Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
We have a kitten who came to us during the summer months. We live in the mountains of North Carolina, and we’re wondering about the cold weather. Our cat is strictly an outside cat, but we thought we would put him in the basement on nights that were very cold. Now our question — how cold does it have to be before we bring him in? In other words, how much cold can he stand?
~ Vicki
Image courtesy of The Cat's Whiskers blog
Siouxsie: Although in a perfect world this cat would be able to go indoors whenever he wants, we know there are plenty of legitimate reasons why you might not be able to allow this. We’re grateful to you for caring enough about this kitty to want to keep him safe and healthy this winter.
Thomas: Cats’ cold tolerance varies based on their coat length and coat type. Cats with longer fur may be able to deal with temperatures a few degrees colder than their short-haired kin. Some short-haired cats have soft undercoats that provide a little extra insulation, but others don’t.
Dahlia: But even thick fur doesn’t stop a cat from losing heat. If you’re outdoors on a winter day and you’re not wearing a hat, your head is still going to get cold, even though there’s hair growing on it.
Siouxsie: If it’s too cold for you to be comfortable outdoors in a jacket and jeans, it’s probably too cold for your cat. Any temperature below freezing is definitely too cold!
Thomas: Cats don’t have any insulation on their paw pads. When they walk around in snow, the fur on their feet and legs gets wet and extremely cold, and this can lead to frostbite.
This cat has frostbite on his ears. Image courtesy of Craig Street Cats
Dahlia: Cats’ ears have very thin fur, and cats can and do get frostbite on their ears.
Siouxsie: So what can you do to keep your outdoor cat safe? If he’s socialized to humans, you certainly can bring him inside and put him in the basement once temperatures get below freezing.
Thomas: You’ll want to take this opportunity to get him neutered and vaccinated, too. The neutering will reduce urine spraying and other unpleasant behaviors, and the shots will keep him–and you–safe.
Dahlia: Litterbox training may be an issue. If this kitty was ever an indoor cat, he probably knows what a litterbox is and how to use it, and you won’t have any trouble. However, if he’s been an outdoor cat all his life, this may be a little bit more complicated. The ASPCA’s short guide on how to bring an outdoor cat indoors provides information on how to get an outdoor cat used to using a litterbox.
Siouxsie: Is your basement heated, or is it cold and dank? If it’s on the cold and dank side, make sure the cat has a nice, warm bed to snuggle into. This could be something as simple as a cardboard box (not sitting right no the ground, of course) with some old towels inside, or it could be a super-deluxe piece that would be right at home in your living room with your other furniture.
Thomas: We recommend you follow some of the other tips in the ASPCA guide about enriching the cat’s environment so he doesn’t go crazy or get depressed while he’s inside.
Dahlia: You didn’t mention if this cat will let you pet him or approach him. If he does, you’ll have an easier time bringing him inside during the winter. However, if he runs away at the sight of you or refuses to allow you to touch him, he may be a feral cat, which means he’s wild and will never be comfortable with people.
Siouxsie: You can protect this cat from the elements even if he is feral and you can’t get him inside. The Neighborhood Cats website provides instructions on how to build a variety of winter shelters for stray and feral cats.
Thomas: Some of these shelters are made of Styrofoam, others of rubber storage totes. Here’s another great winter shelter, this one courtesy of Spay and Stay.
Dahlia: If you’ve got more carpentry skills than money, check out Alley Cat Allies’ plan for building a wooden cat shelter. It’s designed to hold five to seven cats, so you’ll want to scale the size down quite a bit if you’re just housing one.
Siouxsie: Be sure to follow the instructions on proper bedding and how to keep the shelter warm during extreme winter weather, too.
Thomas: Good luck, Vicki. We hope this helps.
JaneA Kelley is a punk rock cat mom and award-winning blogger. She is a regular columnist for Catster Magazine, and she and the Paws and Effect Gang share a home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Please, if at all possible, try to make your outside cat an inside cat. He’ll be safe and warm and you will be relieved.
My 1st question is, is kitty spayed or neutered? And why can’t kitty go in or out as it pleases? Try to make kitty an inside cat if possible. They are much happier & safer inside. Cats can get too hot or too cold outdoors. My 3 kitty boys have pet doors that allow them to go out when they wish or to come in when they wish. At night they come in to stay which they choose to do by themselves anyway.
