We are still not out of the winter months, and February and March often bring cold, wet weather.
Like us, our cats can get “cabin fever.” Here are a few tips to help keep your indoor cat from going stir crazy:
- Indoor cats need stimulation, so make sure they have cat toys and cat trees, and play with them regularly. A laser pointer can also be a fun exercise and mental break for your cat.
- A bird feeder placed strategically outside a window with a cat seat can provide hours of entertainment for your cat. Just make sure there is nothing breakable near the window!
- Brushing your cat regularly will get rid of dead, itchy hair, lessen the chance of hair balls, and stimulate blood circulation, which improves the skin’s condition.
- Make sure your furry friend has plenty of water so she stays well-hydrated. Indoor air tends to be drier in winter, and even indoor cats will burn extra energy staying warm in wintertime, sometimes causing dehydration.
You can also help the neighborhood outdoor, feral or abandoned cats with these simple actions:
- During months when it’s cold and damp, cats will seek shelter anywhere they can. This includes under the hood of your car. The engine compartment will be warm after your car has been running, and is certainly drier than outside. You can bang on the hood of your car before you start it to startle the cat and get it to come out, or give your horn a quick toot.
- Cats can be poisoned by very small amounts of antifreeze. Even walking through spilled antifreeze and then licking its paws can be enough to poison a cat. If you think a cat has been exposed to antifreeze, take it to a veterinarian immediately.
- Provide shelter for outdoor cats – even a wooden box with some insulation (foam board works well) will provide a place for a cat to get out of the wind and rain. Place the shelter on a covered porch or under a carport, and raise it up off the ground for more warmth and a drier space. Be sure to check the bedding and change it regularly to make sure it stays dry.
- Provide fresh water. Be careful providing food, as that can attract rats, opossums and raccoons. If you provide food to outside cats, make sure the cat is eating the food and pick up any leftovers.
It doesn’t take much to keep our cats safe in cold, wet weather. Like us, they need shelter, warmth, food and care. When cold, rainy weather sends you indoors, don’t forget your feline friends.
Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter: Plan a visit today, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all of our adoptable pets: www.everettanimalservices.org. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel: www.youtube.com/thecityofEverett.
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