zztopp
January 3rd, 2008, 11:10 PM
FYI, this isn't exactly the correct forum but I couldn't find a more suitable one. Mods, feel free to re-direct my post!!
Our two barn cats are semi-ferral. They have learned that the (horse)barn is their home. They get fed a generous helping of cat kibble twice daily and have water and a litter box (incase its too cold to doodle outside ;) )
This morning, with the thermometer sitting around -30 degrees celcius, I wondered whether the cats could get cold!? I mean, I know they CAN but the likelihood of it happening ... ?
Both cats are very healthy and get plenty of extra 'hot' meals, if you know what I mean ;) Coats are glossy, both in good weight and in excellent shape. They have free run of the tackroom and the loft (where all the hay/straw is -- its really warm up there!) and the barn, where they occasionally curl up close to a warm horse. They each have their own 'perches' in the tackroom where they normally snooze, each equipped with a soft blankie.
Last winter, they came to the farm after the really cold weather hit (they came in mid to late April) and so we didn't have to deal with this!! We've always had indoor cats, so this is a new experience for us!
Me being a worry-wort, I pulled out several fleece and wool blankets and put them on/beside the heated cabinet. Neither cat seemed cold (ears were warm, noses wet, gums pink, both cats purring happily) but I just want to be prepared, incase the temperature dips again!
(I should point out, these are OUTSIDE cats. They not allowed in the house!!)
What steps should I take to make sure they keep warm? What signs should I look for if they get cold? Obviously, if one of them got sick (pneumonia, etc) we would make special arrangements to keep them in the house -- but otherwise, they are 'stuck' in the barn!
Thanks!
Our two barn cats are semi-ferral. They have learned that the (horse)barn is their home. They get fed a generous helping of cat kibble twice daily and have water and a litter box (incase its too cold to doodle outside ;) )
This morning, with the thermometer sitting around -30 degrees celcius, I wondered whether the cats could get cold!? I mean, I know they CAN but the likelihood of it happening ... ?
Both cats are very healthy and get plenty of extra 'hot' meals, if you know what I mean ;) Coats are glossy, both in good weight and in excellent shape. They have free run of the tackroom and the loft (where all the hay/straw is -- its really warm up there!) and the barn, where they occasionally curl up close to a warm horse. They each have their own 'perches' in the tackroom where they normally snooze, each equipped with a soft blankie.
Last winter, they came to the farm after the really cold weather hit (they came in mid to late April) and so we didn't have to deal with this!! We've always had indoor cats, so this is a new experience for us!
Me being a worry-wort, I pulled out several fleece and wool blankets and put them on/beside the heated cabinet. Neither cat seemed cold (ears were warm, noses wet, gums pink, both cats purring happily) but I just want to be prepared, incase the temperature dips again!
(I should point out, these are OUTSIDE cats. They not allowed in the house!!)
What steps should I take to make sure they keep warm? What signs should I look for if they get cold? Obviously, if one of them got sick (pneumonia, etc) we would make special arrangements to keep them in the house -- but otherwise, they are 'stuck' in the barn!
Thanks!