Provide a warm shelter for your cats for protection from the cold, wet, and frigid weather. A building that has cover from the wind and cold is the ideal protection for your cats in stormy weather. A heat lamp helps take the chill out of the air. Fresh straw or warm, dry bedding makes a cozy bed for your outdoor cats.
I like heated cat beds for my outdoor cats and a heated water dish. Ensure food bowls are full of fresh cat food and water bowls are free from ice. Give your pets fresh water every day to drink. Check on your pets often in the cold weather to ensure they are OK and that heat lamps and heated beds are working correctly.
Frostbite can occur quickly, and your cat can lose the tips of his ears or have the pads of his feet frozen. Take your cat to your vet ASAP if you expect it to have frostbite. Many cats die from distemper in the cold winter months if they do not have their shots up to date. If your electricity goes out, have a straw your cats can snuggle up in to preserve body heat.
Give your cats a lot of table scraps and canned cat food in the winter to boost their immune systems and give them extra energy to survive. I like to feed my cats high-quality dry cat food with a lot of protein and hardly any by-products. Feed your cat the best quality food you can for their well-being.
Ensure your cat’s shelter stays dry and free from drafts and wind. A small electric heater helps take that cold chill out of the building that they are living in. In case of a power outage, have old blankets available for your cats to snuggle up in. Keep plenty of fresh dry straws on hand, and ensure your cats have the water they can drink. I hope you and your cats keep warm and healthy as the weather gets colder.