With winter comes a special urgency to protect homeless cats from the cold. Every year, cats and dogs suffer from deadly frostbite and exposure, and in many cases, these animals depend on people for their care and survival.
PETA has launched a cold-weather public service campaign to urge guardians to keep cats safely indoors, and it’s important that we take action to provide thin-haired, elderly, young, and debilitated animals with access to heated shelter and food.
It’s time for us to do our part and help prevent the needless suffering of these cats in the cold.
Homeless Cats in Winter
Homeless cats and kittens are at risk of freezing to death in the winter, making it important to take action to protect them. Already this season, cases of frozen cats have been reported. They suffer greatly and are found starving and frozen in the bitter cold.
PETA is urging everyone to take all cats indoors or help them in some other way. Neutered cats left outside are especially vulnerable during this time, and trap-neuter-abandon programs are contributing to this crisis. Animal shelters and rescue organizations are doing their best to help, but they need the public’s assistance.
Providing access to heated shelters and minimal necessary shelters for dogs is recommended. Taking action to save backyard dogs without proper shelter and reporting animals left without adequate shelter to the authorities is vital.
PETA has a cold-weather public service announcement urging guardians to keep cats safely indoors. For more information, visit PETA.org.
Neutered Cats Left Outside
Neutered cats abandoned outside can suffer greatly from the cold weather. Winter brings harsh temperatures, which can be especially damaging to animals that have been neutered and left outside. The cold can cause frostbite, dehydration, and hypothermia in these cats, leading to severe medical complications.
Trap-neuter-abandon programs, while meant to reduce the population of feral cats, can also contribute to this crisis, leading to more animals being exposed to the cold. PETA strongly opposes trap-neuter-abandon programs, and is urging everyone to bring cats indoors or help them in some other way.
Cats and Dogs in Cold Weather
Thin-haired, elderly, young, and debilitated cats and dogs are highly vulnerable to frostbite and exposure in cold weather. When water sources freeze for days at a time, dehydration is also a risk. It’s important to identify tame animals that are left outside and take them indoors until their guardians are found.
To protect animals from the freezing temperatures, it’s essential to provide adequate shelter. For backyard dogs, the minimal necessary shelter should be provided.
The dangers of cold weather can be avoided if cats and dogs are kept indoors. Providing access to heated shelter is recommended for their well-being and survival. Those who are unable to take all cats and dogs indoors should take action to help them in some other way.
It is important to act now to prevent more cases of frozen cats and kittens this winter.
Importance of Indoor Shelter
Keeping cats and dogs indoors during winter is essential for their health and safety. Exposure to cold weather can lead to deadly frostbite and dehydration in animals. Even those that are thin-haired, elderly, young, and debilitated are at risk. Providing access to heated shelter and a minimal necessary shelter for dogs is recommended.
Unidentified tame animals should also be taken indoors until their guardians are found. Animals left outside without adequate shelter should be reported to authorities.
Not only is indoor shelter crucial for their well-being and survival, but it can also help avoid cases of frozen cats and kittens being found. Everyone should take action to help homeless cats and dogs during winter.
PETAs Cold-Weather Campaign
PETA is currently running a cold-weather public service announcement featuring Tricia Helfer from Authors Anonymous to urge guardians to keep cats indoors.
The campaign encourages guardians to keep cats safe from the bitter cold by providing adequate indoor shelters. The PSA is available to be linked to or downloaded, and it shows Helfer urging viewers to take action to protect cats.
In the PSA, Helfer explains that cats and dogs can suffer from frostbite and exposure in cold weather, and that the most vulnerable are thin-haired, elderly, and debilitated animals. She encourages people to provide heated shelter for cats, and to take in unidentified tame animals until guardians can be found.
How to Help Homeless Cats
Helping homeless cats in winter is essential to ensure their survival. There are several ways to provide assistance to cats and kittens in need.
Animal shelters and rescue groups are great places to start. Local shelters will often have resources available to help homeless cats. They may offer winter safety tips, food, shelter, and medical assistance. Additionally, they may have programs and initiatives to help find homes for homeless cats.
Another way to help is to donate food and supplies. Food banks and organizations like the ASPCA often provide food and resources to care for homeless cats. Donating blankets, bedding, and warm clothing is also a great way to provide comfort and protection during winter.
Taking Action to Save Lives
The urgency of taking action to protect homeless cats in winter is clear. It is essential to act now to save lives. Tricia Helfer, from Authors Anonymous, appears in a PETA public service announcement to spread this message.
Those who are able to do so should take cats indoors, but those who cannot provide indoor shelter can still help. Minimal necessary shelter should be provided for backyard dogs. Water sources should also be checked regularly to ensure they are not frozen.
Additionally, individuals should report any animal left outside without adequate shelter to authorities. PETA also offers a cold-weather public service announcement that can be linked to or downloaded.
It is important to take action and spread the message to help homeless cats in winter.
