23
Nov
Outdoor cats generally live at least 10 years less than indoor house cats - and thats a conservative number. While ideally it would not happen with cats its always possible that they might end up outside and need to survive to at some point.
The good news is that she began eating immediately and even started trying to clean herself.
Can domestic cats live outside in winter. Because they can catch hypothermia and frostbite To leave a Cat outside in the winter is not a good idea If you could keep him inside that would be better just until the winter season passes Though some Cats only stay outdoors and it can be difficult to make them an indoor Cat. Community cats stray cats who live outdoors grow a thicker coat of fur when it gets cold outside but they still need protection from the harsh weather. If youre caring for a colony of outdoor cats in your community this guide to caring for stray cats in the winter can help.
Some cats much prefer to live outdoors never being that keen to come inside the house even when the winter sets in and the outside temperature is very very cold. If you own a cat that wants to be outside all of the time it can be extremely worrying when the weather turns very cold and for good reason because if our feline friends are exposed to. While its often difficult for some animal lovers to accept feral cats really are happier living outdoors unlike their domesticated counterparts.
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. Straw allows cats to burrow. Pillowcases loosely stuffed with packing peanuts and shredded newspaper also work.
Replace straw and newspaper if moist or dirty and wash and re-stuff pillowcases as needed. However if its really cold where you live and you cant check on the shelters regularly dont use the above insulation. Yes long haired cats may survive better than short haired cats but even then the cold affects both breeds especially when the temperature drops below freezing Its important to keep your cat warm during the winter months because it can be very dangerous for cats in extreme cold weather.
Sadly animal rescues here in Michigan are called on to rescue cats that are found frozen to the ground regularly throughout the winter. If a cats coat gets wet while outdoors in cold weather they are at especially high risk of developing hypothermia. A cat is said to have hypothermia when hisher body temperature drops below 100F 378C.
Many cats tend to be chronically dehydrated and winters chill can make it even more difficult for feral or outdoor cats to get access to water. The best thing you can do is put out water for them and check it twice daily to make sure it hasnt frozen over. An even better option is to purchase a pet-safe heated water dish to prevent freezing.
Hypothermia occurs mostly when the cats coats are wet. In other words if it snowsrains outside this winter bring your cat inside. In the case of community cats you should build them a shelter and we will get to that in a few moments.
Outdoor cats generally live at least 10 years less than indoor house cats - and thats a conservative number. The outside life of a cat is a cruel one - - the vast majority dont survive long - particularly during winter. The best way to keep your outside cat warm in winter is to have a safe place for it to sleep.
A cat needs shelter during the long cold winter nightsjust big enough for a cat or a few but not for a dog raccoon possum skunk or other outside creatures. When adventuring outside with your cat its important to know how far you can push your cat to the limits before it can potentially become dangerous. So how much cold can cats tolerate exactly.
A good rule of thumb is if your cat is healthy any temperature above freezing 32F should be safe. There are many different climates in the world. Can indoor cats really survive outside and if so for how long.
While ideally it would not happen with cats its always possible that they might end up outside and need to survive to at some point. I dont think its very likely that my indoor cat Boo would survive outside for very long. So the answer to my own initial question is yes cats can survive outside in this harsh snowy winter.
But I shudder to think of what might have happened if she had been out there any longer because shes in pretty bad shape. The good news is that she began eating immediately and even started trying to clean herself. Cats need more calories in colder weather even if they stay indoors so make sure your feline friend is always well-fed says Dr.
Although you may have chosen to allow your domestic cat to have access to the outdoors in general the winter is the time to keep the doors closed for the entire season. Even though some cats can grow a really thick coat in the fall in preparation for the winter it simply isnt enough to keep them from freezing to death. Let your vet know if your cat goes outdoors so they can make sure they have the proper shots.
Outdoor cats will need additional vaccinations like the feline leukemia vaccine and possibly others depending on what part of the country you live in Miller says. Like many cat lovers you may have thought about letting your cat go outside. A lot of cat owners feel guilty about keeping their cat inside and worry that they are depriving their cat of natural instincts or fresh air and sunshine.
An indoor cat may live 15-17 years while the life expectancy for outdoor cats is only 2-5 years according to researchers at University of California-Davis. Jeff Levy DVM CVA owner of House Call Vet NYC also discourages owners from keeping cats outdoors. He adds that the extreme climates of the outdoors can be very hard on a cat.