“What can I add to my cat house to make it warmer?” This is a common question among cat owners, especially those who live in colder climates. While there are many commercial products available to help keep your kitty warm, there are also some simple DIY solutions that can be just as effective.
Read on for some tips on how to keep your cat’s house warm this winter.
What Can I Add To My Cat House To Make It Warmer — 3 Tips
The average temperature of a cat’s body can vary from 99.5 to 102.5 degrees F, but the heat cats require to be comfortable varies according to their size, hair, and weight. Healthy feral cats will be fine until the temperature drops below freezing, but you should probably step in and offer assistance a little bit earlier than that.
At the same time, young cats and older cats might be at risk when the temperature drops below 45 degrees at night.
Plus, of course, the more it rains or snows, the more difficult the weather is going to be for the animals who live outside.
Here are a few tips on what you can add to your cat’s house to make it warmer:
Provide Dry And Warm Shelters
The first thing you should do is give your cats dry, comfortable shelter. These shelters should be placed in a covered area, such as on a balcony or in a garage, rather than in an area where they may be drenched by standing water. Cats can use dry, covered shelters to get away from the rain, snow, and freezing winds.
Buying a shelter that is heated, water-resistant, and specifically made for cats is the best option. Look for cat shelters that include heated beds that warm up to the cat’s body temperature.
When it’s freezing chilly outdoors, this keeps the cats extremely warm. Also, in case a quick escape is required, these shelters should have easy openings. To prevent larger animals from coming in and taking over, the exits should only be large enough to allow one cat at a time.
Keep the shelters away from areas where cats can be scared. If possible, place the shelters on an elevated spot a few inches from the ground to keep them out of the rain, snow, and insects.
Give Them Extra Meal To Keep Warm
Cats that live outside require more energy to maintain their body temperature. If you leave slightly warmed canned food out for your cat at set times each day, it will quickly learn when to come to get its meal so it can avoid the food becoming cold. Even if you regularly feed food that is canned, you should still set out a large amount of dry food.
It is common for cats to have a condition known as chronic dehydration, and the cold weather can make it much more challenging for feral or outdoor cats to have access to water. The most helpful thing you can do is provide them with water and check on it at least twice a day to ensure that it has not become frozen over.
A heated water dish that is safe for pets is an even better choice for preventing water from freezing over in the winter. If that is not an option, you should look into purchasing pet dishes that are powered by the sun and can prevent food and water from freezing. Don’t forget to change the water every day so that it stays clean.
Bring Your Cats Inside For The Night
Even if your cat loves staying out, it’s best to bring them inside during the winter nights rather than debating whether or not it is too chilly outside. You can prevent your cats from being bored when they are kept indoors by providing them with clawing sticks and trees to play with so that they won’t be stubborn about going out.
If you have more than one cat and can’t bring all cats indoors, you should provide heated shelters, food, and water for feral cats so that they can keep comfortable outside throughout the winter. That is all that is required to help your cats in staying warm and comfortable, and you won’t have to ask yourself “what can I add to my cat house to make it warmer?” again.
Bottom Line
As a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to make sure that your cats are safe and comfortable in the winter weather. If you’re still wondering ” what can I add to my cat house to make it warmer?”, the answer is simple: provide dry and warm shelters, give them extra meals to keep warm, and bring them inside for the night. By following these tips, you can help your cats stay healthy and happy all winter long.
