opinions on warm jacket for a cat

tortimom

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I am not one to ever dress a cat in any kind of silly costume. However it occurs to me since my outdoor cat is refusing to come inside to keep warm at night, perhaps the least I should do is provide him with a fleece coat of some sort. We are having unseasonably cold weather in the Pacific Northwest right now (18F) and I worry that he's freezing to death at night. Opinions? do cats object to being wrapped in a jacket?
 

Draco

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I don't think a jacket will help. a jacket may not let them move for protection. 

I suggest providing a warm house for him outside.. a dog house or the like with warm blankets and possibly a heater.

Do you have a garage? can you keep it open at night with a space heater and blankets?
 

fleabags mom

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My cat's previous owner put a cat flap for the shed she had in the garden, I thought that was smart thinking! Have you any building outside or anything like Draco said? I spoiled my cat and saved up for this :

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_beds_baskets/cat_house/outdoor/278229

And put blankets down and straw inside the den part.  Doesn't use it much but it's there if he wants. Looks cute too!  Good luck with your kitty, hope you find something.
 

skeletor

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I agree with what the other two have said. Another note on the fleece jacket is that with pets you're not supposed to leave sweaters/jackets/clothes on them unsupervised. If they can't get out of it they can't regulate their temperature and can become too warm which is just as bad. Making a safe warm shelter sounds like the best bet!
 

pushylady

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I agree with what the other two have said. Another note on the fleece jacket is that with pets you're not supposed to leave sweaters/jackets/clothes on them unsupervised. If they can't get out of it they can't regulate their temperature and can become too warm which is just as bad. Making a safe warm shelter sounds like the best bet!
:yeah: It doesn't have to be a fancy shelter either, just someplace he's comfortable and safe and out of the wind. Straw is great for lining a little shelter - I know plenty of barn cats who keep cosy in straw bales.
 

abylover1234

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I would be worried about the jacket getting caught in the bushes and therefore preventing him from coming home! Would you consider a heated outdoor kitty hut?


:)
 
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