It's gonna be 17F here tonight, how do YOU keep the animals warm ?

[Richard Cranium]

Here in sunny southern USA it sometimes gets a bit chilly.

Predictions tonight are for sub 20F temps possibly 17F or so, brrrr.

One of my cats refuses to sleep inside ?? In this weather seeking a warm place can be a problem, going under neighbors homes can be deadly..

For my outside kitty,
(the brother of Baker who was my favorite that was killed by an incompetent Vet, some of you remember the thread)
I have a cardboard box with a 6" square hole in the top and a heating pad underneath a insulated cotton shirt.. Of course I have it on a "Ground Fault" breaker.

He's in there now, barely sticking his nose out when I go outside for a "weather check"

We need to remember the "Domestic" animals and just what that word implies.

The animals that humans have domesticated for their purposes are totally dependant on us ,, some like Huskys are by breed less prone to the cold but most need special attention.

thanks for listening
Doc

[korgul]

I agree Doc, please look out for our four legged friends.

I have a cat that refuses to use the litter box. He will sit at one of the doors and meow until someone lets him out. Now I know some of you are thinking how cruel in this cold you leave him outside. Well this cat ( red ) will come to the front door and knock, yes I said knock, when he is ready to come in. The first time we heard this we thought it was the wind or something. When we looked out he just strolled in like it was nothing. I looked out the one time when he was knocking to see how he did it. He actually sits in front of the door and knocks with his paw. It is so cool I have never had a cat do this before.

I think what you are doing Doc should be enough to keep them warm for the night. You could also add some old shirts inside the box as insulation.

Just wanted to share a cool pet story with ya.

korgul

Yep Doc he will be fine.
What a set up!
YOu're running a heated cat house!

[swamp-fox]

Yeah also be on look out for cat underhood Not much fun to crank up car and well you know what happens. Might want to bang on hood before or honk horn before you turn the key. I've had this happen twice to me on cold mornings. Not a good way to start the day for either of us.

[Richard Cranium]

My cat who refuses to come in, did not always feel this way.

He too could "knock"

His way was to stretch up to the door knob, taking both paws he could move it back and forth faster than I can, , First few times he did this scared the dookie out of me as it's the Back Door where no one goes. I thought it was an intruder.

He still uses this method to tell me to feed him

[MDS]

When we had cats outdoors we built a small cat house with a heat lamp on a timer and put a old towel over the opening, and we had so many cats even strays piled in it was funny.It's gotten down to 5F here at night and maybe 20-30 during the day.

[Brainchild]

As an animal lover, we have several cats,kittens mostly from a new litter, and 4 dogs outside.I put extra straw in the houses last night, and extra food helps boost thier matabolisim. It was 2 degrees this morning. I hear we have a heat wave coming tonight though, 26 is a welcome change.
I agree we should look after our pets, they can't look after themselves if thier in a kennel, like mine are

[flea]

We give our dog a hot water bottle at nights, not to keep him warm, but to soothe his arthritis.

[cadetstimp]

Had a labrador growing up and dad got a beagle. The beagle's belly used to get cold (not enough hair) so she would wait for Scruffy, the labrador, to lay down and then the Beagle would lay on top to keep the cold belly warm. Scruffy never minded the 'Beagle Blanket'

[angelcat]

We have 8 cats living with us, and they all are indoor cats. Several of them have the same idea of how to stay warm during the winter nights, they will climb into our bed, and find all the empty parts to curl up in......... The one, Squeakers, loves to get under the blankets, right between the two of us!