Miz Allie Cat, as you all probably know, lives in sunny California, however, its not too sunny right now!!! Matter of fact its buuuurrrr meow-cold and even with my soft and thinck fur it is still a bit nippy for me...meow....
Although it seems obvious to most pet owners, we are now experiencing a period of bitter bitter cold in most of the U.S. Thousands of us cats and many dogs literally freeze to death each year. Meow.....Many more suffer from hypothermia, and end up in veterinary offices due to excessive exposure to the cold. oh, I hate's the big bad vettee place...meow....
Hypothermia, or a body temperature that is below normal, is a condition that occurs when the cats are not able to keep their body temperature from falling below normal. It happens when they spend too much time in cold temperatures, or when cats with poor health or circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases, your cat will shivers and show signs of depression, lethargy, and weakness. As the condition progresses, her muscles will stiffen, her heart and breathing rates will slow down, and she will stop responding to stimuli. If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your cat warm and take her to your veterinarian.
Another cold-related problem is frostbite. Sometimes your cat may accidentally be left outside or become lost during a heavy snowstorm. Frostbite may result. If this happens, remember - frozen tissues should never be rubbed. This causes additional tissue damage. Prompt veterinary treatment is needed. If this is not possible, warm the affected area rapidly by immersing in warm, never hot, water or by using warm, moist towels that are changed frequently. As soon as the affected tissues become flushed, discontinue warming. Gently dry the affected tissues and lightly cover with a clean, dry, non-adhering bandage. If frostbite is in the later stages, gangrene may set in and cause all kinds of infections. So, if you suspect your cat has frostbite, take her to the veterinarian.
How to deal with cold weather
As winter weather really sets in, don't forget to help keep your cats warm and safe. Help your cats remain healthy during the colder months by following some of these simple guidelines.
- the winter season can be harsh on us cats, so you should fortify our coats. Add Supplements to our diet with essential fatty acids that will cause the coat to grow in a bit thicker for the cold months. Meow..and they tastes good too!! Meow...
- Vegetable oils such as canola oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, butter and fish oils are high in these fatty acids. They can be added to the food. I sure have a preference for the fishy oils! Meow
- Increase our supply of food, particularly protein, to keep our fur thick and healthy through the winter months. So long as we do not have a weight problem, give us extra food and treats during the winter months to help us keep warm. Meow...puuurrrr
- Give us our daily vitaminss E and B-complex that will strengthen the tissues and make us more resistant to cold. But you should be careful, because providing additional vitamins can actually cause imbalances in our diet and medical problems. So check with the doc..meow
- Be particularly gentle with us elderly and arthritic cats during the winter. The cold can leave our joints extremely stiff and tender, and they may become more awkward than usual.
- Be sures to stay directly below us when we are climbing stairs or jumping onto furniture. Consider modifying their environment to make it easier for us to get around. Make sure we have a thick, soft bed in a warm room like the living room, puuurrr, for the chilly nights.Meow my mommy sure does for me right on my couch!! puuurrr
- Make sure we has a warm place to sleep far away from all outside drafts and preferably off the floor - such as a basket or a cardboard box with a warm blanket in it. If wenormally sleeps on the floor, provide us with warm and comfortable mat or bed. ppuuurrrr
- Keep fireplaces screened. We will luxuriate in its warmth. However, if we lie too close to the fire, they we are in danger of hot cinders or sparks. ough!! meow Fireplace heat also contributes to our dry skin. Fumes from the fireplace may cause respiratory problems in some of us too. Especially us older gals...meow
- If you have to take us to the big old bad vet, put a hot water bottle in the carrier. You can also put the our bed in the dryer for a few minutes before putting us into the carrier. A cover, or towel on the carrier is good for blocking draughts. meow
- Keep our coat well groomed. Matted fur won't properly protect us from the cold. puuurrr
Outside cats
- We are social animals that crave human companionship, so we deserve to live indoors with you and your family. Meow....But if you permit us to go outdoors or live outdoors completely, here are some tips that will keep us in good condition.
- Keep us outside as the weather starts getting colder so we can adapt. We needs to physically adjust to the temperature change, grow a thicker coat and build up a resistance to the weather. meow..not me..
- We that spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes our energy. So our mommys and daddys may also have to change the eating habits of their pets during the winter. meow
- Check our food and water often to make certain they are fresh and unfrozen. Don't use metal bowls outside during the winter. Our tongue may accidentally stick to the bowl. Sometimes our mommys or daddys don't realize that a water bowl has frozen and we cats can't get anything to drink. meow... When we cats don't have access to clean, unfrozen water we are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals. ohhh nooo meow...
- Especially important for every outdoor cat mommy and daddy to know is to have a place for adequate shelter during cold weather. Ensure we have an insulated house. The house should be large enough for us to turn around, yet small enough to conserve our body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. yum yum that's warm...meow....The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.
Never use newspaper, towels, or blankets inside a our shelter. They will retain the cold and become stiff and hard. Instead, use straw. Meow
- During the winter, we sometimes sleep under the hood of your cars or in the garage where it is warm and comfortable. You should be aware that the antifreeze is of particular concern, as it can be deadly for us cats that lick it from garage floors. If we sleeps under the hood of your car, when you start the motor we could get caught in or flung about by the fan belt, causing serious injury or even death. MEOW!!!!!
- To prevent this, mommys and daddys and big human family....be sure to bang loudly on the hood and sides of your car before turning on the ignition to give the us a chance to escape. MEOW....Meow.... Meow
The rule of thumb is this: If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for us cats.meow....
Tell your mommy's and daddys to be sure and protect our bodys and limbs with warm fuzzy fabric, and keep us indoors at night. meow...I am indoors all the time anyways, but some of our fellow kittys likes that openess...meow...
Bottom Line is even though we's have fur coats if its too cold for you its too cold us. Meow pppuuurrrr inside I will stay!!!!!
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