It’s easy to assume that your cat is capable of keeping warm indoors whatever the weather is like outside. After all, most cats have their own built-in insulation systems in the form of their coats. They also seem quite happy to abscond whenever you leave a door or window open, regardless of the weather outside. Appearances can be deceptive, however; cats actually enjoy an ambient temperature a little higher than the ones that humans are used to and even the thickest fur can’t always keep out the cold when the thermometer drops.
Do cats get cold indoors? Yes, they do if it’s chilly and there’s nowhere for them to keep warm. As well as being uncomfortable it can be unhealthy for a cat to be constantly chilled. You can help by providing a cozy place to keep warm.
As a loving pet owner, colder weather probably has you concerned about your cat’s wellbeing. How cold is too cold for cats inside? Do cats get cold at night? How cold can a cat tolerate? How do indoor cats stay warm in the winter? What are some common myths about cats and the cold? Read on to find the answers to these questions and learn how you can keep your cat warm when the heating is off.
Do Cats Get Cold Indoors?
It’s true that many cats seem happy to run around outdoors in all kinds of weather. This can give one the misleading impression that they don’t mind the cold too much. In fact, cats are quite cold-sensitive. They don’t object to a bit of rain or cold wind as long as they’re moving around and staying warm but they can rapidly become uncomfortably cold once they run out of energy. It’s true that cats can grow thicker coats in the winter as a way of warding off the cold and can withstand brief stints in the cold without any special problems. That said, they can still get chilled if they have no way to keep warm beside running around.
Even the longest, thickest coat can’t fully keep out the cold if the temperature drops too far. Spending too much time chilled isn’t just uncomfortable — it can actually very bad for cats to stay cold for extended periods; it can weaken their immune systems and generally make them sickly and out-of-sorts. Cats who routinely spend time in low temperatures can suffer from a range of health issues. Actual hypothermia is a distinct possibility if the situation isn’t resolved and the cat has nowhere to go to get warm. In very extreme cold weather, it’s even possible for a cat to get frostbite on her paws or other extremities in an unheated indoor space; this can happen to cats left in a garage or an extension, for instance. Cold weather is a particularly big issue for older cats and cats with arthritis. Their joints can become more inflamed than usual, causing significant pain and stiffness and making day-to-day life much harder for them.
Even without these health issues, it’s simply unpleasant for cats to be cold. Being without a safe, warm spot can really make a kitty miserable; for these and other reasons, it’s important to ensure that your cat has at least a couple of spots where she can get warm when it’s cold outside. Something else to bear in mind during the colder months is that your pet may need to eat more — staying warm burns a lot of calories so you might want to give her more access to quality food, even if you normally restrict her diet to prevent obesity. In the upcoming sections, we’ll look at possible ways you can help your kitty stay comfortable without racking up your energy bills.
How cold is too cold?
There’s no simple answer to this question. A temperature that might be fairly bearable for a young, longhaired cat in the pink of health might be actively dangerous for a cat who is unwell or for a senior kitty. There’s also a difference between “immediately dangerous” and “apt to cause harm over a longer period”; neither are the same as “comfortable”. To help you determine whether your home is too cold for your cat, keep in mind that they actually like to be a little warmer than humans do — that’s why they’re so keen on finding a spot by the heater or in a sunbeam or snuggling up on a nice warm human lap. Your cat would generally prefer it if you cranked up the thermostat by a few degrees; the saying “if you’re cold, they’re cold” definitely applies.
If your living space seems uncomfortably chilly to you, you can be fairly sure that your cat is even less happy with the temperature. This is even more true of older cats, cats recovering from illness or injury, and especially arthritic kitties. Very young kittens need to be kept warm as they can’t regulate their body temperatures yet — if you have a queen cat nursing a litter, you need to take special care that she and her babies are warm enough. This may mean having someone stay at home with her while you’re out, or at least check in to make sure the new family isn’t getting chilled. Even a short spell without sufficient heat can be enough to cause a real health crisis for a small kitten.
Creating a warm spot for your cat without breaking the bank
It’s not necessary to leave the heating on day and night to keep your cat warm. It’s enough to ensure that she has an easily accessible cosy spot where she can warm her bones. If your home tends to be cold, set up a room where your cat has access to everything she needs so she doesn’t have to walk too far. Her food dish and water fountain should be near at hand, as well as her litter tray.
If you’ve set her up somewhere with a floor that tends to get cold, such as a garage with a cement floor or a kitchen or bathroom with a tiled floor, put down something she can walk on without getting her paws cold. A cheap, washable rug or runner is fine; if you have nothing else to hand, you can even use corrugated cardboard. Set up cosy spots with cushions, pads, folded blankets or cat beds (we’ll discuss these in more detail in the upcoming sections), making sure they’re in the warmest spots. Your cat should have comfortable bedding in locations that are secure and free from draughts — that cosy fireside spot can become much less inviting when the warmth of the fire is replaced by cold air coming down the chimney.
Cats often want to hang out by the wi