Make sure all of your cat’s shots are up to date. The distemper shot is critical because many young cats die of distemper over the winter. A cat with a distemper loses weight quickly and has respiratory problems and diarrhea.
Make sure all of your cat’s heated beds are working correctly. You can place a pillow in the heated bed to see if it feels warm. If so, your cat’s heated bed is working correctly. Check if the heated water bowl works on the first cold day of the season. I always keep an extra power strip on hand in case my old one quits working. I always keep two new heated cat beds on hand if one of my old ones quits working. Changes are that the old heated cat bed will stop working in the middle of a blizzard.
Ensure outdoor cats have a warm place to get out of the cold in the winter. An outdoor cat can get frostbite quickly and lose the tips of their ears. Cats’ paws can become rough, cracked, and bleed from outdoors on cold ground and walking in the snow. My outdoor cats have a cat building, a heated bed, a water dish, and an old chicken nest with straw.
I give my outdoor cats extra food in winter to help them maintain their body weight and to help ward off sickness. Make sure your cat has fresh, clean water to drink every day. Check on your cats often in the winter to make sure they are were it is safe and warm.
I hope you and your cats have a cozy, safe, and healthy winter. Make sure you and your cats stay indoors when the weather is terrible.
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