CAT TIPS FOR THE WINTER SEASON

Category: Cat Care, Pet Health | Tags: Tags: cat care, cat health, cat winter tips

Date: December 22nd, 2010

1. Keep your cats inside. Outdoor cats can freeze, or become lost or stolen, injured or killed.  If you can’t keep your cat indoors, make sure he or she is acclimated and doesn’t stay out too long, especially when the temperatures are below freezing.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under car hoods for warmth. Before starting your car, bang loudly on the hood and wait a few seconds to give the cat a chance to escape. Cats also love to curl up in a warm place for a nap while inside the home. Prevent potential burns and fires by protecting your cat from open fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters.
3. Never leave your pet alone in a car during the cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold. Your companion animal could freeze to death.
4. Watch for signs of frostbite. It is seen most often on ears, the tail and footpads, and look for pale, glossy or white skin. Better yet, prevent frostbite all together by limiting your cat’s time outside.
5. Antifreeze, even in tiny doses, is a lethal poison for cats. Unfortunately, its sweet taste attracts animals to it. Thoroughly clean up spills from your vehicle. To prevent accidental poisoning, more and more people are using animal-friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than traditional products containing ethylene glycol. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center if you suspect your animal has been poisoned.
6. Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep far away from drafts and off the floor. Consider a cat bed or basket with a warm blanket or pillow in it.