How low is too low for cats?

[pearlieq]

I was thinking about our winter heating this year and a question came to mind:

What is the lowest temperature I can maintain in my house and not jeapordize the health of my cats?

I personally prefer it cold and would have no problem at 60 or so, but I wonder what's safe for the cats--they're so small. Can they regulate their body temperature as well as we can?

Anyone have any experience with this?

They have all that fur, that I think 60 is fine for them. You could also make them a pile of old blankets that they could curl in if they wanted more warmth, or they could curl up with you. I also think their coat gets thicker in the winter, to prepare for the cold. I get more concerned in the heat for cats - they do have all that fur, and it is harder for them to cool down.

[autoxer]

One of my long hair persian's always sleeps right up against the baseboard heater. Not because it's cold in my house, she just loves the heat. Even in the summer, she is always lying in the sun.

[lynclarke]

My present cats used to be feral!!! So 20 below for them. Years ago I bought a pigpad at a farm store and stuck it in the garage for feral cats. Ever see 20 cats on a 3 x 4 ft area? Later, several of this family group joined me inside and became the world's most spoiled animals. We now have a 15 year old and a 12 year old. So, when we go on vacation in the summer the a/c goes to 82 and in the winter the heat is set at 60 - which is our usually night temperature. lynclarke

[sakigt]

I think 60 is perfectly fine for the cats. If you feel bad, just open up a window so they can lay out in the sun.

Mine insist on stealing my heat by going under the blanket with me at nighttime

[banana]

I was wondering the same thing for my tiny puppy! He is currently only 4 lbs and probably will be around 8 lbs before we turn on the heat in the house. I ususally lower my thermostat to 60 do you think it would be warm enough for him. He is a mixture of poodle and schnauzer.

[toys]

I used to pet-sit for a vet when he would head south for the winter. His advice was to leave both the cats and dogs outside, unless it got below freezing. Cats are a tad more sensitve than dogs. Cats need to be indoors during winter around 30 degrees, but dogs can easily handle 20 or a lil below as long as they're provided adequate housing (as in the dog house is at least 2 inches from the ground).

With my own cats, they prefer to stay outside all the time. Somewhere around 40 degrees, they'll finally start to meander inside more often, but even then, usually only at night.

[Ima saver]

I have a little full grown poodle, but Ikeep her hair cut short. She seems to be cold in the winter, so I put a heating pad on her little chair to keep her warm. I keep my house about 60 degress too.

[boefixepa]

My cats have never complained and I set it at 50-55 at night. One used (he's passed on) crawl under the blankets with me. He'd actually wake me up and make me let him in!! I'd never get to sleep if I didn't. His sister distests being covered, so she just curls up in a nook or cranny of my leg or arm. I keep a down comforter on my bed and they just make a space for themselves when I don't provide the heat.

The dogs...well their Alaskan Malamutes...need I say more. I can't keep them inside when it's below freezing...the house is too WARM! I worry about the heat for them!

As far as little dogs with not alot of hair. They make little coats for them and give them their own little blankets to crawl under. Most do it without a problem. If you do that I think you'd be fine at 60.

[pearlieq]

Thank you very much for the info!

I think I'll try setting it lower and putting out some old blankets around the house for them to sleep in if needed. We'll see how it goes!

[shengmei]

It depends on how many cats you have. I have five cats and they are constantly on a pile on my comforter. They are very cute snuggled together.

[Gruntina]

Aww I am sure that would be cute. I am looking for a kitty pal for my cat age 2. In the summer he sleeps on the pillow next to me but in the winter he must sleep either on me or on my sides touching me to get heat from me. Other than that he just loves to be covered up. One time I could not find him in the bedroom until he crawled under from the bed spread. My bed was made but he is a small cat and he laid so flat that I didnt see a lump to begin with. lol!

Living in Montana for most of my life, its the norms to have the temp. indoors at 60 degrees and never seen anyone there had issues of temp being too cold for cats at that range.

[LISA178]

I like it cool when I sleep and he starts out sleeping on my hip,but I toss and turn alot so he usally gets a half an hour hip time for warmth before being tossed.(LOL)

I purchased a small round cat bed at Walmart and he adores it,curls up in a ball.Sooooo cute!!!!! I think it was $9.99, it was his Christmas present.

[sakigt]

Originally Posted by boefixepa

He'd actually wake me up and make me let him in!! I'd never get to sleep if I didn't. .

Mine does the same thing. He head-butts me on my forehead until I lift the cover up.

[banana]

I love the idea of a little sweater for my puppy or for a blanket. The only problem is that he chews absolutely everything. We bought him a little cushion for his crate and he was fine with it for a week and then he started chewing it up like crazy. I had to remove it so he wouldnt choke. D you guys think 60 degrees is too cold for a small puppy of around 10 lbs or so at the beginning of heating season? When we had our lab I had no problem keeping it on 60 and putting a sweater on her, plus she was 70 lbs so I was sure that she was comfortable. I am really torn about this. Dh seems to think it will be tooo cold, I think he might be fine otherwise I will bump it up to 62-63? Any opinions would be appreciated!

[shadowfax]

I have 2 cats and two small dogs. I kept my house at 58 all last winter and the animals did fine. We all share the bed at night to keep each other warm and the cats and dogs all sleep togather to stay warm too. I had not heat for a few weeks over the winter and the house got as low as 40 and the animals all did just fine. My short haired dog would not keep her sweater on even when it was really cold.

[banana]

Wow shadowfax thanks. I guess I shouldn't worry too much about my puppy he should be fine with a temp of 60.

[shadowfax]

Yeah he'll be just fine. Just provide a nice pile of blankets her can snuggle up under when you are not home. Also remember that he will need more calories in winter to help keep warm. So increase his food ration a bit when you begin to notice him making efforts to keep warm. Putting a heating pad under his sleeping spot and turning it on just long enough to warm it up is nice too.

[pansygirl]

When we had a poodle we just bought the infant/toddler sweat shirts, and cut off the sleeves to appropriate legnth. She loved to wear her sweatshirt. We also had a mix breed that would wear larger ones (when she got up in age.) We dont have either now, but we have kept one of each of thier little sweatshirts. They were with us for a very long time. (sadly missed)

[lynclarke]

If anyone is worried about the temperature, they do sell dog/cat bed warmers at any of the big pet food stores. We have one warmer outside in a small crate for a feral cat who comes around. In the "cat" house, which our old outside cats used to use, we have a "pigpad". The pigpad is sold by farm supply places like Rural King. It is a plastic pad (2x3 ft) with heating wires imbedded in it. We have ours on a thermostat controlled plug in. The pad turns on when it hits 5o degrees outside. The pad is absolutely indestructable. I have had mine for 6 or 7 years and it looks brand new. Any thing that will stand up to pigs will last last dogs or cats a lifetime. lynclarke