Do cats freeze outside in winter - what kind of frost can they withstand?

How do cats survive the winter cold?

A pampered domestic cat freezes at the slightest drop in temperature, but surviving a harsh winter is not a problem for such pets, because they have loving owners and a warm home.

It is much more difficult in winter for homeless animals who are forced to take care of themselves. Dogs survive the winter by huddling in packs or digging deep holes in the snow. Cats do not know how to dig holes and, being solitary by nature, avoid the company of other representatives of their kind. Therefore, in order to survive the winter, cats had to invent their own ways of survival.

Preparing cats for winter:

Thick and long hair provides cats with excellent protection from the cold, so in winter, animals stop shedding;
Outdoor cats actively hunt mice and other rodents in the fall in order to stock up on fat, which helps them stay warm in severe frosts;
Another interesting fact: in winter, cats hardly wash themselves, since with wet fur the animals are more susceptible to the cold;
To survive severe frosts, stray cats look for suitable shelter in advance. Usually, porches, warm basements or abandoned houses become shelters for animals.

Video about how a cat was rescued in severe frost

Of course it's freezing! It is absurd to think that since a cat is originally a wild animal, it can easily and easily adapt to frost and winter cold. Even the super woolly indoor cat needs the warmth of the hearth in winter.

Observing our pets, we come to the conclusion that even at room temperature, cats find a place where it is warmer - and it is there that they curl up and rest. What can we say about frosts?

What temperature can cats withstand in winter?

The answer to this question cannot be universal for all Muroks and Murzikovs. Some experts do not recommend walking at -20°C. But this is a very relative parameter. Because there are a lot of factors that affect the “winter hardiness” of each individual animal.

Breed. It’s easier for mongrels, but for sphinxes, for example, it will be cold even at +10°C.

Wool, presence or absence of undercoat.

Habit. There are representatives who walk around their property in any weather, especially in the villages, few people bother with cats and cats. But our village man managed to get a slight frostbite in his ear - and it’s simply impossible to keep him in the house. And there weren’t even any significant frosts...

Age. Kittens and old animals cannot keep their body temperature constant.

General health. Hidden diseases, pregnancy in cats weakens the animal and its resistance to low temperatures decreases.

Cats and cats in the snow in winter - photo story

The woolen outfit and natural endurance are reassuring, but looking at your pet meowing under the door, you can’t help but think: “Do cats freeze in winter? Isn’t Vaska’s passion for running through freshly fallen snow dangerous?” You can understand whether a cat is cold only by observation, because our pets differ from each other not only in eye color and taste preferences. How do cats cope with the cold and how can you tell if the ambient temperature is not making the furry explorer happy?

Although why furry? There are also hairless cats, smooth, completely devoid of hair. It is clear that such a cat freezes at sub-zero temperatures, quickly releasing the accumulated heat. Letting a sphinx go for a walk in sub-zero temperatures is an unthinkable idea, the consequences of which can be very disastrous. If your pet is accustomed to walking or if a naked cat is cold even in an apartment, you can put sweaters and overalls on it. Of course, the fabric warms worse than a real fur coat, so walks should not be long: your paws are shaking, your ears are cold - go home and warm up. At what temperature does a naked cat freeze? As a rule, sphinxes experience discomfort even at +10°C, not to mention sub-zero temperatures.

But let's get back to the cats sporting luxurious fur coats. The coat can be long or short, but if it is two-layered, with a well-developed undercoat, are cats cold in winter? The undercoat retains heat well and prevents overheating, keeping body temperature within normal limits. However, such protection is not endless: just as a person dressed in a doha, earflaps and felt boots will still freeze after a few hours spent on a frosty street, so a cat, “wrapped” in the best fur, will sooner or later begin to freeze. At what temperature do fluffy cats freeze depends not only on the thermometer readings, but also on the actions of the pet, air humidity and other nuances. “Dry” frost is easier to bear; with low activity you freeze faster; increased humidity means you feel the cold more clearly. Everything is like in humans, with an adjustment for cat endurance.

Cats without undercoat freeze faster than Siberians, Coons and representatives of other “furry” breeds. Cold air penetrates the skin faster, heat leaves faster. These cats have cold paws and ears even after short walks at -15 Celsius. But a Siberian, not pampered by life in the arms of a radiator, can walk for a couple of hours without danger to health, even at -30°C.

Behavior of cats in winter

Most cat owners notice that with the onset of the first cold weather, their pets behave completely differently than in the warm season. Even the most playful and active animals turn into lazy couch potatoes who spend most of their time on the sofa or near a warm radiator.

A short-haired cat can freeze even in the house and, to keep warm, the pet makes a “nest” for itself in the closet or curls up under a warm blanket.

