How to Know if my Cat is Cold

The first thing to know is that, in cold temperatures your cat will actually feel colder. Although these animals prepare for winter by changing their fur, some breeds do have shorter and less dense coats (such as the Persian, Siamese, Devon rex cats or the Sphynx that has no hair at all) and will therefore feel the cold more and will require special care.

This is why you'll notice that these breeds try to take shelter in warm areas such as radiators, heaters and chimneys, under blankets or even inside your bed covers. These signals help us know if a cat is cold.

In addition to the breeds with less hair, kittens and cats which are over seven years old are more sensitive to temperature changes as they have a weaker immune system, so you must optimize their care during the winter months to ensure that they are comfortable and healthy. You must pay equal attention to a sick cats as these will also be more sensitive to cold.

If you have a kitten, take a look at our article on how to keep a kitten warm.

A good way to protect your cat from the cold is to leave a couple of comfortable blankets in strategic areas of your home so that your pet can be covered and rest. This is a smart and affordable solution to keep the animal warm while you are at home, do not worry as your cat will know how to find them and cover itself.

If you have a Sphinx cat or a breed with very little hair, it is recommended that you cover its back with a piece of special clothing for cats, so it will be adequately protected and warm.

When you are at home you can turn on the heating and make the temperature of your home much more enjoyable, your cat will be grateful. Also, if you see that your pet decides to sleep or rest on a radiator, do not be scared. Cats can handle up to 50ºC of their skin, which is why they enjoy resting on hot surfaces.

Of course, when you leave the house for a long time it is advisable to turn off the heating, this will avoid possible accidents with your pet and the heating.

Also condition its bed with a good quilt to help isolate the cold from the ground and with a blanket to keep it warm at night. This way you also avoid your pet catching a cold or suffering the consequences of low temperatures on health.

At home it is useful to keep the windows tightly closed to ensure that there are no air currents entering the space that you are trying to keep warm. Knowing how to insulate your house from the cold is important to keep your cat warm and comfortable.

And what if the cat usually goes for a walk? The best recommendation is that if temperatures are very low you avoid letting the cat leave the house, this way you will safeguard its health as much as possible. In the event that you do let it out you should slightly increase its food portions, cats that go outside in winter need to eat better as they burn more calories to stay warm and protected from the cold. This recommendation does NOT apply to cats that always stay indoors, unless the vet tells you.

For more information, visit our article how to take care of your cat in winter.

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