Warm and cosy bedding A soft bed and plenty of blankets can provide your cat with plenty of warmth during the winter. Hammock beds that attach to a radiator or a covered igloo bed can give your feline friend a cosy and snuggly place to sleep.
What NOT to put in your outdoor cat shelter. Don't use blankets, towels or folded newspaper; they absorb body heat and chill cats who are lying on them.
Blankets provide warmth and comfort, and cats often seek out the reassuring touch of a blanket as a form of protection from threats. Cats may be more relaxed and less stressed when covered by a blanket, which can help them get better sleep.
Don't use a blanket, folded newspaper, or towels as warmth for your shelter. While they might seem warm, your cat will just lay on top of them, and they'll just absorb body heat rather than reflect it so your cat won't actually be cozy.
Just like us, cats can suffer hypothermia and frostbite, so helping their body temperature stay at a comfortable level is key. If it's snowing, cats will opt for staying indoors, so you don't need to worry about them getting too cold.
Warm and cosy bedding
A soft bed and plenty of blankets can provide your cat with plenty of warmth during the winter. Hammock beds that attach to a radiator or a covered igloo bed can give your feline friend a cosy and snuggly place to sleep.
Cats love to be warm, and that's why you'll see them sacked out in the sunshine. They crave warm and cozy spots, so if your bed is something they find comfortable, they'll likely choose you to snuggle with. The one who makes them feel safe.
Cats become lazier during the winter, as they prefer to spend their time finding a warm place to sleep. To maintain their body heat, cats prefer small spaces and the “donut” position to get cosy.
Age — Kittens and older cats can't regulate their body temperature as well as adult cats, so they can get cold more easily. Type of coat — Hairless cats are more sensitive to the cold than cats with fur since they have nothing covering their skin, and they sometimes need a sweater even when inside.
Some cats seek out the reassuring touch of your blankets because it feels safe. Your kitty can create his own little tent, and this enclosed space may feel like protection from threats. He may be more relaxed and less stressed when under the covers.
Because they are on alert, your cat might not want to get under the covers and dull his senses. He might be snoozing, but he's listening to what's going on around him, ready to pounce. Pet news, photos and more delivered to your inbox.
Cats often sleep curled up in a ball, with nose to tail. Cats like to be warm, and this shape helps them retain body heat. This position also protects vital organs in their abdomen by surrounding them with less essential and more resilient muscle and bone.
Straw Shelter Bedding
Straw is the best bedding — it repels moisture and provides insulation, making it ideal for keeping cats warm and comfortable all winter. Be sure that you buy straw, which is bedding, and not hay, which is feed.
Feral cats seek out abandoned buildings, deserted cars, and even dig holes in the ground to keep warm in winter months (and cool during the summer heat).
Curling into a ball
For many cats this is their go-to sleeping position, but this position can sometimes be a sign that they are feeling the cold. A cat that is feeling the cold will also tuck their paws and tail underneath them to keep extra warm. Always make sure that your cat is well fed, and watered.
One thing is for sure: Many cats love to snuggle up to the radiator, follow the warming rays of the sun or just snuggle under your cosy warm blanket. Why cats like warmth so much is naturally. Freezing also means loss of energy.
Cats love warm temperatures. They're always seeking out a sunbeam or a hot spot in your home so they can soak up as much heat as possible.
"If your cat is chilly, they may shiver, sit in a hunch position, and/or seek out warm spaces," says Satchu. At a certain point, if a cat is left in cold temperatures for too long, she can develop hypothermia. If your cat experiences any of these symptoms of hypothermia, rush her to the vet ASAP.
Have you ever wondered why? "When a cat goes to sleep, their guard is lowered and they're aware that they're more vulnerable, so often cats may choose to sleep at the foot of the bed for security and safety, to alert you if they sense a threat, and to protect you," Askeland explained.
If your cat is busy doing something else, like eating, sleeping or playing they are unlikely to appreciate being touched, or fussed. The same goes for if they're hiding, or in one of their quiet places. If your cat appears scared, or in pain you should generally try and avoid touching them.
At around 12 – 15 degrees most pets will probably be quite safe. At 10 degrees, you need to keep an eye on them as it can be potentially unsafe depending on their age, general health, and breed.
There's no mistaking that winter chill in the air, and cats can feel it too, whether they live primarily indoors or outdoors. Even if your cat loves being outside, when temperatures drop closer to 0°C, you need to bring your cat indoors to keep it warm and reduce the risk of hypothermia or frostbite.
Generally, cats are fine in cold weather as most have a thick coat. We strongly advise that anything below 7 degrees Celsius is too cold for a cat to go outside though.
For cats that are primarily indoor cats, keep them inside when the thermometer falls below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) just to be on the safe side.