Frostbite

Do not let your cat be exposed to freezing temperatures for an extended period.

Areas that generally get frostbitten are the ears and tail, as they don’t have much of a blood supply.

Put warm moist heat on the affected area to get the blood flowing again. I had kittens lose the tips of their ears years ago. The kittens lived in an old barn we had years ago. Cats’ paw pads can crack from cold weather and bleed. In cases of frostbite, bring your cat to your vet ASAP. Never let your house cat out in cold weather. The wind chill temperature can affect your cat within a matter of minutes.

We once had an elderly farm tom cat that got disoriented in a blizzard. He must have been trying to find our barn. My Grandfather found the tom cat in the morning. He was in our driveway and looked like a statue. Grandpa took him in and sat him by the furnace in the basement. He defrosted after a while and was fine. In a blizzard, always keep watch over your farm cats. Cats can get disoriented in a blizzard, just like we can.

Ensure your outdoor farm cat has an area in the building that the wind cannot reach. An old chicken metal or wood chicken nest works well with a lot of straw in the holes for your cats to curl up in. I also like enclosed boxes with lots of bedding in them. I have also put a small safety heater in the building in the coldest months to keep the cats cozy. Pets heating pads work well with a burn-proof cover to keep the heat in.

Always check on outdoor cats daily, as it could be life or death. I hope you and your cats stay nice and warm, and safe this winter.

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