What Temperature Is Too Cold For Cats
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too cold for cats to go outside?,” the answer is yes—and no. Cats are perfectly capable of withstanding cold temperatures in their natural environment and can even benefit from a little feline exposure to the elements. However, just like humans, cats need shelter when it’s really cold out there. Here’s what you need to know about how cold affects your kitty friend and how you can keep her safe during the winter months:
Is It Safe For Cats to Go Out in the Cold?
If you’re wondering whether your cat can handle the cold, the short answer is no. Cats are not well adapted to cold weather, and should be kept indoors when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your cat is outside already when it gets cold—and if there’s no way you can bring them inside—you’ll need to bring him/her to a shelter. If this isn’t an option, try putting on gloves and finding somewhere warm for them (like under your bed). Make sure they have access to food and water, which should be heated up as much as possible.
What If My Cat is Outside? How Do I Bring Her Inside?
If your cat is outside, bring her inside if she’s shivering, shaking, or panting. She may also not eat or drink.
A cat’s normal body temperature is 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). If it drops below 100°F (37.8°C), she’ll try to warm herself up by grooming or licking herself and seeking out warm places to lie down. When her temperature approaches 95-96° F (35-35.5° C), she will become lethargic and eventually go into a coma that could lead to death within just a few hours if left untreated!
Long-Haired Cats vs. Short-Haired Cats—Which Are Better at Handling the Cold?
For all the fur that a long-haired cat has, it’s still important to remember that they’re not as well equipped to handle the cold as short-haired cats. The layer of fur that long haired cats have is actually quite thin and doesn’t provide much insulation. However, this doesn’t mean that long haired cats shouldn’t be kept outdoors in extremely cold weather. If you live in a cold climate, it’s important to keep your cat indoors even if they are accustomed to being outdoors due to the dangers of getting frostbite on their paws or tail and potentially losing body parts from this injury!
Long hair is also beneficial for another reason: shedding heat! If it gets too hot outside, your feline friend can simply shed some layers (or all of them!) by rubbing against furniture or other surfaces until he/she feels comfortable again.
How Can I Tell if My Cat is Too Cold or Not?
- Look for signs of shivering. If your cat is a bit chilly, you may notice him shivering. Shivering is a natural response to cold and will happen even when your cat doesn’t seem to be cold in any other way.
- Look for signs of frostbite. If it’s too cold outside for you, it’s also too cold for your pet—which means that he could develop frostbite on his toes or other extremities if left outside in the cold long enough. You can usually identify frostbite by looking at the skin coloration: pale pink and red patches are normal; white spots are not!
- Look for signs of hypothermia. Hypothermia symptoms include lethargy or unresponsiveness, low body temperature (around 90 degrees Fahrenheit), shallow breathing and weak pulse rate—all signs that it may be time to get your kitty somewhere warm!
What If My Cat Still Wants to Go Outside When it’s Too Cold?
Even if you don’t want your cat to go outside, they may still find a way. As you know, cats have a natural curiosity and will try to explore their surroundings. This means that even when it’s freezing outside and the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, your cat may still be determined to go outside.
You should keep in mind that cats can get frostbite, hypothermia and even frostbite on their paws and ears! If you live in an area where temperatures often drop below freezing during the winter months (and especially if it’s snowing), then you might want to think about moving indoors with your cat before the cold weather hits.
Cold weather can be dangerous for cats, so be careful when letting them outside.
You might think that the cold doesn’t affect your cat in the same way it affects you, but that’s far from true. Cats can get frostbite, hypothermia and even catch a nasty case of the flu if they’re out in the snow for too long. If your cat is outside for an extended period of time without shelter or protection from predators (like other animals), he’ll need to be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible after his return home. Additionally, when cats are left outside during freezing temperatures their fur becomes stiff with ice—which makes them more likely to get hit by cars or attacked by other animals who are looking for food during this harsh weather season.
If you decide that your cat should stay inside during cold weather months (and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t), make sure that he always has access to fresh water and enough food at all times so he doesn’t go hungry while hiding under blankets on his favorite chair or couch cushion all day long!
Cats can make great companions, but they deserve to be treated like family members. If you have a cat at home, remember that it needs to be taken care of properly and kept safe from harm. This means keeping them inside when it’s too cold outside or following other tips on how to take care of your pet during wintertime.
