Do stray cats die during the cold winter season?

Question

What about dogs?

Answer 1

Too many cats and dogs die. In -40 Celsius winters cats have their tails and ears frostbitten. Their feet also freeze, They can try and find shelter, but as someone mentioned that can mean the inside of a car hood where they are hurt or killed. (always hit the hood of your car before starting it) Shelter can be very hard to find and then they have to find food and water. Others die from ingesting antifreeze. (less than one teaspoon will kill a cat in a very slow, painful way)

There are few problems in the northern cold climates for stray cats. Many are lucky and are taken to animal shelters...other suffer and die. :( I went to New Orleans once and I was flabbergasted at how many strays there were.

Dogs have the same problems as cats btw.

Answer 2

Doing anything is better than nothing. Find a no kill shelter. I volunteer on the weekends for one and now I am fostering two kitties. If you leave them outside they will not do well. They are not fixed and will have more kitties. They might get run over by a car or a wild animal could get them. They caught kids out here that were arrested and sent away for shaving, beating and even burning live cats. They are better off in a safe place than where evil people can not do things to them. If you take them inside a no-kill shelter might help out with the costs and maybe you could separate them from the people that are allergic to them.

Answer 3

Some can die if the temperature gets too too cold and if they have absolutely no shelter. Cats and dogs do have fur but it only protects to a certain level of cold. If you know where there are stray animals or even owned animals that are being kept outside year around, it is advisable to report them to the humane society so that they get in somewhere warm

Answer 4

Not if they live by me, I offer stray cats shelter and food during the winter. And the summer, spring and fall come to think of it.

Answer 5

Animals adapt. That is why they have been around so long. I'm not saying that they don't suffer though. They will get cold and many will go hungry. An older or sick animal that cannot function as well may very well die because of the elements although younger animals will usually make it through. Poor babies.

Answer 6

some do, it really depends on if they can find shelter, warmth and food before it get cold. some can also die of pneumonia and other nasty viruses during the winter if left outside. thats why people like me and my hubby do cat rescues and try to volunteer as much as possible! search myspace for our site-pearlanimalnetwork

Answer 7

Yes, and yes. They both do. It's an old wives tale of the worst kind that you can just 'free them to the wild' and they'll survive by hunting. A cat - or dog - that's been cared for from babyhood has NO idea what it should hunt or eat. Unless someone or something shows them how to do it, they will starve, freeze, and die in a very sad way.

Answer 8

Cats are clever as are smart street wise dogs.

I keep water out for them. I don't feed them, they fight for food and I don't want my animals in the mix.

If you are really worried and want to make a refugue for them, then make a wooden box (open on two sides) with several levels with a tarp cover with some old towels inside. I actually run a spot light and shine it toward it in a part of the yard that won't effect the neighbors. Some wild animals actually will stay near that area when it real cold.

Answer 9

My cat ran outside during a blizzard once and came home 3 days later and I swear she was even fatter than she was when she ran out. I would imagine cats, being more in touch with their "wild" side, manage to find shelter and find ways to keep warm. I can't venture an opinion on dogs because my is a spoiled sissy that can't even go outside in the winter without her jacket on :)

Answer 10

They're pretty good at finding places to keep warm enough to survive. I used to live near one that would go under the porch of my apartment house; I think there were some relatively warmish places under there. (I would have let it in, but it was a really mean wild tomcat that beat up my cats - so I couldn't).