4 Ways To Keep Your Cat Warm In The Winter
Cats have a luscious fur and coat, however it does not keep them very warm during the winter months. That's why they'll start looking for different ways to keep themselves warm.
During the winter, it's normal to see your feline lay down and take naps in warm places in your house, such as: on radiator, near a furnace vent, or in a room with a fireplace.
All cat owners need to pay special attention to their feline's well being during the winter. Here are some tips that will help your feline or kitten get through the winter easier.
1. Keep Your Cat Inside
If you're used to letting your feline go to your garden or yard during the warm seasons, you should refrain from letting them go outside during the winter.
You can take them outside only if you see that the weather is sunny and warm. It's not a good idea to put a sweater on an indoor or outdoor cat, since they may try to take it off and may injure themselves.
2. Provide Your Cat With A Warm Bed
Make sure to add an extra bracket or two to your cat's bed, so they'll have a warm and cozy place where they can lay down and take a nap. You may want to get a faux sheep skin or some other soft and plush fabric is fine too.
You can also move your cat's bed a few feet off the ground so they don't feel any drift, when laying on the floor. Also, you can move it close to a heater or on to a place that's sunny during the day.
Get Your Cat A Heated Bed Or Pad
There is a wide range of headed beds and pads that you can find online. From floor mats, to round cozy beds, you are sure to find the right shape and size product for your feline.
The advantage of having a heated bed or pad is that it's padded and all you have to do is plug it in, and it will heat the pad to a warm temperature which your feline will like. Most of these products consume very small amount of electricity, so they are energy efficient.
K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Mat Heated Cat Bed
This heated Cat bed will automatically turn on when your feline lays down on top, and will warm their temperature. It will work only when they are using the bed.
It consumes only 6 watts of energy, and you can place it anywhere indoors. It meets all USA/CA electrical safety standards. It has a removable heater and cover, so you can wash and clean it easily.
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3. Don't Let Your Cat Lay On Radiators
Some felines would love to lay on top of a radiator or close to a heater all day long. However, cats are not capable of determining if the temperature is getting too hot, and may burn themselves as a result.
Felines have fewer pain receptors than humans, when it comes to heat. If you keep the radiators and heaters at high temperatures at home, don't let your feline lay close by, otherwise they can get burned.
4. Provide Your Cat Proper Diet and Exercise During Winter
During the colder months, you'll notice that your cat will be more interested in finding a warm place to lay down, instead of being active and playing with it's toys.
However, keeping your cat active and exercising regularly will ensure they remain healthy and in good physical shape. So spend more time with them playing with different interactive cat toys.
You should continue feeding your feline healthy and nutritious cat food, that's high in protein. During the winter months, your feline might need to consume more calories, so you might want to consult your veterinarian if it's OK to give them extra food during meal times or give them some supplements.
Also, you should provide them with water to drink, since keeping cats hydrated is very important. Having a drinking fountain, encourages cats to drink more water during the day.
How To Keep a Cat Warm Outside?
If have a cat that lives outdoors or in colder places in your home, such as the basement, garage, barn, or shed for example, there are several things you can do to keep them warm.
You can make their bed warmer, by adding additional blankets. Or you can build a small house from cardboard or wood. You can also get them a heated bed or even an outdoor heated kitty house.
However keep in mind that heated beds and some outdoor cat houses must be plugged in a power source. Although they use electrical power, they consume small amounts of energy (usually around 20 Watts), and are economical.
K&H PET PRODUCTS Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Cat Bed
This is a soft orthopedic bed, which will keep your cat or dog warm in sub-zero temperatures. It's weatherproof and can be used indoors or outdoors. It won't absorb water and won't feel wet.
It's available in 3 sizes so it can accommodate small or large pets. It comes with one year limited warranty.
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K&H PET PRODUCTS Outdoor Heated Kitty and Cat House
The best part about this cat house is that it's available as Heated or Unheated. The Unheated version is made of 600 denier polyester making it water and weather resistant.
If you get the Heated cat house, you'll need to plug it to a power source. It consumes 20 watt energy, and will keep kittens and cats warm even in sub-zero temperatures.
There are two exits, which have clear door flaps which keep kittens and cats protected from the cold weather outside. It's suitable for kittens and small to medium size cats, but won't be roomy enough for large cats.
Both houses are easy to assemble and come with one year limited warranty.
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Conclusion: How To Keep Cats Warm In Winter?
Cats love being warm, and when the winter comes, they'll actually have a hard time keeping themselves warm and will constantly look for different sources of heat in your house where they can snuggle up and take a nap. This is because their coat and fur doesn't keep them insulated. To help them get through the cold winter months, make sure you provide them with a warm bed or electric pad and keep the temperature at home around 70 to 80 degrees which is ideal for an indoor cat.
