It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that a cat’s fur serves as a warmer. It serves as a means of maintaining warmth in the body.
Different kinds of cats have different fur length and volume. The thicker the fur the warmer for your feline friend. That can lead us to the other side of the spectrum, how cold is too cold for cats?
That does not mean, though, that cats are invulnerable to extremely low temperatures, or as a well-known Disney princess puts it, “The cold never bothered me anyway!”.
Cats can be cold. And they can suffer from a couple of fatal effects caused by getting cold.
But just how cold is too cold for cats?
How Do Cats Survive Extreme Cold
Though cats have natural coats to keep them warm, there is a point when the drop in temperature is dangerous to their health.
How cold is too cold for cats? Vets have been advised to not let their cats alone without another means of getting warm when the temperature decreases to the freezing point, 45 degrees Fahrenheit ( 0 degrees Celsius).
Most cats freeze when the temperature drops to this point and it gets fatal when it goes even lower.
What Temperature Is Too Cold For Cats?
You might not worry about the temperature drop during the day, but it can get extremely cold during the night, especially during the winter season.
Be sure to watch over your cats when this happens.
Your cat may experience hypothermia, which is when the cat’s body temperature drops dangerously low. It can affect the central nervous system which will cause the heart to have trouble pumping blood through the body.
Then the gradual loss of blood makes way for frostbite to set in. This will make it hard for your cat to move.
There are three phases to hypothermia: mild, moderate, and severe. Hypothermia occurs when a cat’s body can not keep the normal body temperature and it goes down.
Mild hypothermia is classified at ninety to ninety-nine degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 35 degrees Celsius). Moderate hypothermia is when the temperature is in the range of eighty-two to ninety degrees Fahrenheit (28 to 32 degrees Celsius).
Severe hypothermia is any temperature less than 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius).
Hypothermia may negatively affect your cat’s heart and blood flow, breathing, and immune system.
Once your cat starts to shiver uncontrollably, becomes weak, and lacks mental alertness, take is a sign that she cannot take the cold anymore and needs to be warmed up.
How Cold Is Too Cold For Cats Inside?
Cats are known to be independent pets. Though they do love exploring the corners of your house, they are also vigorous in being outdoors.
There is not much to be mindful of if your cat prefers the indoors. But being outdoors means your cat is at much greater risk.
Be sure to prepare a place for your cat where they can keep warm. A bundle of soft blankets may be enough when indoors but not quite when outdoors.
If your cat has the tendency to be out even at night, you can consider having a cat door so your pet can come in whenever the temperature starts to get unbearable.
On the outside, on the lawn, or garage, you must make sure that your cat has an enclosed shelter. It is wiser to keep it above the ground and to ensure that the place is always warm. It can be bedded with blankets and/or hay or straws. Guarantee that moisture is not present in your cat’s shelter.
Caution: Cats seek warmth under cars
Know also that cats have the tendency to seek warmth under cars, which have engines that stay hot even after hours of being turned off. So always be mindful of this before you start driving your cars. Check under your transportation machines to see if you have got a friend down there.
If you think about dressing your cat with another piece of cloth, do weigh some certain possibilities. The cloth can get caught onto some sharp objects and slip off from the cat and it can wound or injure your cat. Consider the comfort as well, it can irritate your cat which will cause them to try to break free from it
But when you decide it to be done and your cat has totally agreed to it, remember to just have the perfect size. Too loose, means there are gaps wherein the cold can seep in and render it useless. If the clothing is too tight, on the other hand, it can irritate the skin of your cat and cause itchiness and it also means limited movement.
How Cold Is Too Cold For Cats?
It is always best to seek professional advice from your vet for more guidelines and protective means to lessen the risk of endangering your feline family.
Getting your family or housemates involved can be of humongous help to you. They can assist with the maintenance of the kitty cottage outside and with the kitty pod inside.
Your safest bet is to make sure that your cat stays inside, where you are on your turf, and where you can easily observe stress signals indicative of hypothermia.
If your cat is insisting that she be let out during a cold time, be sure to know the risks you are taking by letting her out. Once she starts showing signs of hypothermia, just warm her up back indoors and make sure the cold does not set in on her.
Nurse her back to health! Make sure she gets the best treatment. Make sure she stays in the safety of your warm and loving care.
