It’s that time of year again when the weather starts to turn and our feline friends need a little extra protection from the elements. Here are some tips on how to keep your outdoor kitty safe and comfortable all season long.
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The Dangers of the Great Outdoors
While cats are relatively hardy creatures, there are still a number of dangers that they face when venturing outdoors. These dangers include cars, other animals, and the elements. In this article, we’ll discuss how to protect your outdoor cat from the elements.
The risk of disease
There are a number of diseases that can be contracted by outdoor cats, many of which are fatal. These diseases include feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, and rabies. Outdoor cats also run the risk of being hit by cars, attacked by other animals, or simply getting lost.
The risk of injury
One of the dangers of letting your cat outdoors is the risk of injury. Your cat can be hit by a car, attacked by another animal or injured in a fall. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), more than 1.4 million cats are injured each year in the United States.
Cats are also at risk for poisoning from plants, pesticides and other chemicals. The ASPCA reports that more than 100,000 cats are poisoned each year in the United States.
Another danger of outdoor cats is that they can contract diseases from other animals. Cats can contract rabies from wild animals, and they can also contract feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from infected cats.
The risk of predators
One of the biggest dangers to outdoor cats is predators. In urban and suburban areas, there are often coyotes, foxes, and other animals that will see a small cat as an easy meal. Even large birds, such as owls and hawks, can pose a threat.
There are several things you can do to protect your cat from predators. The first is to keep them indoors at night. This is when most predators are active, so it’s best to keep your cat safe and sound inside. If you must let them out during the day, make sure they’re in a secure area, such as a fenced-in yard. You can also buy or build a sturdy outdoor shelter for them to use. Finally, consider getting your cat microchipped and/or spayed or neutered. This will help ensure they can be returned to you if they do happen to get lost or taken by a predator.
How to Keep Your Cat Safe
Cats are known for their love of adventure, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need our help to stay safe. Outdoor cats are especially vulnerable to the elements, so it’s important to take steps to protect them. In this article, we’ll show you how to keep your cat safe from the sun, the cold, and more.
Bring them inside during bad weather
Cats are natural outdoorsmen, and they love nothing more than exploring the great outdoors. But when bad weather strikes, it’s important to bring your feline friend inside to keep them safe and warm.
Here are a few tips on how to protect your outdoor cat from the elements:
1. Bring them inside during bad weather. This is the most important thing you can do to keep your cat safe during inclement weather. If you can’t bring them inside, make sure they have access to a sheltered area where they can stay dry and out of the wind.
2. Make sure they have access to food and water. Outdoor cats burn more calories in cold weather, so it’s important that they have access to plenty of food and water. If you can’t bring them inside, make sure their food and water dishes are in a sheltered area where they won’t get frozen or blown away.
3. Keep an eye on their fur. In cold weather, cats will often groom themselves less frequently, which can lead to matting and tangles in their fur. Be sure to brush them regularly during winter months to help prevent mats and tangles, and consider investing in some quality cat clothing to help keep them warm (and fashionable!).
4. Keep an eye on their paws. Snow, ice, and salt can be harsh on cats’ paws, so be sure to keep an eye on them during winter months. If you notice any redness or irritation, consider using paw balm or wax to help protect their paws from the elements.
5. Keep an eye on their weight. Outdoor cats tend to burn more calories in cold weather, so it’s important to monitor their weight during winter months. If you notice your cat starting to lose weight, talk to your vet about increasing their food intake or switching to a higher-calorie diet
Get them a GPS tracker
A GPS tracker for cats is a small, battery-operated device that attaches to your cat’s collar. The tracker uses the Global Positioning System to determine your cat’s location, which you can access using a smartphone app or a web browser.
Most GPS trackers also include other features, such as activity tracking, so you can see how much exercise your cat is getting, and some even have temperature sensors to help you make sure your cat is comfortable in its surroundings.
Although GPS trackers are not foolproof – they can lose signal in areas with tall buildings or trees, for example – they can give you some peace of mind if your cat likes to explore outdoors.
Get them vaccinated
Outdoor cats are exposed to many dangers, including other animals, traffic, and harsh weather conditions. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your feline friend safe.
One of the best ways to protect your cat is to make sure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations. Cats should be vaccinated against rabies, distemper, and other diseases. If your cat is going to be spending time outdoors, talk to your veterinarian about which vaccines are right for them.
Another way to keep your cat safe is to provide them with a safe place to stay when the weather is bad. If you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, consider investing in a heated cat house or kennel. This will give your cat a place to stay warm and dry when the weather is not ideal.
You should also make sure your cat has a collar with ID tags. This way, if they get lost, someone will be able to return them to you. It is also a good idea to microchip your cat in case they lose their collar.
By taking these simple steps, you can help keep your outdoor cat safe from the dangers of the world.
How to Help Stray Cats
The best way to help a stray cat is to provide them with a safe place to stay. This can be done by building or buying an outdoor cat shelter. An outdoor cat shelter should be sturdy and well-insulated to protect the cat from the elements. It should also be large enough for the cat to move around in and lay down.
Spay or neuter them
One of the best things you can do to help control the population of stray and feral cats is to have them spayed or neutered. This will not only help reduce the number of kittens born each year, but it will also make the cats less likely to roam and fight with other cats. There are many low-cost spay/neuter clinics available, so there is no excuse not to have this done.
In addition to having them spayed or neutered, you should also make sure that they are vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. This will help protect them from getting sick and will also help protect you and your family if you should happen to come in contact with a sick cat.
Bring them to a shelter
Many animal shelters offer programs for feral cat colonies. These programs include spay/neuter services and vaccination clinics. The cats are returned to their original colony site after they have been spayed/neutered and given their vaccinations.
Feed them
Provide food and water. During bitterly cold or wet weather, move the food and water closer to your home or garage so the cats don’t have to travel far to eat and drink. Put food in a waterproof container and set it on top of a galvanized metal platform to keep it dry, or place food and water in a pet pen or dog house with straw bedding to help insulate against the cold.