I’m having a similar issue with one cat (and her sister) who come to me for food every few days or so. I have two small dogs and would never endanger them with the presence of a feral cat, they too have no experience with cats and it would be a dicey situation. So I too am thinking of getting an outdoor enclosure for the cats for the cold, snowy days. These cats won’t let me pick them up but they do come a little closer when food is involved but I wouldn’t try to pick one up unless I was sure they were receptive. I know someone with a Maltese who’s poor dog lost his eye by trying to befriend a feral cat so I know there is a danger.
We have owned 3 different outdoor cats in Nebraska, where below 0 weather is common in the winter. We solved this problem by installing a cat door in the bottom of our garage door, and buying heated cat beds to put inside the regular cat bed in the garage, someplace up off the floor. Our cats have always been happy with this arrangement. They seem to still enjoy running around outside even in the snow. We’ve never run into a frostbite or health problem doing this.
If you must keep him an outdoor cat, then you must bring him in when the temps go below freezing (32 degrees Not Zero)! Remember to have a warm place for him to sleep up off the ground. He will feel safer that way.. Make sure food, water and a litterbox are available to him! Although the ideal way is to install a kitty door for him to be able to come in when he’s cold or too hot. Again keep the bed and food, water and litter box! And do as the kitties suggest,….check out their reading suggesttions and build an outdoor shelter for him! For the nights he doesn’t want to come inside but he is still chilly! Dont Forget That He Needs To Have Food And Water Available At All Times! When water gets dirty or it freezes change ir for fresh water!
I have 2 cats that live outside. One is feral and does not want to come in. The other used to be a house cat but, because he doesn’t like the other cats, has decided to live outside. There are 2 others I would prefer they stay outside because they like to pee on furniture and in other inappropriate places. I have special warm places for them to sleep on the back porch. If it gets too cold, I will let the last 2 come in for the night and keep them confined.
Alley Cat allies has instructions for a totally simple shelter that worked well here in WI
during cold spells for dear alley cats who would not allow themselves to be caught.
Just a Rubbermaid storage container, lined with styrofoam purchased in big sheets at
Home Depot, and cut into shape of the inside of the box, then lined with ‘Space Blanket”,
cost about $1. somewhere on line. All duck taped in place, little door openingmade__
I used an electric drill to make holes then cut with really sharp knife.
Very cheap and worked. They say do NOT put blankets in…I think straw is okay..but
their breath makes too much moisture…or something like that. Main point is that these
are totally workable and easy to do. only hard thing is cutting the door…
Hi, I’m an owner of seven kitties. I have 4 living in the house and 3 live outside. We built a ferral cat house out of wood and tiled the floor and lined it with straw. Now, on top of the roof of the house we installed 2 cat heated pads. We then built a frame around the entire house which added around 5feet to the entire location,and we used double plastic to cover the entire hut.This frame is built seperate and can be moved. Then we used insulation sheet boards on the entire hut in the winter, keeps it much warmer. Then we tarped the entire hut, we attach it to the railing and bring it over the sides and to the front and then clip it. Now for the last, we will tarp the front at an angle to the floor of the deck so the rain and snow won’t keep them from entering their nice spacious home. We also have a entrance door in front and on both side in the back, they have a escape door. My cats have been living outside now for almost 4 years. I love them dearly and especially when we have a Blizzard and I’m shoveling every hour so they can get out. The only thing I didn’t do is get a Kitty Litter Box, that will be the next adventure. You can get the instructions on the internet.
I installed a small pet magnetic flap door that always seals itself for my cat when he decided to run outside for fun or for bathroom break.
I also built I small 3x3x3 house for him on my deck. I also wired power oi the lil cat house and installed a 60W lightbulb. The house is well insulated and is at least 0c/32f with the bulb on. Bulb stays on all the time when weather is below 0c/32f
I live in Canada and chuckle many times at people saying how cold it gets.
-50 degrees is not uncommon where I live. My furry lil friend is happy and content.
