How to Keep Cats Safe in Winter

During the winter months, your moggy’s needs and routine will change. There are fewer daylight hours, and the temperature can drop rapidly, so you might need to switch things up to make sure they’re visible when they’re outside and have plenty of ways to warm up and stay healthy.

There are a few risks to be aware of that you may need to think about when things are cold and icy.        

Making sure your pet is seen when they’re out in the dark is so important, especially when days are shorter in the winter and visibility is often poor. If your cat likes to go out roaming - even during the day -you should make sure they are clearly visible to road users.

Reflective collars are available in lots of different colours and will let cars know when your beloved pet is on the road. You can also get reflective tags, like the Ancol Reflective Id Tag, to attach to their collars and make them extra visible!

If your cat likes to go out for long hours and into the night, you may way to consider changing up their routine to make sure they’re back before dark.

If you let your kitty out a little earlier and they usually spend a few hours exploring the local area before they come home, they’ll be tucked up in the warm before it gets too cold.

If you have a cat flap that gives them access to outside any time they want, this could cause problems in the winter, so you may want to look at getting a locking cat flap, like the PetSafe Staywell Deluxe Manual 4-Way Cat Flap to keep them safe and secure in your home.

Once you’ve considered their safety - especially when it comes to venturing outside – you’ll want to ensure that you can keep them warm indoors. Whether they’ve been outside and need to warm up quickly or you’re just making sure they can snooze away the colder months in comfort - cats don’t tend to enjoy being cold, so an action plan is essential.

Warmth is important as a whole, but it’s even more significant if you have an arthritic cat, which is common in older felines. The cold weather can make just getting comfortable much harder with this condition.

However, providing lots of nice soft beds and positioning them in areas that aren’t in any draughts is a start. You can buy beds that attach to radiators or even little hides that can go on the floor in the warmest spots. If you have a particularly cold house, microwavable heating pads like the Snugglesafe Heat Pad are a great addition to keep beds and blankets extra warm.

Antifreeze contains Ethylene Glycol which is an odourless, sweet liquid that cats may like the taste of. It doesn’t take much antifreeze to become potentially fatal.

Although it is often used to clear ice from cars, it can also clear snow and ice from paths and can collect and sit in puddles on the ground.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning in cats include:

If you think your cat is suffering from any of these, they should be taken to the vet immediately.

Microchips are something we tend to consider at the very start of bringing a kitten or a cat home, but they often get forgotten about. If you change your phone number or move home, you can quickly become untraceable, and the microchip is rendered useless.

While you never want your pet to go missing, winter is a much riskier time for your cat to wander off, so making sure your moggy can get home as fast as possible with an up-to-date microchip means their chances are much better. You can update your details either online or over the phone.

During the winter months, cats are often drawn to warm spaces. It might be your heating cupboard or next to the fire whenever it’s lit. When they’re outside, they can be tempted to climb up into or rest under the engines of cars for shelter - even more so if they’re still warm after driving.

You should always do a quick check to make sure your cat hasn’t taken refuge from the cold underneath your car - especially if you have recently driven it.

Cats who live outside are usually hardier than our indoor pets, so if you’re wondering how to care for an outdoor cat in the winter, it may look a little different to those who prefer to come inside.

To make sure they’re still well cared for, you can provide a warm shelter from the cold and ensure they have places to sleep. Warm beds in garages or sheds are great, and wooden dog kennels can also shelter them from the worst of the weather.

It’s also important to make sure you are keeping on top of their grooming. Matted fur can hold a lot of moisture, and even short-coated cats can get frosty paws or get salt grit stuck between their toes. If they are happy to be handled, regular brushing and wiping their feet will keep them happy and healthy through the cold weather.

Outdoor cats may also need a little bit of extra food through the winter, as more energy may be spent on keeping warm, requiring extra calories.

Caring for a stray cat in the winter can be very similar to outdoor cats, with a few exceptions. Most stray cats may not be comfortable with handling or grooming, but providing extra food and warm places to hide can be helpful for them.

If the weather really drops and gets icy, you can place soft beds, blankets, and even self-heating mats in sheltered areas that are guaranteed to stay dry, like sheds, garages, or kennels. If they’re open to the elements, the material will just soak up moisture and hold the cold, so make sure they are well sheltered from draughts and any rain or snow.

Keeping cats safe throughout winter, be it your beloved pet, or the stray population is mostly about giving them warm, safe places to bed down. You can find plenty of beds, reflective collars, and tasty meals to get through this winter, so take a look at our latest products today!