The first truly cold night of winter is not the best time to discover that the dog needs a warmer coat, the outdoor water bowl freezes solid, or the shelter you planned to fix still has a draft.
September and early fall may seem too soon to think about winter, but this is actually the perfect time to prepare. There is still time to repair shelters, order properly fitted winter gear, make changes around the yard, and think about the animals that will depend on those preparations when temperatures drop.
Cold weather affects our pets, but it also changes life for outdoor cats, birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer, and many other animals living around us. A little preparation now can make winter safer for all of them.
Preparing Pets and Wildlife for Winter Before the Cold Arrives
Start With Your Dog’s Paws
We often think about keeping a dog’s body warm, but paws are sometimes forgotten.
Winter brings frozen ground, ice, snow, road salt, and chemical ice-melting products. These can irritate paw pads and become trapped between toes. Dogs may then lick their paws and swallow whatever they walked through.
Start getting your dog comfortable with having his or her paws handled before winter. This makes it much easier to wipe and inspect them after walks.
Dog boots can provide additional protection, particularly for dogs walking on salted sidewalks or spending time in snow. The important part is getting the right fit and allowing your dog time to adjust to wearing them. Trying boots for the first time when there are six inches of snow outside usually doesn’t go well.
If your dog will not tolerate boots, check the paws after every winter outing. Wipe them with a damp cloth or rinse them when necessary, then look for redness, cracks, irritation, ice buildup, or anything caught between the toes.
Whenever possible, choose pet-safe products for ice around your own home. Remember that your dog may still encounter conventional salt and chemicals on roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and neighboring properties.
Not Every Dog Comes With a Winter Coat
A Husky and a Chihuahua are not experiencing a January morning in the same way.
Breed, size, coat type, age, body condition, health, and activity level can all affect how well a dog handles cold weather. Puppies, senior dogs, small breeds, thin-coated dogs, and dogs with certain health problems may become uncomfortable much sooner than a healthy, heavy-coated northern breed.
A well-fitted dog coat can make an enormous difference.
Look for clothing designed for movement rather than simply appearance. The coat should cover the areas that need protection without restricting the shoulders, legs, or ability to use the bathroom.
Companies such as K9 Voyagers make functional outdoor clothing for dogs, including gear designed for cold and wet conditions. Whatever brand you choose, measure your dog rather than guessing based on breed or weight. A coat only works properly when it fits the dog wearing it.
Fall is also a much better time to discover that last year’s coat no longer fits.
Cold and Wet Can Be Worse Than Cold Alone
A temperature that seems manageable can become much harder on an animal when wind, rain, sleet, or wet snow is involved.
Wet fur loses much of its insulating ability. Wind can also make exposed areas of the body lose heat faster.
After wet winter walks, dry your dog thoroughly and pay attention to the paws, belly, legs, and chest. Small dogs may pick up a surprising amount of water and snow simply because their bodies are closer to the ground.
Winter safety should never be based only on the number showing on a thermometer. Conditions matter too.
Outdoor Dog Houses Need More Than Four Walls
Ideally, companion dogs should live indoors with their families. An outdoor dog house should never be treated as a substitute for bringing a dog inside during dangerous weather.
However, secure outdoor shelters can still be useful for dogs spending limited time outside, working dogs, and emergency protection.
Check any existing structure during fall. The roof should not leak, the floor should be raised away from wet or frozen ground, and the entrance should offer protection from prevailing wind and precipitation. The structure should also be large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie comfortably, but not so oversized that body heat immediately disappears into a huge space.
Bedding matters as well. Anything inside must remain dry. Wet blankets can become cold and dangerous rather than comforting, so the shelter and bedding should be checked regularly.
Most importantly, a dog house does not make extreme cold safe. If conditions are dangerous, bring the dog inside.
Don’t Forget Outdoor and Community Cats
Not every cat we see outdoors is a pet allowed to roam. Some are feral or community cats that live outside year-round.
Fall is the time to inspect or provide winter shelters for them.
A good outdoor cat shelter should be waterproof, wind resistant, elevated from the ground, and small enough to retain body heat. The entrance should be only as large as necessary for the cat to enter and leave.