Sounds similar to what I have in the works! (if you read above). And you’re right…cats can do cold…more than people realize. Heck I think my stray is nuts sometimes. We had like 10 blizzards last year, and I’d be feeding him (Me in the blizzard, him in his shelter Lol) and then he’d leave and go walking off into the whipping snow and -20 wind chill. I’d be like “are You nuts? Get back here!!!”. He wasn’t in the least bit fazed, you’d think he was wearing ski clothes and boots… happy as a clam. But they (as you already know cause of your shelter etc) need somewhere to get dry…get out of the wind, rain or snow. “The elements”. And somewhere cozy, soft and insulated to feel safe and rest their heads. But like you said, and depending on where you live or just how cold it gets, people can go from just good insulation and body heat…to self warming blankets, to heating pads, heated houses…or the heating bulbs. There are so many situations and COLD variations, and I go all out to make mine comfy. But in my book, first and foremost ….is REALLY good, dry insulation, (walls, floors, sides, front) because that’s what really protects them from the elements. Because again like you mentioned, cats actually put up with and even like (in my guys case…weirdo) some serious cold.
Oh BTW…on a side note, I think he’s nuts, but I’m the one who nearly got hypothermia last year (last year I was a first timer Lol) fixing his house after a melting blizzard.(Again I was a first timer with a stray and the waterproofing AROUND the shelter ) was fine, but the leakage near the doorway was debatable to say the least. 28 degrees outside and I was soaked, flat on my stomach in ice puddles changing his WHOLE bedding and for close to a hour. Lol. And I call him crazy! The things we do…
I have built a shelter, however our feral cats will not use it. The temperatures are now below freezing and every trick I try to get the cats to use it are not working. They just sit there right outside the shelter on our porch. They come up to eat and rub up against the railings, but never go inside the shelter. I’m very worried about frostbite and don’t know what else to try to have the cats use the shelter. Any suggestions are appreciated.
At this point I’m thinking of trapping them again and putting them in our shed for the winter. It is supposed to get down to 23 degrees this weekend and I’m worried!!!!
I have two ferals that live in my house. They have bonded to me: they come when called and love to be pet and to play. However, they will not go into any enclosed place (“cave type” bed, carrier). I volunter for a shelter and it is commonly held that once trapped a feral will never enter a trap again. Even though my two appear to be “tame”, I believe it is their feral fear of being trapped that keeps them out of enclosed spaces. Have your ferals been trapped? If so, perhaps they view the “house” as two enclosed.
Sorry. I meant to say “shelter too enclosed”. Perhaps a cat door (no flap) into the shed would be more enticing.
You could try using catnip.
Can you describe the shelter a little? I might be able to offer what’s worked for me based off of your description
If you’re cat is purely an outdoor cat then you do not have a cat. You should consider rehoming him elsewhere, to someone who will keep him indoors. I recently rescued a lost cat I found outside with frostbitten ears, belly and paws. Do the animal a favor.
I dont believe in raising a cat outdoors or even indoor/outdoor. Mine are both inside only. However, the poster may have an outdoor kitty that “adopted” her. I currently have a “third” cat that I help. He’s very independent, and because of my two other kittens, I’m really not sure about EVER bringing him in. I nearly saw him maul another stray while I was feeding him on the porch one night. I exaggerate some but it was a brawl. Anyway, if I were to bring him inside I know he’ll always yearn to go out, and I just can’t do both indoor/outdoor…due to fleas ticks, etc….it would be both a tease and a risk to my other kittens (I adopted them, whereas the outdoor guy adopted me). Anyway…I have a very weatherproofed feeding porch for him and a more weatherproofed bedding area for him, right on my front porch. Last winter was brutal and he CHOSE to galavant around in it when I call and say “get into your house!”. He’s got a mind of his own. But I’ve purchased an X-large dog house for him which I need to super insulate for him before I introduce him to his new digs. It’s going to have string lighting inside…some toys…a bed area…some rugs to scratch…I’m going all out, but because I want him to have a really cozy area to “hang out in” that’s bigger than just for sleeping. My point is, its not always easy to bring in a cat….but I’ve taken this one under my wing, so I feel that its my responsibility to give him the best outdoor life he can have. He’s fat (canned food everyday plus dry) hydrated and has a warm shelter with a really cool “apartment” in progress. He’s also loved…by me, and he shows it back. But no matter what….he wants to be out there. I didn’t “bring him home” but I’m doing my very best to make him at home here. I just met him before Christmas last year… BTW he was an adult already…so we’re just starting our 2nd winter as fast friends. Baby steps for now, and maybe someday he’ll be more interested in domestication