How to help cats in cold weather
Cats can feel the cold. Winter can affect cat health and behaviour, and expose them to outdoor poisons. On this page, you’ll learn how the cold and dark weather impacts a cat’s wellbeing, and what you can do to keep them comfortable through the winter.
Jump to:
How cold and dark weather affects cats
Cats don’t typically like cold weather – they’re descended from warm climates, and often prefer a warm environment. While a cat can adapt to cold weather (their coats tend to thicken over the winter and they can puff up their fur to trap warm air against their skin) they will still look for cosy places to rest. You might find them curled up on blankets, in the sunlight, beside radiators, or snuggled up to you.
Elderly cats, the very young and those without fur are more at risk of cold-related issues.
You may notice that cats sleep more in the winter, to preserve energy, or because of the shorter days, or are more active to keep their body temperature up.
Some cats may prefer to stay indoors, while other cats still like to venture outside in cold weather. Cats have good low-light vision (they can see six to eight times better than we can) but they don’t have night vision. Like us, cats can’t see in the dark.
Cats may also need more food when it’s cold; they eat up to 15% more food in winter to provide the additional energy they need to keep warm.
While cats may be able to survive the cold weather, they thrive when they also have a safe indoor space, filled with enough enrichment to keep them active throughout the winter.
did you know?
Cats are most active at dusk and dawn – they’re ‘crepuscular’, not nocturnal.
¹2014 PLOS One study of seasonal food variations in cats.
²Cats Protection, ‘Cats and sleep.’
How to help cats survive in cold weather
Keeping a cat safe in cold and dark weather requires a little extra attention. Our winter cat care tips below will help you keep them warm, healthy and happy. But first, here are a few things to keep in mind throughout the winter:
-
Keep them active
-
Make sure the cat is microchipped
-
Check cars before you drive
-
Check sheds and other outdoor buildings
-
Keep the cat visible
-
Wipe them down after a trip outside
-
Brush them regularly
-
Provide a warm, cosy space indoors
Providing cats with indoor enrichment – interactive toys, puzzle feeders and vertical spaces like cat trees, for example – will help keep them entertained, active and happy. And you, too!
All cats older than 20 weeks are legally required to be microchipped. If your cat isn’t already, speak to your vet as soon as possible to avoid any waiting lists, and ensure all details are up to date.
Cats may take shelter under your car, including crawling under the bonnet and wheel arches. Before starting the engine and driving off, tap the bonnet and check around the wheels and tyres.
Cats may be in there to escape the rain or snow, so make sure to check there are no cats or other animals inside in case they get trapped.
Cats will probably prefer to stay inside during winter, but if they do need to venture out, make sure they are easily seen with a reflective collar. If you don’t already have one, you can buy a glow in the dark cat collar.
If the cat is comfortable being handled, thoroughly wipe down their paws and tummy, to remove any antifreeze and rock salt, which is poisonous to cats, and keep them dry.
Regular grooming helps cats shed their summer coat, so their winter coat can grow in. Try brushing them at least once a week – or daily if they’re long-haired. Read our advice on cat grooming here.
You could also get an outside cat shelter for cats that might live or prefer to be outdoors!
How to keep cats warm in the cold weather
To keep cats warm in the winter, their environment should be between 10°C and 25°C. They are at risk of hypothermia, frostbite or respiratory problems if exposed to temperatures below 10°C for too long. Keep an indoor litter tray (nobody likes a cold toilet seat!) – preferably one per cat in the household, plus one extra.
Regular grooming helps cats shed their summer coat, so their winter coat can grow in. Try brushing them at least once a week – or daily if they’re long-haired. Read our advice on cat grooming here.
However, if the temperature drops to below 7°C to 8°C, try to keep them inside overnight.
If the cat gets wet, dry them off so they don’t develop hypothermia, or get matted fur – using a towel will help to absorb any excess water.
Common winter poisons for cats
Rock salt
A mixture of salt and grit is used to help de-ice roads in winter – ingestion can cause thirst, vomiting, lethargy, and in severe cases convulsions and kidney damage.
Antifreeze
The active ingredient in antifreeze, Ethylene glycol, causes kidney failure and death.
Read our advice on other cat poisons and if you think a cat or other animal has been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.
How to keep cats healthy in cold weather
Cats can get sick from cold weather – ranging from frost bite to dry skin. Here are some signs of common winter issues to look out for, and how you can help:
Hypothermia
Hypothermia can occur when a cat’s body temperature drops too low – usually after exposure to freezing temperatures or having wet fur.
