Keep Your Cats Warm This Winter

As this cold wintery snap continues to grip us all please make sure you take special care of your pets kept inside and out, as well as keeping a close eye on your garden guests too; because even with natural fur coats most animals will be struggling right now. It's good to take extra precautions and know where your local animal hospital is or an emergency vet.

Certain types of animal will fare a lot better in cold weather conditions however animals still need time to adapt to the new temperature the same as us. Pets change to what climate they are use to so even if your cat originates from a cold climate it is still going to feel the cold because it is not use to it.

Normally I don't encourage dressing-up of pets; I'm more of the "au naturel" way of thinking. Of cause extreme weather means doing whatever it takes so I would advice adding a warm jacket.

Indoors treat your polar pooch to a proper preformed curled-up-doggy-shaped plastic box. Make sure it's large enough and if in doubt go slightly bigger. Easier to clean than traditional baskets these boxes should be positioned well-away from doors as the slightest draught will turn your dog - who's closer to the ground into a miserable bag of shivering bones.

Chemicals used to thaw the roads and walkways for example salt can cause irritation to paws and make them crack. And, if ingested, these chemicals can be downright dangerous and you would need to take your pet to a vet referrals center. Instead, wash your pet's feet every time they leave the house and before they get a the chance to lick them! A great tip to stop the build up of ice on the paws is to add some baby oil to the paws before you leave. And to prevent ice build-up on paws, rub a little baby oil on and between the pads before going outside.