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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

How cold is too cold?

15 replies

Scribblegirl · 26/02/2018 19:03

Percy hasn't come home - I've just got in. He does sometimes stay out after dark but it's rare and I'm shitting myself. It's due to get down to minus 3 here tonight. He's young and healthy but only 14 months so still quite small. Will he be ok if he takes a while to get back?

God I love cats but they don't half make me petrified when they do this Sad

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/02/2018 19:27

How long has he been out. My two are still out and haven't had dinner yet. They are normally shut in anytime from 9pm for the night

sugarplumfairy28 · 26/02/2018 20:25

Its been -7 here today (before wind chill) and 2 of mine have been out for a few hours, one is only 2 years ago, came back when he'd had enough.

Original poster
Scribblegirl · 27/02/2018 07:07

He got in at 9 thank god. Silly boy. Think we are going to keep him in today, he'll hate us for it but if we get a heavy snowfall I'm worried about him finding his way home. Plus it's still -3 out there now, even at 7am!

OP posts:
AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 27/02/2018 07:13

Mine were all home by 3pm yesterday and tucked up in beds (human beds, not the cats obviously!) my boy if a wanderer and loves to be outside but when even he comes home mid day you know it's chilly!

dementedpixie · 27/02/2018 07:45

One of mine came back at 10.30pm. They've been out this morning. I dont think my area is due bad snow until tomorrow

Original poster
Scribblegirl · 27/02/2018 08:51

windsor, that's why I was worried, usually he's asleep on our bed when I get home, and if the weather's crap he'll just stay in.

OH persuaded me to let him out go a few hours with the cat flap on entry only as its still bright and clear. Hoping the daft bollocks doesn't pull a repeat this evening!

OP posts:
AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 27/02/2018 10:13

I was shocked he came back so soon TBH, I've been out in the garden shouting him in in pouring rain before - silly boy

ifonly4 · 27/02/2018 11:36

My boy regularly didn't come home as he'd invite himself into the neighbours. However, one might when I was aware he hadn't come home I found him happily lying in the snow - maybe he hadn't been there that long but the thought ..!

Bellini12 · 27/02/2018 22:55

Nearly 11pm and our cat hasn’t come home yet - 2 year old short-haired male.

I’m desperate to go to bed but it’s going to me -5 and I’m worried he will freeze to death! Sad
We can’t get a cat flap which isn’t usually a problem but I wish he would hurry up and come home!

Archfarchnad · 27/02/2018 23:09

A cat really won't freeze to death out for a few hours at -5 (unless wet or ill, I suppose). Here in Central Europe it's -14 tonight and hasn't got above -6 all day, Archcat's been in and out. He does whinge about getting cold ears, but it's not actually dangerous for him. I don't let him out at night, but that's due to traffic danger rather than the cold. He'd much rather a cold day than a wet one.

StripySocksAndDocs · 28/02/2018 07:51

I'm worried here. DS let the cat out this morning. We've about 5cm of snow. More is due.

Cat will probably turn up again soon but I still am worried about all sorts of things!!

Original poster
Scribblegirl · 28/02/2018 09:00

Bellini did he turn up in the end?

DP reckons I am a wuss and an overindulgent cat mother, so he's let Percy out again today. Luckily it's DPs day off because I've told him that he'll be the one standing in -4 temperatures calling him in if the weather turns.

OP posts:
Bellini12 · 28/02/2018 13:44

He eventually turned up at 11.30pm so it was a late one for me but at least I could sleep soundly! He was out 7.5 hours which I thought was quite a long time.
He tends to mainly sleep all day then go out 4-5pm. Sometimes he comes back but mainly he stays out all night. I’m debating whether to keep him in tonight...

holasoydora · 28/02/2018 15:44

I have one outdoor cat - and one cat who ran off but lives around the corner, apparently on the goodwill of neighbours Sad I am worrying about them in the cold of coursebut everything I have read suggests they are fine if they can find somewhere to curl up. The one that won't let me feed him likes a cardboard box in someone's car port. The one that will let me feed him doesn't want to come in, even though I have invited him. He was off somewhere this morning at -3 but came happily back for his breakfast. I bought him a hot water bottle for his outdoor house/igloo today! We are in the soft south and I keep telling myself there are far colder cats every year who are fine Grin

Doobigetta · 28/02/2018 18:47

I've read that below zero is too cold to leave them out all day. Mine is a Siberian and seems pretty happy in it. She bounces around digging holes in the snow rather than doing that disgusted flicky paw thing most cats do. But apparently breed makes no difference once they've had a soft indoor upbringing, so we've only been sending her out for an hour or so at a time.

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