Winter Warmth
and Good Health

by Fern and Maddie

We are indoor kitties, but we know that some kitties go outside even in winter so we thought some winter health tips might be helpful.

This time of year is so cold that outdoor kitties need to be kept inside safe and warm as the poor cold kitties will sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars to stay warm. If the car is started, the fan belt could seriously injure the poor kitty. If you know there are outdoor kitties in your neighborhood, pound on the hood of your car just in case.

Never leave an animal in the car during the winter. The car stays cold like a giant refrigerator, and the poor animal could freeze to death.

Vitamins are a great help during this time of year. Kitties need to take Vitamin E and B-complex vitamins to strengthen the tissues and make them more resistant to cold.

Remember anti-freeze is lethal to animals and keep none in the house. The sweet smell will lure animals to lap it. Clean up any spills where a cat might wander, even outside.

We cats love to be cozy. A comfy bed away from all drafts will be greatly appreciated. It might even warrant an extra rub or lick!

What about food in winter you might ask? Well, this is our favorite piece of advice: extra food is good! Increasing the amount of food, especially proteins, will keep our coats thick and healthy. Yippee!

Keep that fireplace screened. A cinder could burn a kitty just trying to keep warm. Even though that heat surely feels great on our fur it also dries out fur, and the smoke fumes could cause respiratory problems.

Older kitties need special handling in the winter. They could have arthritis or stiff and tender joints.  Keep an eye on our elder statesmen when they are going up or down stairs.

If you follow our advice, you’ll have a safe and warm winter. We also advise you to snuggle and sleep on warm laps. Nothing beats the heat of a warm human lap. We do it all the time and are quite cozy, thank you very much!

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