For outdoor shelters, straw is generally a better insulating material than blankets or towels because fabric can absorb moisture and become cold. Remember the simple rule: straw for strays.
Place shelters in protected locations whenever possible and check them throughout the winter for moisture or damage.
Providing shelter does not mean allowing your own house cat to roam outdoors. House cats are safest inside or enjoying the outdoors through a secure catio, screened porch, or other protected enclosure as long as provisions are made to shelter them and keep it warm.
My favorite for cats is a Feralvilla house.
Prepare Wildlife Habitat Before Winter
Your yard is someone’s winter home.
By fall, many people begin cutting everything down, removing leaves, clearing stems, and making the landscape look tidy. Unfortunately, some of what we call a mess is exactly what wildlife needs.
Leave healthy plant stems standing when possible. Hollow stems and other plant material can provide overwintering sites for insects. Seed heads offer natural food for birds, while fallen leaves create shelter for insects and other small creatures.
Brush piles can provide cover for birds, rabbits, and other wildlife during harsh weather. Evergreen plants and dense shrubs also offer valuable protection from wind and predators.
Before removing logs, branches, leaf piles, or other natural material, consider whether something may already be using it.
Preparing a wildlife habitat for winter often means doing less, not more.
Fall Is a Good Time to Think About Food Sources
Native plants that produce seeds, berries, nuts, and fruit can provide natural winter food long after summer flowers disappear.
Instead of deadheading every plant, leave some seed heads standing. Birds may make excellent use of them.
If you feed birds, fall is also a good time to clean feeders, inspect them for damage, and establish a routine for keeping them sanitary. Feeders should never be allowed to become wet, moldy, or covered in accumulated waste.
Natural food sources should remain an important part of the habitat. A wildlife-friendly yard is more than a collection of feeders.
Water Becomes Critical When Temperatures Drop
Animals still need water in January.
Natural water sources can freeze, making dependable clean water harder to find. If you provide birdbaths or other wildlife water stations, begin thinking about winter maintenance before the first hard freeze.
Heated birdbaths and properly designed outdoor water heaters can help keep water available. Whatever system you use should be intended for outdoor use and installed according to the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
Keep water containers clean and check them frequently. A heater may prevent freezing, but it does not keep the water sanitary.
Also consider safe access. Birds and small animals need a way to reach water without falling into something too deep or slippery.
Check Before Starting Cars and Equipment
Cold animals look for warm places.
That can include areas around vehicles, engines, sheds, garages, and outdoor equipment. Cats in particular may seek warmth around parked vehicles.
Before starting a vehicle during cold weather, take a moment to check around it. If outdoor cats are common in your area, making some noise before starting the engine can give an animal a chance to move away.
Keep garages, sheds, antifreeze, chemicals, and winter equipment secured. Antifreeze is especially dangerous to animals, and even a small spill should be cleaned immediately.
A few seconds of caution can prevent a terrible accident.
Create a Winter Emergency Plan Before You Need One
Winter storms can cause power outages, blocked roads, and unexpected changes in routine.
Make sure you have enough pet food, medications, litter, and other essential supplies to get through several days without leaving home. Keep leashes, carriers, identification, and veterinary information where they can be found quickly.
Check microchip information and identification tags before winter begins. If a frightened dog escapes during a storm, current contact information can make the difference in getting that animal home.
Think about wildlife care supplies too. If you normally maintain feeders or water stations, having extra seed and a safe way to keep water available can prevent a last-minute scramble.
Preparation is much easier when the storm isn’t already outside your window.
Fall Preparation Makes Winter Easier
We cannot control what kind of winter is coming, but we can control how well we prepare for it.
Check the dog’s coat and boots before they are needed. Inspect paws throughout winter. Repair outdoor shelters while the weather is still pleasant. Prepare safe shelter for community cats. Leave natural cover and food sources for wildlife, and make a plan for keeping clean water available when temperatures fall below freezing.
Most of these things aren’t difficult. They simply require thinking ahead.
By the time the first truly bitter night arrives, the animals around us should not have to wait for us to figure out what they need.
Prepare now.
Then, when winter arrives, you can spend less time scrambling for supplies and more time making sure the animals in your care, and the wild ones sharing your habitat, have what they need to make it safely through the cold.
