How to Protect Cats from COLD WEATHER ⛄ 5 TIPS

If you share your home with one or more cats, you're probably aware they don't like the cold. Cats can get the chills just like us and are usually quite sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. Beyond the preferences of an individual feline, low temperatures in general can cause numerous health complications from a simple cold to the risk of hypothermia. In this Animal Wise video we'll give you five things you should be taking into account when caring for a cat in winter. All cats need to receive adequate preventive medicine throughout their lives. We recommend that a few weeks before the onset of winter, take your cat to veterinary clinic for a general health status check and to update their vaccinations if necessary. The vet can also advise you on the best way to strengthen their immune system, improve their physical resilience, strengthen their natural defences and prevent the appearance of associated pathologies. A cat's diet is an essential factor in their optimal health throughout the year. With winter, we need to pay special attention to the nutrition of our cats since they will need more energy to maintain body temperature, especially if they have access to the outside. Kittens and elderly cats will need special care since their bodies are more fragile and sensitive to low temperatures. This is why it's so important to consider the best nutrition for your cat come winter time. Conversely, cats usually reduce their water consumption in winter. We need to be vigilant to ensure our cat drinks enough water and avoids dehydration. If we play with our cat and offer them an enriched environment for body and mind, they are more likely to consume fluids after exercising. If your cat does not show much interest in drinking water, you can add wet food to their diet as a way to provide extra fluids. Cat shelters are an effective way to prevent cats with access to the outside from exposure. Additionally, it is an excellent idea to leave an extra shelter outside to help feral street cats stay warm on the coldest or rainiest days of winter. They even protect from the sun in summer time. Pet shops should provide cat shelters or advise on making your own. Inside the home, we recommend having a hiding place nest or bed for your cat to relax and play in relative warmth and comfort. A cardboard box with a warm blanket and their favorite toys can be a sufficient and economical shelter to help take care of your cat in the winter time. Likewise, it's essential to choose the perfect location for your feline's hiding place, so avoid leaving it near windows, doors or anywhere chilly breezes can enter. Give preference to quiet rooms with abundant light. A jacket for a cat might be a good idea to help regulate their body temperature and avoid health problems from exposure to the cold. It's particularly important for hairless cats as they tend to be more sensitive to low temperatures since their absence of fur makes it harder to conserve heat and leaves them vulnerable to climatic change. If you've adopted a sphinx or any other type of hairless cat, we recommend you find comfortable jackets or coats before the arrival of winter. When we are selecting our feline jacket, we need to pay special attention to the materials used in its manufacture. Ideally, they should be made from hypoallergenic materials to prevent our cats from having allergic reactions on their skin or in the respiratory tract. We should also avoid jackets with superfluous buttons or accessories as they may end up falling off and being ingested. During winter, it is essential we avoid our cat being exposed to sudden changes in temperature and unfavourable environmental conditions. This is why the interior of our home is the safest and most protected place for our cats during winter. With the help of home heating, we can keep our home at an adequate temperature both for ourselves and our pets. It's also important to be aware of humidity as excessive dryness is also harmful to the respiratory system of our cats. A simple way to maintain proper humidity is to use a humidifier or simply spray a little water in our environment every four to five hours without wetting the cat itself of course. Last but by no means least, always be attentive to the appearance and behaviour of your cat. Don't hesitate to consult your vet if you observe any unusual symptom or behaviour. How do you care for your cats in winter? Do you have any other advice you'd like to share with the community? If so, leave your comments below. Like if you enjoyed this video and don't forget to subscribe for more to come. We'll see you next time.