01/19/2026
🐾 Winter Weather Tips for Families with Outdoor Animals ❄️
Cold weather can be dangerous for pets. Here’s how to help keep them safe, warm, and healthy all season long:
🏠 1. Provide Proper Shelter
Make sure every animal has a dry, draft-free shelter big enough to move around but small enough to hold body heat.
Raise shelters off the ground and face the opening away from wind and rain.
Add extra straw or shavings (never blankets that hold moisture).
💧 2. Keep Water From Freezing
Use heated water bowls or refill them frequently.
Check several times a day — animals can’t stay hydrated if the water turns to ice.
💡 Tip: You can fill an old tire with hay, place the water bucket or dish inside the middle, and then pack hay around the outside to help insulate it from freezing if you don’t have a heated water dish.
🧣 3. Extra Calories, Please!
Animals burn more calories to stay warm, so they often need more food in winter.
Give higher-protein feed and make sure dogs and cats have access to fresh food that won’t freeze.
🐕 4. Watch for Frostbite & Hypothermia
Ears, tails, and paw pads are most at risk.
Signs include shivering, pale or stiff skin, lethargy, or weakness — if you notice these, bring them inside and warm them gradually.
🚗 5. Check Before You Drive
Outdoor cats often crawl under car hoods for warmth. Tap the hood or honk before starting your vehicle.
🧤 6. Limit Time Outdoors
Even hardy breeds can suffer in extreme cold. Limit outdoor playtime and dry them thoroughly if they get wet.
Senior pets, short-haired breeds, and puppies especially need extra protection.
Make sure bedding stays clean and dry, and keep water accessible at all times.