Category Archives: Cats And The Weather

Cats In Cold Weather | How They Cope

Cats And The Weather, Outside Cats

Personally, I prefer to be inside when it’s very cold. But cats in cold weather can be just fine, especially if they have some help from humans. We have all kinds of ways to cope with cold weather, and some of them might surprise you!

Cats cope with cold weather in many ways, but one of them isn't wearing a muffler!

Cats cope with cold weather in many ways, but one of them isn’t wearing a muffler!

I worry about outside cats in cold weather, Thomasina. it sounds like you spend a lot of time outdoors, and I’m really concerned about you.
— Worried

Hi, Worried!
Thanks for your concern. Don’t worry about me. Cats cope with cold weather in all kinds of ways, and I’m just fine! I love being outside, and since I’m outdoors so much, my body has plenty of time to acclimate to the changing seasons. I have my winter conditioning now. And if I get too cold, I can always go inside. That’s where I am right now!


The Ways Cats Cope With Cold Weather
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How The Weather Affects Cat Behavior

Cats And The Weather
Does the weather affect your behavior? It affects ours! When winter’s coming, we eat more. And the weather affects cat behavior in other ways, too.

 

The changing weather affects cat behavior

Have you noticed how the changing weather affects cat behavior?

I heard that the changing weather affects cat behavior, Thomasina. Is that true?

— Curious
 
Hi Curious…
Good question! The weather definitely affects cat behavior. It certainly affects mine. Now that the days are getting shorter, I feel like I want to eat nonstop! 
 
One way cold weather affects cat behavior is that we have to eat more because we need extra energy to keep warm. That’s as true of cats who stay inside all the time as it is of cats who go out or live outside. 


How The Weather Affects Cats’ Appetites

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Do Cats Know When It’s Going To Rain?

Cats And The Weather, Can Cats Predict Rain?

Do cats know when it’s going to rain? Yes, we do! Keep reading to find out how we predict the weather.

How do cats know it's going to rain?

Do your cats know when it’s going to rain?

Do cats know when it’s going to rain, Thomasina? My cat always asks to come in just before a storm comes.
— Just Curious

Hi Just Curious,
Yes, we know when it’s going to rain! When the cats in my family feel those changes in the air, we all head for home as fast as we can.

It’s not just that we hate being wet. The real problem with a heavy rainstorm is that it changes all the familiar scents that keep us from getting lost.

It makes it hard for us to see, too, so we can easily miss all the claw marks we’ve so carefully made in tree trunks and fence posts to help us find our way home. And rain acts as what you humans call white noise, so we can’t hear as well as we’d like to when we’re outside.

How Cats Know When It’s Going To Rain

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How Cats Keep Their Cool In Hot Weather

Cats And The Weather, How Do Cats Stay Cool In Hot Weather

This might surprise you. Our fur helps cats keep cool in hot weather. We have other ways of staying comfortable, too. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you what they are. 

 

There are many ways cats keep cool in hot weather, although eating an ice cream cone isn't one of them!

There are many ways cats keep cool in hot weather, but eating an ice cream cone isn’t one of them!

How do cats keep cool in hot weather, Thomasina? It’s blazing hot today, and I’m very worried about my outside cat.
Concerned Cat Mom

Hey, Concerned…
I don’t think you need to worry about your boy. Cats know how to keep cool in hot weather. We’re homeotherms (We’re what??? The human typist strikes again, and I don’t like the sound of that!). Oh, I see. It means we’re able to adjust internal heat gain and loss so we can maintain a constant body temperature. Well, I knew that!


How Cats Keep Cool In Hot Weather