Thursday, March 28, 2024
behaviorcat behaviordoghealth and safetypetsveterinary medicine

Winter Tips for Pets Outdoors

A pawprint frozen into the ice on my steps, with snow to fill.
A pawprint frozen into the ice on my steps, with snow to fill.
black cat wit colored lights
Mimi remembers the days of wandering around in snow and frozen sidewalks, and thoroughly enjoys the sunny windowsill.

First, get a windowsill. When Mimi lived mostly outdoors I would see her trotting quickly down icy sidewalks or trying to plow her way through a snowdrift. I winced to think of her tiny paws on ice and rock salt and seeing her petite little self nearly be lost in the snow and many was the time I wanted to just go and get her and bring her inside. She was skittish and would run, but I was always glad to see that she had survived another day, another winter with all her extremities intact. Unfortunately, also, her uterus, but that’s another story entirely, and likely one of the driving forces that kept her roaming, even in winter.

black cat on snowy deck
Mimi heads back toward the door.

Now she takes advantage of every sunny windowsill and warm soft spot, and while she joins me on the deck when it’s warmer, now that it’s cold with ice and snow she stays inside and simply watches me go out to feed the birds, probably getting an extra measure of appreciation for where she is remembering the feeling of ice under her paws.

We really hope that all pets get to live indoors or have access to a warm indoor shelter where they can spend the coldest days or time during storms and still be able to access food and water. For pets who spend part of the day outdoors or who are cared for outdoors here are a few tips for their human caretakers.

Don’t take for granted that animals can survive outdoors

Simply because other animals live in the outdoors without human intervention doesn’t mean that our pets can—and it doesn’t always mean that those animals whose habitats are outdoors live well or even survive the winter. Wild animals also need and find adequate shelter and food and water if they don’t hibernate, and if they don’t find these things they don’t survive.

tortoiseshell cat on snowy deck
“Can’t you fix this?” Cookie asks.

Small animals lose heat quickly

Cats may tolerate cold for a while, but their small bodies lose heat quickly and extremities like tails and ears can easily be lost to frostbite. Small breed dogs like a Chihuahua with short, thin fur or a delicate Italian Greyhound with no body fat obviously don’t have the resources of a squirrel who’s doubled his fur and fattened up on nuts and fruits (and my bird seed and suet). Puppies and kittens are likewise less tolerant of cold than adults, likewise older pets. Cookie went outside with me every single day no matter the temperature and bravely walked on whatever had fallen from the sky, but as she grew older I would only let her wander for shorter times than she preferred, much to her consternation and protest. If pets go outside at all, they shouldn’t be outside without protection for very long.

Risk of antifreeze poisoning

Aside from cold is also the risk of poisoning, either from leaking anti-freeze, always a risk but moreso when animals take refuge beneath a warm car on a cold day, and from products used to melt ice and snow. Fluids and oils from vehicles also tend to persist in snow and on wet pavement, so you should always wipe down your pet when they come inside, and wash off any sticky or oily substances on their fur. Remember that you also track these things indoors on your shoes, so be careful to place wet boots and shoes where your pets can’t get to them, wipe them down as soon as possible (this is good for your boots and shoes anyway), and clean up the floor before someone licks up a puddle.

Bring pets inside on coldest nights

25 cat shelters
25 cat shelters made by volunteers for the Homeless Cat Management Team!

If you have a pet that lives outdoors most or all of the time, you should make some arrangements to bring them inside in some way during the most intense cold and always make sure they have edible food and water that is not frozen or covered with snow or ice.

Build shelters for community cats

And if you’re caring for cats who live outdoors, they should have shelters of some sort at any time but especially at this time of the year. Shelters come in many forms and shapes, but they should be insulated by a solid material like styrofoam and filled with straw, not blankets which hold moisture and can develop mold and mildew.

Many times there is no chance for electricity to keep food and water from freezing, so either a few extra trips to refill dishes or a non-electric warming pad helps as well. At right are the shelters made by volunteers to the Homeless Cat Management Team for community cats; they have been delivering these and making more.

Cute little sweaters and coats

As for cute little coats, they may be more than just cute and actually provide needed insulation for cats and dogs, but you can be the judge if your pet will wear one! Below are links to articles that will give you more detail on preparing your indoor-outdoor pets for the cold.

Birds and wildlife

I have a separate article on providing food, water and shelter for your backyard birds along with wildlife in your backyard wildlife habitat in Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat: Bad Weather Birds

Resources

Alley Cat Allies Winter Weather Tips for Colony Cats and ideas for building shelters

Cold Weather Tips, Skin and Paw Care Tips and Top Ten Tips on Caring for Ferals in Winter from the ASPCA

Pet Winter Safety: Prepping Your Pet for Winter Weather from WebMD/Pets

14 Winter Safety Tips For Pets from Pawnation

Mimi is happy to say that this is as close as her children have come to experiencing snow—leaning out the window while feeding the birds!

black cat with snow
“What is this wonderful stuff?!”
black cat with snow
Bean gets snow in his face.

Read more articles about Health and Safety and Veterinary Medicine.

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.


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Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

3 thoughts on “Winter Tips for Pets Outdoors

  • Pingback: Daily Photo: Wavering Light ~ The Creative Cat

  • I love that frozen paw print, B! Wouldn’t it make a beautiful holiday card or set of seasonal cards?

    Reply
    • Thanks, Chris, but it’s kind of a sad one for me–I think it’s from a kitty years ago who I was trying to follow around the neighborhood and trap if necessary, but it disappeared. That pawprint kind of symbolizes that for me.

      Reply

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