It should also be noted that all felines have an increased appetite in winter, as a result of which the pets noticeably gain weight, gaining a few extra pounds. Cats do this on a subconscious level, because their genetic memory tells them that a layer of subcutaneous fat helps them survive in winter frosts.

Some owners are worried about this and begin to limit the cat's food, fearing that the pet's excessive appetite can lead to obesity. But such fears are completely in vain, because with the onset of spring, the animal’s need for an additional portion of food will disappear, and the pet’s weight will return to normal.

How to recognize heatstroke in a cat

In hot weather, owners need to be extremely attentive to their pets. If the kitty is lying belly down, breathing heavily, with its paws outstretched and its tongue hanging out, then this is a significant cause for concern. The owners can help in such cases by opening a window or balcony, ventilating the room, and turning on the air conditioner. When your pet is outdoors, the best option is to move it into the shade, you can put it on a damp mat or wipe it with a wet towel. It is strictly forbidden to dip animals in cold water to avoid vascular spasm.

To understand that your cat has heatstroke, you should pay attention to the following signs:

high rectal temperature 40-40.5 degrees;
rapid heart rate up to 140 beats per minute;
breathing is frequent and heavy - the animal breathes through its mouth, sticking out its tongue, like a dog;
salivation;
dry hot nose;
apathy, refusal to eat;
redness of the eyelids, mucous membranes (tongue, gums) or, conversely, excessive pallor;
lack of coordination, the pet does not respond to external stimuli, loss of consciousness is possible.
vomiting with foam from the mouth.

The above symptoms develop at lightning speed (sometimes they are confused with symptoms of fever), and if first aid is not provided in time, they will lead to serious consequences, and in some cases, death.

What sub-zero temperatures can cats withstand?

A fluffy coat allows cats to feel quite comfortable outside at temperatures of 5-10 degrees below zero.

Cats can withstand frost of 15-20 degrees, but on the condition that the walk at such an extreme temperature will not last long. Otherwise, animals risk getting hypothermia and freezing their ears and paw pads, which have almost no fur.

There is an opinion that cats are able to survive when the thermometer shows minus thirty degrees or below, but this is far from true, because in such frost the animal will certainly die from hypothermia.

But how then do street murks survive?

It's terrible, but not everyone survives. Even hereditary stray cats are not able to withstand frosts below 20°C for long. Pack dogs gather closer together, warming each other, and dig holes in the snow. Cats do not know how to dig holes, and do not gather in packs. If you doubt whether cats are cold in winter, pay attention to how few familiar faces you meet when going to work in the morning: in the summer there is a mug under every car and on every bench, in winter they all disappear somewhere.

Somewhere - these are, as a rule, basements and entrances. Although in recent years, many basements have been tightly sealed, and ordinary doors have been replaced with metal ones with an electronic lock. Of course, from a sanitation point of view, populating basements with stray cats is not the best solution, but for many cats this is the only chance to survive the winter.

Helping your pet with hypothermia

Many cats love to walk in winter, play with snow and catch snowflakes. Sometimes the pet gets too carried away with the walk and when he comes home he is shaking all over from the cold. What should the owner do in this case, and how to help the pet warm up faster ?

First of all, the animal must be wrapped in a thick towel or warm blanket;
A frozen cat will try to warm up near a radiator or fireplace, so you should place its house or bedding near them;
It is necessary to ensure that there are no drafts in the house, as the pet may catch a cold;
You can dry your cat's wet fur with a hairdryer;
Bathing in warm water will not warm the cat, but will cause it to freeze even more, so bathing the animal is extremely undesirable.

What to do?

The cat urgently needs to be warmed up. In case of slight hypothermia, cover with blankets. For more significant cases, wrap your head up and add other heat sources (a heating pad, a bottle of warm water), applying them to your body. Cases of severe hypotomy require urgent veterinary care, as droppers with warm solutions, warm pleural lavage, increased air temperature in the ventilator, and the administration of painkillers are necessary (due to severe pain while restoring tissue sensitivity). In the future, a comprehensive examination of the animal should be carried out in order to begin treatment for the disorders that have arisen in its body.

Precautionary measures

When you decide to take your cat outside, be sure to make sure that it has all its vaccinations and that the animal is healthy. In addition to the harness, attach a collar with a tag with your address to her neck and never let your baby go outside without it. Then, putting on a harness and placing the cat in a carrier bag, take the cat outside. It is desirable that it be a quiet place, without transport, many people and animals. After opening the bag, give Murka the opportunity to get comfortable and get out on her own. There is no need to pull it out by force. Even if the first times are limited to just sitting in an open bag and sniffing new smells. After all, this is a walk for pleasure.