Keep your Cat Safe During Winter

Winter Safety Tips for Cats

Use Pet Safe Ice Melt: Regular snow melting supplies are toxic even in small amounts. Rock salt brought in by your shoes can irritate paws and if ingested your pet can experience vomiting, but symptoms can range through diarrhea, salivation, depression, anorexia, tremors, disorientation, excessive thirst, seizures to death. Here are some examples of pet safe products you can purchase Safe Paw Ice Melter, Petco Ice Melt for Pets, and Walk Safe for Pets.

Leave shoes by the door: Even if you are the most vigilant person on caring for your pet, your shoes can track in all the rock salt and road chemicals from the street and sidewalks of those that are not so pet-friendly. It's best to leave them by the door or in a shoe cabinet. It guarantees that your furball will not destroy your Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos. Also, it's actually good feng shui to leave your shoes by the door.

Keep cats indoors: My general opinion is keep your cats indoors year round. I'm not a fan of having indoor/outdoor cats because cats can pick up terrible diseases and virus such as feline leukemia. Keep cats warm by providing them a soft bed, blanket, or your lap but be very still. Cats hate it when you move around while they are trying to take a nap especially when they are having lucid dreams about taking over your house and how to manipulate you for more treats. Also don't buy or use any electrical heating blankets or beds for your pet. You don't want Ms. Fluffy biting on the wires and electrocuting herself or starting a fire. Although, Olive has been known to gaze too closely into candles and sizzling her whiskers. Now we hold a no candle policy in our house.

Check under cars before driving off: Stray cats and kittens can find their way under your freshly parked warm car and they might still be there when you're ready to drive off again. Stay warm during the rest of winter and please take down your "Let it Snow" holiday decorations. Your neighbors will thank you for it.