Why are cats afraid of the cold?

During the cold winter months, domestic cats can develop a fear of the cold. Some cats will also often appear depressed in winter, which is related to the low temperature or large temperature difference in the room where the cat lives. Popper-coopers need to provide cats with appropriate opportunities to keep warm in winter, so that cats can actively choose warmer places to rest, thus improving their health status and improving their mood.

Prolonged exposure to cold conditions or large temperature differences for a short period can put your cat in a poor mood, and some domestic cats may even experience depression as a result. When given the choice, cats are happy to live in a constant warm room. A stable warm state for cats is the element of life that cats dream of.

Fear of cold in cats

Strictly speaking, it is not the cold that cats fear, but the temperature difference. Compared to other common domestic pets, cats are not less resistant to cold temperatures. However, cats are more adapted to constant temperatures, and significant temperature differences can make cats feel uncomfortable. At this time the cat will be significantly less active, and some cats even reduce their food intake and sleep longer.

In the face of temperature changes, sleep can be a coping strategy for cats. This is because, during the sleep cycle, the cat can reduce energy expenditure, which allows the cat to maintain a more cost-effective state of the outside temperature difference. Excessive cold or significant temperature differences can easily cause digestive problems in a cat, with some cats experiencing soft stools, and if the indoor temperature is not suitable for the cat for several days in a row, then the overall food intake of the cat will be reduced by 15% or more.

While reducing the amount of food, the cat will demand a higher quality of food. At this point, the cat is more interested in meat, which is an effective strategy where the cat tries to reduce the number of eating actions, but still likes to maintain a constant calorie acquisition. So the cat needs more high-grade meat, so for the popper cooper, if there will be a change in temperature in your home, then during these days you can try to give the cat more canned cat food or homemade meat cat meals, which will make the cat feel satisfied.

Excessively cold temperatures can be damaging to your cat's joints, which can also increase the likelihood of injury during exercise. For cats over 8 years old, the cold can have a more serious effect on the joints and some delicate muscle fibers. So you will find that even if the cat does not sleep, it will adopt a lying down appearance, and during this time the cat will walk less and become more cautious about jumping and other behaviors.

Some cats may experience hair loss due to the change in room temperature. Under normal circumstances, the cat will adjust its coat according to the regular changes in the surrounding temperature, and the rate of cat hair replacement will generally be at a very reasonable pace. The obvious change in temperature within a short period of time will take some cats by surprise, but cats are good at adapting to their environment, so they will respond to this change promptly. However, the rhythm of cat hair replacement cannot be synchronized with the rhythm of temperature change, so the cat hair will fall out irregularly. The cat can be groomed more often during this time, which can help the cat to change its coat more quickly.

Cats are not afraid of the cold just today

Cats have evolved to have better adaptability to temperature stability. This has to do with the area where the cat lives. If a place has a large temperature difference between day and night, then the cat here will rest for a further period. The most active phase of cats in the regions where their ancestors lived occurred in territories where the temperature was relatively constant.

Cats commonly found in Eurasia will have one to three hair changes during the year, and under normal circumstances, the area in which the cat lives will have distinct cycles of high and low temperatures. Each cycle lasts for at least three months, which means that cats have a comfortable molting time. In most areas where cats are active, the change in coat throughout the year follows a pattern of thick coat to thinner coat to new thicker coat.

When the cold season arrives, cats need to travel to relatively warm locations to find rest and cope with this cold by changing their food, spending more time in the sun, and sleeping longer. In ancient times, the cat's ancestors did the same, and compared to today, the cats faced a more complex situation in which they not only needed to cope with temperature changes but also needed to adjust in time to the changing food system at different temperatures.

Domestic cats have benefited from their successful entry into human society. And the areas where humans live have helped many cats avoid the challenges posed by cold temperatures. When cats first appeared in human homes near the Mediterranean Sea, they encountered a good environment where temperatures were relatively stable and where cold and hot seasons were not made up of abrupt changes but rather went through a clear and regular cycle of change. What intrigues cats is that humans themselves have distinctly different food systems during these seasons, which means that different critters can be attracted.

This is different from cats living in the wild, where critters also experience food shortages during the cold season. But the early human barns that emerged in response to the cold season became a good food source for small animals, and it was these small animals that attracted the earliest domestic cats. This change had a greater impact on cats, who could still find enough quality food in areas where humans were active during the cold season, and these foods facilitated the cats' access to energy.

So the presence of humans helped cats cope better with the cold. So in the very early years, the areas where cats were distributed were already highly similar to the range where humans were active. Those places with a large difference in temperature between day and night or where it is cold all year round gradually became less preferred by cats, a habit that eventually continues to this day.

If you have a cat in your home that is afraid of the cold, then there are three effective ways you can help your cat. The first is to give the cat a very clear source of heat, which is a place that cats in the wild also look for. For example, near a hot spring or a very sunny sheltered place, these places will become the favorite resting place for cats in the wild in a cold state. You can give the cat a heating stove or a small mat near the heater. The cat will not be here all day, but in the cold season, the cat will spend two to three hours a day for this purpose, and this will allow the cat to reduce energy loss.

In cold states, you need to avoid allowing your cat to walk on cold ground for long periods. Carpets are not essential for cats, but you need to allow them to walk on the couch or bed, which will also reduce the impact of cold temperatures on their joints. At the same time, the cat needs to be given at least one warm meal a day, which is generally at least two degrees Celsius above room temperature. When a cat finds a small animal in the wild, it also equals to get warm food. During the cold season, the cat will eat fresh food more quickly, which is also to get more heat.

When a cat can avoid the adverse effects of low temperatures and temperature differences in the middle of winter, this cat can live comfortably and wait for the arrival of spring. After getting enough rest in the winter, the cat will be healthy in the spring. For the sake of your cat, popper coopers should be careful to do a good job of keeping your cat warm to avoid your cat encountering cold troubles.