With the arrival of colder days, cats need special attention. Warm by nature, felines have a body temperature that varies between 38.1ºC and 39.2ºC — higher than ours, which is usually between 36.1ºC and 37.2ºC — and they have the habit of looking for the places in the house that transmit More Heat.
“Cats are already animals that look for warmer places to snuggle up, regardless of whether they are cold or not. If they are cold, they will look for a break of sun or lie on blankets. Walks, caps and blankets are never enough” , says veterinarian Vanessa Zimbres, from the Gato é Gente Boa clinic, in Itu (101 km from São Paulo).
A tip, according to her, is to provide a cardboard box, which retains heat. Inside, it is worth putting a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or a pet bottle with warm water, always being careful with the temperature to avoid burns.
“To make cats more active, an interesting and fun way is to make openings of different sizes in the box for them to put their paws or even enter. To enrich the environment, also place toys of various types, with catnip or snacks. them for a long time and pique their curiosity”, he guides.
“It is important to emphasize that at this time cats tend to sleep more. As a result, they end up using the litter box less frequently, which leads to urinary and fecal retention and greater weight gain due to less exercise”, says the veterinary.
But the extra hours of sleep need not be a cause for concern. “The alert is if the animal becomes lethargic, does not eat normally, has ugly or matted hairs or refuses to interact with the tutor. Any abnormal behavior should be investigated by a specialist”, he observes.
Just like humans, felines can also suffer from respiratory diseases at this time of year.
“In addition to rhinotracheitis, known as feline flu, which affects the respiratory tract of cats, animals that already suffer from bronchitis, feline asthma or even allergies, may have an increase in symptoms due to drier weather or even because of the heat of the forced air by heaters”, says Zimbres.
Also in winter, older cats require more care. “Older cats that suffer from joint disease, such as osteoarthritis and arthritis, also have a worsening of joint pain, just like humans.”
If the animal has recently undergone a procedure or surgery, care should be redoubled on the coldest days, as there is a whole recovery process. According to Zimbres, having good nutrition, keeping the feline indoors, warm and avoiding stress, in addition to following professional guidelines for the post-surgical period, are essential.
“Since the viruses responsible for feline rhinotracheitis (Herpesvirus and calicivirus) are not eliminated from the body, the fall in the immune system causes them to manifest the disease. Surgical procedures, elective or not, divert the attention of the immune system to recovery surgery and convalescence, giving a break for the virus. That’s why it is essential to keep the organism as healthy to support the animal’s immunity”, he says.
The specialist also warns about the use of heaters and humidifiers “Many heaters can melt the cables, sockets and the grill itself, depending on the temperature and time of use. An oil heater is a good option, if the tutor does not have air conditioning with heater. It is important to be careful with accidents. The humidifier can help, but nothing in excess. If the kitten is asthmatic, it is important to talk to the veterinarian about the time of exposure to the humidifier”, he concludes.
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