that without regular interaction or stimulation, they can easily become lonely; in some cases even a little sad.
Do cats feel love? It's a question that many cat owners have wondered. And the answer is a resounding yes! Cats often feel love quite strongly for their owners and other companions.
Warm and cosy bedding
A soft bed and plenty of blankets can provide your cat with plenty of warmth during the winter. Hammock beds that attach to a radiator or a covered igloo bed can give your feline friend a cosy and snuggly place to sleep.