A guide from Vet Sarah Aldridge on your cat’s happiness this winter
November 14, 2023
Keeping our feline friends happy this winter can seem a little tricky. Our experienced cat loving vet Sarah Aldridge and the team at Daventry Veterinary Clinic have pulled together the best advice on all the things your cat needs to be happy in the colder months – keep reading below.
Sarah also has a bonus ‘Festive Happy Cat Guide’ for you to download! As well as winter weather related issues that can affect your cat’s mood, Christmas can be a time of hazards and stress for them too. Take a look at Daventry Vets’ guide on:
How to keep your cat happy and safe at Christmas time
Top tips for keeping your cat happy this winter
Vet Sarah Aldridge wants owners to know that their cat’s behaviour may be affected once the weather starts to get colder. This often comes hand-in-hand with changes in routine which can leave your cat feeling a little down in the dumps. The 3 main aspects to provide are warmth, stimulation, and comfort. Sarah has collated their advice below – contact us on 01327 877767 if you would like to discuss your cat’s health and behaviour with us.
Ask us advice or book an appointment for your cat.
Providing warmth
Indoor temperature
Keep your house at a comfortable temperature and use a safe method of heating if leaving your cat unattended. Open fires and gas fires can be very dangerous for pets home alone.
Sunlight exposure
Letting in sunlight through the windows will improve your cat’s mood! Sarah often hears stories of how the windowsills or sunny spots on sofas and duvets of your home are your cat’s favourite napping spots!
Avoid cold draughts
If your cat has a resting spot, make sure they’re away from draughty areas. If there is a cold draught, try investing in a draught excluder or seal for your door/window to keep the heat in.
Providing stimulation
Indoor playtime
Invest in some toys for your cat that mimic prey movement to keep their brain active. Sarah emphasises the importance of making sure you put aside time to play with your cat this winter.
Engage their senses
Puzzle toys, scratching posts, and interactive feeders will help to keep your cat entertained.
Regular grooming
Making time to groom your cat over winter can help them feel pampered and act as a distraction to spending more time indoors. It also allows you to remove excess fur and debris to prevent matting and keep them happy. If you’ve never groomed your cat before start a bit at a time and with their head and back. Some cats don’t like you to groom underneath. We love Zoom Grooms as they massage your cat too. PDSA shop cat zoom groom
Provide climbing spaces
Cats often defy gravity when it comes to climbing, so indoors it shouldn’t be any different! Sarah recommends installing high-up shelves near windows so they can watch the world go by from above!
Toy rotation
Rotating their toys will help to prevent boredom this winter.
Providing comfort
Cosy sleeping spots
In your cat’s usual sleeping spot, when temperatures drop think about adding in a soft blanket or a covered bed, although if your cat is anything like Sarah’s cat Rhubarb they will be creating “duvet caves” . This will keep them toasty and happy.
Maintain litter box hygiene
You may need to increase your litter box cleaning routine if your cat is spending more time indoors. Make it clean and comfortable for them to help keep them healthy. Cats often use their litter trays more in winter if they don’t like going out in the rain or frozen/snow covered ground means they cannot dig and cover up after toileting.
Along with the above, Vet Sarah Aldridge recommends ensuring your feline friend always has access to fresh water and monitoring their food intake over winter – you can ask our team about seasonal changes to nutrition needs for cats.
Plus, regular vet check-ups throughout the year will help to make sure they are not developing any underlying health conditions that could be more prevalent in the colder months. To book a winter health check with Daventry Vets, contact us on 01327 877767 or book online.
Share these top tips with other cat owners in Northamptonshire and don’t forget to download our Festive Happy Cat Guide too!
