How can I keep my cat warm?

Question

I have an outside cat. I had to take her to the vet about a month ago and they said she had mites which could be caused from damp bedding. I have since cleaned everything out of her cathouse. Does anyone have any suggestions to something that I can put in her house for her to lay on to provide some warmth that won't get damp or cause me the same problems I had before?

Keeping her inside is not an option due to allergies within my family. I can't put any blankets or anything in her house for fear of mites again (she scratched alot of her fur off...she's better now). I'm looking for suggestions on some type of mats or something made out of material that won't hold moisture but will still provide some type of warmth. Thanks!

Answer 1

hi there
In one survey, shelter for feral cats was found to be more important than food. Cold, and especially wet, weather can have adverse, and even serious, effects on animals. They can become hypothermic and could even freeze to death. Actually the biggest problem is if the animals get wet and cannot find a warm place to dry their fur. Most feral cats can usually cope with cold weather, as is well documented on Marion Island, where as we mentioned before, it either rains and snows for over 300 days each year. And yet the feral cat population grew from just 5 cats to over 6,000!

Domestic cats and dogs, if left outside, probably suffer more from cold weather conditions than feral cats, who develop a winter coat in the fall. Ferals need a warm, dry shelter to protect them from wet weather, as well as extra nutrition and fresh water, which can be a problem during freezing weather. A feeding station will help to keep food and water from freezing. Bedding should be made of hay or a synthetic material such as that used to make horse saddle covers. Blankets and towels retain moisture and should not be used during the wintertime.

Providing shelter is a crucial aspect of colony management You can build a simple shelter or you can provide other types of protection against the elements. Shelters provide a safe haven to keep cats dry and warm and will prevent them from roaming. With this provision managed colonies can be very hardy in the wintertime. Helpful tips for creating or building feral cat shelters:

You can use any type of strong box or crate, or buy a dog "igloo" from your pet supply company.

Tips for Winterizing Your Colony:

You should insulate the shelter with thick plastic or other material to keep out wind and cold.

Leave a small opening for the cats to enter. Put this opening on the side of the shelter that is protected from the wind.

Use hay for bedding. Do not use blankets or towels as these retain moisture.

Raise the shelter off the ground by placing it securely on bricks or on a wooden pallet. If left on the ground it will retain moisture and will rot.

Clean shelters each spring and autumn by replacing the bedding with fresh hay.

A feeding station – a simple structure with a roof and floor will help keep food dry and provide a dry place for cats to eat. Fresh water can be a problem during freezing weather. Hot water can be poured into their water bowls, which may give them an opportunity to drink once it cools. For porch cats a heated water dish can be used.

Feral cats will huddle next to each other to keep themselves warm. This is one reason they become such social animals: it is a survival ploy for them.

Answer 2

Whatever you put outside may get damp unless you have a completely enclosed space for her. However, if you put warm towels outside for her to snuggle in, she should be OK. Then change them out for more warm towels. Yep. That means you'll have to keep up with the changing and cleaning of towels. It's a little work, but it will do the trick.

Our cat was an outdoor cat until he decided to sleep inside at night. His bed was on a chair on a covered patio. We used one of those little beds with the thick fluffy sides on it. We put towels in the bed to make it easier to change and keep his bedding clean. When it got wet, we washed the bed too.

He was a happy cat and loved his bed, but when we moved, he decided he wanted to stay inside at night. On top of that, he's grown quite large and no longer fits his bed. (He's about the size of a medium sized Schnauzer.)

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I can't imagine a material that will ad warmth but won't aborb water. Instead, I would make sure that her bed is water tight and wind can't blow in rain - and I'd wash her bedding every week in a gentle ivory solution.

Keeping the bed out of rain is the key here.

Answer 4

Put an old wool blanket in the cathouse, wool keeps it's warmth even when wet, unlike cotton.

Answer 5

One thing you might consider putting in her house is straw bedding, cellulose insulation, or a similar product that will help hold her body warmth. It can be removed and replaced occasionally in case it DOES get damp.

Answer 6

Try putting a heating pad on low under the bedding. My male cat loves my heating pad. My husband hurt his back and when ever he got up off of it my cat would jump and lay on it so who knows your cat might like it too

Answer 7

buy it a kitty sweater, lay it infront of a heater or put it under a blanket while lt is sitting next to u!

Answer 8

thay have these discs at wal-mart that look like frizbees you can microwave them and thay are sapost to stay warm for up to 6 hours you put them uner the bedding

Answer 9

The post from sugarlove_one is excellent, IMO. Hay would be the perfect solution.

Answer 10

Keep her inside - better for her health.