Is it necessary to bring an outside cat inside when it's cold? It can survice the cold on it's own can't it?

Question

My family has an outdoor cat because a few of us are allergic, but when it snows my two younger step sisters insist the cat needs to be brought inside or it will die. Cats are warm blooded are they not? and their fur coat helps keep them warm in the winter? so does it really need to be brought inside?

Answer 1

Domestic cats are descended from African wildcats (hence the proliferation and popularity of cats in ancient Egypt). Their fur is more suited for insulating them from the heat then the cold, I know that sounds odd, but it's true. Cat fur is very different then dog hair. However even with dogs there are only a few breeds that are naturally suited to cold climates. Cats will always seek out a warm place if left in the cold, including under the hood of a car by a warm engine which can lead to tragic results. In their search for a warm place, they can become lost, stolen, or killed. It's just not a good idea. Here's a bit more on why domestic pets shoulod not be outside in the cold:

http://www.andersoncohumane.org/coldweather.html

Answer 2

Gee, you're warm-blooded, and you have clothes... can't you spend a winter night outside? You'd probably survive, but you'd be very uncomfortable, right? And you might get sick from the cold and the rain. It's the same for cats and dogs. They need some sort of warmth and shelter.

If you're allergic, you don't have to invite the cat inside the house, but at the very least you should let it sleep in the garage or laundry room at night. Give it a cozy blanketed basket to sleep in, shut the door to house, and make sure the people with allergies don't touch the cat or the basket.

Check your local animal shelter for local laws - most states require that outdoor animals be provided some sort of shelter (a doghouse, etc).

Answer 3

Any traditional house pet (dogs, cats, rabbits etc...) need to be brought indoors in temps that go below freezing or have low windchill factors or at the very least provided an outdoor house (which it should have anyway to shelter it from other inclement weather) with a blanket or straw to keep warm. People are also warm blooded, but if we are out in the cold we can still freeze to death without the proper shelter- even if we are wearing a coat. If you don't want to bring the cat in, get it a small dog house and put it somewhere it is blocked from the wind and put some old blankets in it so it can keep itself warm.

Answer 4

would you stay outside all day just because you had on a coat? I don't think so. Alot of people think that just because they have fur that their cats will be okay outside. Wrong!!! Their ears can get frostbite very easily because of how thin they are. And on their paws, too. Cats should be kept indoors all the time anyway. What if your cat gets hit by a car? So many people HATE cats and sit out antifreeze for them, which is a very slow and painful death. There's lots of reasons why cats should be inside. If you're allergic to your cat, why do you even have him anyway? Find him a good home with an owner who will be more responsible and care about him enough to do what's best for him.

Answer 5

Yes your cat will survive if it isn't too cold but it should always have access to somewhere warm and dry, such as a garage. You want to make sure you are being a good animal owner and providing for your animals needs. If your cat is that uncomfortable inside that it just sits at the door begging to go out then set up a dog house type thing that is waterproofed and has a warm blanket or two the cat can curl up in.

Answer 6

Cats know instinctively how to stay warm in the cold months, and they will do everything possible to do so. Do you have an area that is blocked from wind and other elements? If so, you could make a place with blankets and some other things. You could also use a large box and put the blankets and stuff in there. Make sure you put the cat into it, so he knows where to go when he is cold. If it is big enough, you could also put some food and water in it as well.

Answer 7

I have 3 cats, they go outside when they feel like it but they are also allowed in the house whenever they want (which is usually all day, they miaw at the door to get in). My eldest cat is 9 and when the weather is really wet or cold we keep her in, the younger 2 are nearly 2yrs but I also take them in overnight if the weathers bad. You don't want your cat catching pneumonia, so as long as it's litter trained I would let it come in in bad weather. If you have allergies try putting the cat in the kitchen so when it goes back out the room will be easy to clean!

Answer 8

I don't know where you're based, but certainly here in rural UK your cat's more likely to wind up as some fox's dinner if it's outside overnight in this weather, warm coat or not!

We inherited a cat with our house, & had a cat-flap in the garage door so that Fang (yep, previous owners named him... most docile cat I've ever known) cound come in out of the cold. However, when we put another cat flap through from the garage door into the house, he happily transformed from an outside cat to an indoor-unless-its-warm cat. A garage or shed catflap could be a useful compromise for your allegy's sake - or a small kitty-kennel in your garden/yard, also with a flap to keep the wind out. Our last cat used to be found in our dogs' kennel if she was outside when it rained...

Answer 9

If the cat has spent 90% of its life outside, chances are it's adapted to climate change. I have an outdoor cat as well, and when it gets cold I let it inside my screened porch, and I have a fuzzy cube that I let it sleep in. I know it appriciates it, because the first thing he does after eating is crawl in and sleep for hours. There have been some nights where I haven't been able to let him in, and before he 'adopted us' he has spent many cold nights outside. Its just called love for what I do LOL. The cat will be fine outside, however if the temps get dangerously low, you know like 10-5 degfrees or colder , it would never hurt to bring him inside. Or if you know your going to be getting 10 inches of snow, might now hurt to bring him inside for a few days or so.

Answer 10

Well I don't advise you keep the cat outside. I'm sorry but it is too dangerous outside for a cat. But if you have an outdoor cat you should keep it inside when it is cold.