Symptoms include:
- Shivering (however, this will stop suddenly when the cat’s body temperature reaches dangerously low levels)
- Low energy
- Loss of coordination/confusion
- Pale gums
- Cold extremities (ears, nose and paws)
- Weakness
- Slow heart and respiration rates
- Collapse/loss of consciousness
If you notice any of these, take them to the vet immediately. Hypothermia in cats can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Meanwhile, gradually warm the temperature around them (the house or car) and wrap them in blankets. Do not heat them up too quickly or place anything hot directly on the skin.
Antifreeze poisoning
Unfortunately, antifreeze poisoning is usually fatal, but getting the cat to the vet immediately can increase their chance of survival.
Fleas
Central heating is the culprit to another common problem in cats: fleas. Though fleas struggle to survive in freezing temperatures, cats can still get fleas in winter as they thrive indoors when the heating is on.
The best way to keep your cat flea-free is to apply flea treatments speak to your vet for advice), and to regularly clean any spaces where your cat sits, lies down or sleeps.
did you know?
Cats can get colds. They’re not the same type of colds we get, but they do get upper respiratory diseases caused by a virus, similar to colds. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, fever, eye or nose discharge and lethargy.
Frostbite
Frostbite is a very painful condition that causes severe damage to body tissues, such as a cat’s extremities (the tail, toes, nose and tips of their ears), in freezing temperatures.
Symptoms include:
- Pale skin, with a blue-white hue (due to limited blood flow)
- Pain on the affected area
- Blisters
- Blackened or dead skin that may come away if touched
Dry skin
Central heating is a great way to keep the house warm – but can be bad for cats' skin. The dry air dehydrates their skin, leaving it sensitive, itchy and flaky.
The best way to prevent dry skin is to regularly brush their fur. This will stimulate the production of natural oils in their skin and fur, helping to keep their coat healthy.
Arthritis
The cold weather can affect cats with arthritis, making their joints stiff and painful – especially in older cats.
Keep them warm with blankets and spaces to rest that will support their joints, and try to keep the cat active to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the pressure on their joints. Providing ramps to reach higher places more easily can also help. If you think your cat may have arthritis, take them to the vet.
Cats more at risk of illness
Some cats are naturally more susceptible to certain illnesses and health issues during winter:
- Flat-faced cats: Flat-faced (brachycephalic) cats are at a high-risk of experiencing breathing difficulties due to their head structure. Keep their vaccinations up to date, with regular vet visits. Monitor their weight, sleep and exercise.
- Cats with no fur: They may be more likely to feel the effects of cold weather. Providing a heated blanket in the home can help them keep warm.
- Cats with arthritis: Animals with arthritis may experience joint pains, exacerbated during cold weather. Keep them warm with soft bedding.
- Cats with heart issues: If your cat has a known heart condition, consult a vet on the necessary medication and dietary changes they may need during the winter.
How to help outdoor and stray cats in winter
Some cats, like farm cats or stray cats, are outdoor creatures, and even in cold and dark weather they may spend a lot of time outside.
While we recommend keeping a pet cat indoors at night during very cold temperatures, sometimes that might not always be possible. If that’s the case, to keep outdoor cats safe in the winter:
- Provide a warm and dry outdoor shelter: Choose a secure, insulated and waterproof shelter, that you can fill with old blankets and towels to make it extra cosy. An outdoor cat house can also help stray cats shelter when the weather is particularly cold, wet, windy or snowy. It gives them somewhere dry and safe to sleep, and is accessible as and when they need it.
- Use self-heating pads inside the shelter: To provide extra warmth.
- Build or buy a feeding station: As a way to leave out food for stray, feral or community cats, whilst keeping the food and cats dry and safe from the elements.
- Leave out fresh water: When the weather gets really cold, water sources can freeze. Provide fresh water daily to ensure outdoor cats stay hydrated.
- Keep the cat flap clear: Freezing temperatures or snowy nights might cause the cat flap to freeze or ice over, blocking their access back inside.
- Check your car before driving: Stray cats may be hiding in there for warmth. Always check beneath your car, bonnet and tyres before starting the car.
- Don’t use antifreeze or rock salt: To prevent cats from being poisoned.
- Report the stray cat: There’s a chance it may be a lost pet, and not used to surviving on its own outside – if there’s an owner, report them to the council, to a local vet to check for a microchip, or to local animal shelters to help find them.
Worried about a cat or other animal this winter?
If you’ve found a sick or injured cat or other animal out in the cold and dark weather, report your concern to us – animals are more vulnerable in colder weather – and we’ll do what we can to help.
