5 things outdoor cats need this winter

Whether it's your own indoor-outdoor cat or the one that patrols your block, winter changes what a cat needs outside. We went through the cold-weather guidance from Cornell's Feline Health Center, the AVMA, the ASPCA and Alley Cat Allies. Here's what keeps coming up.

01A way back in, and a plan for the coldest nights

The first item isn't something you buy. Cornell's Feline Health Center says plainly: "The best way to avoid these problems is to keep cats indoors at all times." The AVMA agrees that cats "should be kept inside during cold weather."

For cats that come and go, that means a simple rule. On the coldest, wettest nights, they stay in. PetMD's veterinary guidance treats temperatures below 32 °F as dangerous for all cats with prolonged exposure. Most cats start to feel uncomfortable below 45 °F.

02A small, dry, raised place out of the wind

When a cat is outside, the most useful thing it can have is a shelter that blocks wind and precipitation (Cornell). The details matter:

• Raised, so the cat doesn't lose body heat into frozen ground (Cornell).
• Small, because "heat disperses quickly" in big shelters (Alley Cat Allies).
• A narrow, covered doorway. Alley Cat Allies suggests a door no wider than six to eight inches, with a flap against snow, rain and wind.
• Quiet, away from foot traffic.

03Warmth that doesn't depend on the cat alone

A cat in an unheated shelter has to warm the space with its own body heat. That's why Alley Cat Allies, Cornell and Neighborhood Cats all recommend straw (not hay, blankets or towels) for unheated shelters. Straw stays drier, and cats can burrow into it.

If you have a safe power source nearby, a heated pad is another option. Best Friends Animal Society suggests an electric heating pad for a heated shelter and advises using "a heating pad made specifically for pets." With any electric pad, follow the manual and don't pile blankets on top unless the manual says it's fine.

04More food, and water that isn't frozen

Cats "burn more calories to stay warm in the winter," says Cornell, so feed somewhat more than in warm months. Alley Cat Allies points out that wet food "takes the least amount of energy to digest, meaning more energy can be spent staying warm," and that a heated bowl keeps water and wet food from freezing. If you don't have one, change the water often. The AVMA stresses "fresh, non-frozen water."

05A yard without winter hazards

• Check the car. Bang on the hood, honk and look under the car before starting it (AVMA).
• Antifreeze: "extremely toxic to cats if ingested, and its taste is attractive to cats" (Cornell). Clean up spills right away.
• Salt and chemical de-icers can hurt paws and are toxic if licked off (Alley Cat Allies).
• Snow. Cats in shelters can get snowed in. Alley Cat Allies reminds people to shovel out shelter entrances when they clear the driveway.

A 60-second check before the first freeze

• Do you know where your cat goes when it's outside, and is there a dry, raised spot out of the wind there?
• Is the water bowl going to freeze overnight?
• Is there antifreeze, salt or de-icer anywhere your cat walks?
• Have you decided, as a household, at what temperature the cat stays in for the night?

If any answer is "not sure", now, before the first hard freeze, is the easiest time to fix it.

Putting #2 and #3 together

Comfort Zone is our take on a heated outdoor shelter:

• Raised on a metal stand
• Compact grey Oxford-fabric house in three sizes (S 17×13×12 in, M 21×13×12 in, L 25.6×16.5×12 in)
• Waterproof heating pad on the floor, US plug (110 V)
• Two exits with clear PVC flaps, so the cat can see out and is never cornered
• Two ground stakes to keep it in place

The power cord exits under a flap with a cord cover. Route it along a wall or fence, use an outdoor-rated GFCI outlet, keep the plug connection dry, and check the cord regularly.

It's meant for the hours your cat is outdoors anyway. It doesn't replace item #1.