How cold is too cold to take kittens to the vet?

Question

My 2 kittens are going to the vet next week for their 3rd set of vaccinations, and the vet office is about a 15-20 minute walk from my apartment. The temperature here can get to about -10 C/15 F this time of year. Is that too cold to carry them to and from the vet in their carriers so I don't need to get 2 cabs or will they be fine? They are totally indoor cats so may not be used to the extreme temperature drop.

Answer 1

Pack your kittens together in the same carrier - insulate the entire thing with warm sweaters, blankets and towels, and put a heavy blanket over the top of it to keep the wind from penetrating too deep into the carrier. A hot water bottle (sealed tight) is another method you can try to add heat to the carrier. Place an insulating towel or thick blanket over the bottle and then try to place your kittens on that towel so they are not in direct contact with the bottle and then do the rest of the things I've mentioned before.

I've had to transport my adult cats in -15 degree temps before and done the very same thing -- a hot water bottle, plenty of towels or blankets inside, and a blanket over the top to keep the wind out. If done right they'll be fine :)

Answer 2

That is quite cold for them let alone for you. Does your vet make house calls? I live in a semi rural area and for the first year didn't have transportation except for a taxi and they don't allow pets to ride carrier or not. It was a four mile walk one way to the vet for me. My vet came out to the house and gave all my pets their shots for an added fee. Call the vet and ask first how long can you wait in between shots. Winters just begun and its hard to say when the next "warm" day may be. If worst comes worst you can get a couple of those heat wraps one uses for back pain, they heat up pretty good, put them in the bottom of the carrier with a thick towel on the bottom and wrap the carrier in a thick warm blanket and head out. We use the heat wraps when we lose power for our exotics that need heat and they work great for 8-10 hours. So they should work for a 15 to 20 minute walk and return trip home. Then, use them on yourself for your aches and pains from carrying two kittens and a carrier..

Answer 3

the best thing to do if the temp is below 40 degrees would be to get the vet to make a house call. there are many in my area that do this. if you don't have any there that do then try to find some hey or straw as it is the best insulator as well as some of those instent heat packs and put them in the carrier. if possable block the areas where there might be a draft of wind and you should be fine. you may even want to put a think blanket over the top of the crate to help insulate it but as long as you give them a place to burrow into along with the heat packs you should be fine.

Answer 4

This became so annoying to examine to make certain what the difficulty is. you do not run to the vets for loose stools so do not difficulty. Am I lacking something that is going on? i could not examine by each and every thing get some acidoupholous from a wellness nutrition shop and sprinkle somewhat interior the nutrition each and on a daily basis. It is available in pill form at pharmacies and you'd be able to overwhelm it end the hairball paste Cats do not want and should not GET each and every year vaccinations. it somewhat is a waste of money whilst putting a cat's existence in threat. desire this permits

Answer 5

They'll be fine. They wear a fur coat year-round and it often gets thicker this time of year. You may want to put a towel in the bottom of their carriers to keep them from direct contact with the plastic. Save the cab fare and spend it on extra catnip. They'll appreciate you for being the kind and caring person you are.

Answer 6

I think that's a little too cold. Unless you want to put fleece blankets in their carrying cages (if oyu have those and are not carrying them just alone!!!) and put heating pads all over. Because they're only kittens, I think it may be too cold because their coats arent' thick as a normal cat. If it was older cats, I think they would probably be fine but you may want to call cabs.

Answer 7

That is very cold for you to be walking outside with your kittens. They do have fur and for that time if you must you should bundle them up in a cat carrier with lots of warm blankets, and maybe a warming pack and they should be alright to carry them over.

Answer 8

If you place a couple hot water bottles in with them in their carriers with blankets for them to cuddle in, they should be fine, as long as it's not a long wait in the cold before getting to the vet! :-)

Answer 9

DO NOT take those little guys out in that cold of weather! They don't have the body-surface-area to ward off those extreme temperatures. What if something were to happen to you? They would be left out in the cold and probably die. Be aggressive toward the protection of your cats. Their inoculations can wait.

Answer 10

they'l probably be ok if u walk quickly, but do this: warm up a bunch of filled water bottles. and wrap them in towels line their carrier with newspaper and fill it with towels and blankets, put them in the carrier together, huddled up against the water bottles and each other, and cover them with another light towel or blanket, as they still need to be able to breathe...walk quickly tho, dont dawdle.
another idea is to TIGHTLY wrap them in blankets on ur chest and carry them like a momma carries her baby, then put on ur coat on top of that. u need to make sure they can slip out tho...