If you have animals outside, please check their water

[Soubriquet]

Reposted from chat for more traffic

I've discovered my cats water bowl frozen today so have been and replaced that.

Bring animals in where you can. If you can't make sure they have somewhere sheltered to go. Add extra hay/straw for bunnies and piggies and think about a cover over the hutch if necessary

I've discovered my cats water bowl frozen today so have been and replaced that.

Your cat is outside??

I’m also a bit baffled that it was news to OP (or anyone!) that water outside would freeze when it snows.

the speed with which it is freezing is surprising, and we don't have snow here. If it reminds anyone to check again, then it is helpful. If there was less spite, it would be nice. Are you going to slate the person that posts asking others to check on the elderly and vulnerable too??

OP has already explained why her cat is outside and why she didn't realise the water would freeze where it was. Seriously, can't people even read a 2 page thread?!

It must be nice to be so perfect that you never need reminding of anything, ever...

So if you have an outside animal you would Be checking their water daily even without snow. Surely?

Prompted by someone on another thread I have left our shed door open and made a little shelter out of an old recycling box and blankets, because I know we have a few strays around. My cat glared at me through the window the entire time like she knew what I was up to...

Phelan - YOU might well be doing that, and the OP clearly is.

But if everyone were as responsible as that about animal care, we wouldn't have any neglected animals or the RSPCA! Some people don't care; others forget because they have a lot going on; others care but need help. So it's NU to put a public reminder out there - how can it hurt?!

Very at the ridiculous on this thread.

The reminder is a timely one, especially about the speed of freezing.
Here in Australia, it's still warm, so I always check for fresh outdoor water for pets and wildlife. In the extreme heat there are frequent reminders to keep pet animals indoors in a cool place. It's very easy to forget for one day.

I have 3 outdoor piggies. Just changed their bedding, added extra hay and some fleecy blankets into their sleeping area, and a microwave snugglesafe which lasts 10hrs. Hutch also wrapped in bubble insulation, with a waterproof cover over. It's warm when I put my hand in. Considered bringing them inside but they are fine with the coverings and hiding spaces. Also they would lose their winter fur.

I have been putting a sungglesafe pad in with my GP every 6 hours for 3 days now, her hutch is covered with a protector, throw and towel and her water is still freezing within a couple of hours of me changing it. It's just got too bad this morning and I've brought her into the garage to try and keep her water defrosted. Her little friend died a couple of weeks ago so I'm really worried about her being on her own in this weather ☹️

Have been trough smashing this morning-the ice is a good few inches thick and I have had to crow bar it as a rock just won't do it. I would hope anyone with the responsibility of an animal would know they needed to do this.

Namechange I was also on the hill with a crow bar smashing the water trough ice with a crow bar this morning. It is very thick, the trough is not refilling and the water is re freezing quickly. I think the reminder is good though, I have a terrible memory and can literally forget everything. Also where I live it doesnt often freeze so badly so it surprised me somewhat.

It's not that people are too thick to understand the science behind it, but most people these days have a lot going on and sometimes things get forgotten, especially when it's not something they usually have to think about in this rarely snowing country. Why would you come onto a thread with helpful advice just to criticise? Go and play in the snow or something!

My cats water bowl has frozen overnight in our (unheated) utility room, which surprised me. So thanks for the reminder OP.

Your cat is outside??

Why not? So long as they can get back into the warmth if necessary, why shouldn't they be out? They have fur coats - they won't freeze so long as they have a cat-flap/open window to escape into!

Lots of bunnies and guinea pigs freeze to death in weather like this. Best to put hutch in a shed or greenhouse if possible, or get an indoor cage and house indoors temporarily, or at least throw over a tarpaulin or extra cover to the roof and tuck in the sides to insulate, and add extra bedding.

For some people it'll be their first year with a rabbit or guinea pig so they might be lovely owners but just not think about it.

So if you have an outside animal you would Be checking their water daily even without snow. Surely?

But water is freezing again in a couple of hours. So it needs replacing regularily all day.

We brought our chickens into the kitchen this morning! Back outside now but they seemed pretty grateful at the time!

Not everybody realises that animals die in cold weather

I think it's great that Op has put this post up, there may be people that don't think of pets water freezing up. A polite reminder never does any harm to no one.
Luckily my pets are all indoors

A friend just text me to tell me to make sure I took my mobile phone in my pocket while out in this snow, oh and wrap up warm!
State the obvious, why not

I have seen many people saying that there rabbits are outside ,surely they should be brought indoors or at least put in the garage with a few blankets over their hutch? My cat is refusing to go out, so is the dog.

I agree with the person that said about feeding wild birds, the ground will be too frozen and covered in snow for them to find worms. I filled all my bird feeders up this morning and loaded the bird table with food, lots have come for a snack.

Our water has refrozen in 3-4 hours so worth double checking during the day as well

I brought our bunnies in as despite their cosy beds with loads of straw, hay and sawdust, I was worried about them. They're dwarves and live seperately so they've been in for 2 nights now. Have turned heating down but hoping to get them back out tomorrow with loads of bedding and a new tarpaulin.
Its been -5 and -6 here (N Scotland) and due colder, no way could I leave my girls out in that! No wee fluffy should unless they're in a shed or garage.

Our rabbits are outside, they have a bubble-wrapped carpet-lined hutch with woolen blankets, a heated pod and their water changed every few hours, along with a water cover thats attached to the outside to protect them from the elements. They're toasty warm at the minute.

Last week when this weather was predicted I lined their hutch with thermal foil stuff from a running outlet, I'm sure it's helping keep them so warm. Rabbits and guinea pigs used to being outdoors can be kept safely outdoors still, it's just a case of adding extras to ensure the cold doesn't get into their hutches and runs.

Our rabbits have access to the garden through their hutch (we close them in during poor weather and at night) and yesterday they popped their heads out and played in the snow while I was out there for half an hour before taking themselves back off to bed. They're a bit mad, though.

The wild birds also love that I've topped up the bird bath each time it's frozen over, and a bit of suet helps keep them going while it's so cold.

I saw something on Facebook this week about pet fur, too, that if your cat and dog shed, comb their fur and peg the clumps of fur onto the fence or washing line and the birds line their nests with it. Our mangy spaniel is always shedding and loves that she's getting groomed every night so the DCs can peg her fluff around!

Please think of the wild birds/animals and consider leaving food and water out for them. If you put something like a ping pong ball in the water it can bob around in the wind and break up light ice.