https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 18:54:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045369 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 12:10:48 +0000 MenagerieMama 2045369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: Yeah I think finding some kind of objective PSA about the dangers to cats in the cold would be great. They sound like they care about this kitty, maybe it just isn't on their radar that the cat doesn't enjoy his constant snow days!</p> <p>I hear you about the animals mingling though. All our stray rescues have stayed strictly separate from our furkids until animal control gets them. Not a risk we're willing to take! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045342 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 12:03:41 +0000 mrs. bird 2045342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MenagerieMama: if they suspect neglect, which i'm guessing leaving the kitty out for days in the cold would be, they send the police. the ppl across the hall had a small dog they would leave on the porch &amp; the police came because someone reported neglect. they don't have the dog anymore. the woman really seems to like the cat, i see her carrying it &amp; giving it kisses during the warm weather. when i am bringing my kitties somewhere in their crate, she always comes over to look at them, she smiles &amp; nods but we don't converse. a note is a good idea! maybe i can find something about the dangers of cold temps for animals &amp; put it on the main door so the girl can read it &amp; maybe she'll try to keep the cat inside. i don't want them to lose their cat, they really do seem to like it &amp; he obviously wants to be inside with them, but they just don't seem to take care of him they way i would expect someone to. if i knew he was clean &amp; up to date on his shots, i'd just let him come inside with my kitties, but i just don't know what he's gotten into &amp; one of my cats has bad anxiety, so i don't want to upset him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045278 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:33:33 +0000 MenagerieMama 2045278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a super animal lover too - we rescue stray dogs all the time and have 4 rescue critters of our own (including a black cat and black dog!). I would recommend talking with your local animal control to find out regulations on outdoor cats - it may be that they wouldn't even be able to pick him up since he has an owner. There probably are cat rescues that work with feral cats that could help, but again with this cat having owners I don't know if they could do that. I agree that it seems heartless to let him wait out in the snow. I know this seems weird but could you let the cat in your place when you're home? I feel like outdoor cats will often adopt new families when they aren't getting what they need from their original families. Also - could you leave the owners a note with some ideas to help the cat? Maybe they just don't have a concept of an alternative to the cat out in the snow. If it's a note maybe the kiddo could translate it for the parents. </p> <p>Otherwise I don't know. Cats are hard. There were some kittens born in our alley and we tried to get them but they looked up to their mama and stayed away from humans and only a few survived, and now with the cold I haven't seen any of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045268 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:29:07 +0000 Cole 2045268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know growing up in farm country people had barn cats that stayed "outside" under all circumstances but they had a barn to go to which had protection from the elements, water that wasn't frozen and things like hay to snuggle into. Just plain old outside doesn't sound right to me. I can't think of any mammal that doesn't like to have a protected place to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045263 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:24:26 +0000 LuLu Mom 2045263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm an animal lover, but I've never had an indoor cat so this comes from a different perspective. Growing up we always had farm cats all the time, they were ALWAYS outside, never brought inside unless a very extreme case. However, we had outbuildings so they had water/food/shelter in one of them to keep from the wind/rain/snow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045226 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:06:16 +0000 twodoghouse 2045226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Disclaimer: I've never had a cat, so I'm just saying this as an animal lover, not a cat owner. It makes me so sad to see animals left outside in cold weather. I saw the IG pic of the snow you have right now. I can't imagine leaving your pet outside in that. Do they leave food out for it? I can't imagine there are many animals outside to hunt right now. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pets-and-cold-weather#post-2045217 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:00:17 +0000 mrs. bird 2045217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>just to preface this: i'm obsessed with my pets, i recognize that i am probably more involved with my animals than someone else might be, but i'm trying to see if this is me having a weakness for furry creatures, or if this is really as messed up as it seems to me &amp; if so, how to handle it.</p> <p>a couple years ago there were some kittens born in the space between the garage and our building, one of the families in the building kept one of them as a pet. the cat spends time outside as well as inside. it's COLD here, it was zero (with the windchill it felt much colder!) this morning when i left for work, the cat was outside :( he was crying to come in, so i let him in the building and knocked on their door, but they didn't open it. i left him in the hall hoping they'd open the door for him as he was crying at their door. this happens ALL. THE. TIME. we just got 3' of snow, it's very hard to see when you're driving and the streets as sooooo narrow now, it seems unsafe for him to be wandering around. there is a carport (garage with open bays instead of doors) he can hide in, but it's wide open on one side &amp; i worry about him getting up in a car engine to keep warm &amp; them getting killed when someone starts the car &amp; drives off. he doesn't have long fur, does appear well fed &amp; is friendly, he often waits for me in my parking spot at night, he has a desire to be inside, so it's not that he won't come in for them. </p> <p>i've wanted to say something about my concern to his owners, but the adults don't speak english at all (i believe they're albanian), they have a middle schooler that does, but when the middle schooler is home she doesn't answer the door (which from a safety standpoint is great! but she doesn't even come to the door so you could speak to her through it). it's been pointed out to me that the cat was born outside &amp; that there are feral cats that survive, but in new england i feel like most cats running loose are domestic cats that have been abandoned &amp; probably won't live long. i've thought about calling animal control, but as an adult cat who's black (i've read cats &amp; dogs with black fur are less adoptable), i don't think he has a great chance of being adopted &amp; might just be put down. i mentioned to my mom that i was thinking of making a feral cat shelter for him, but she told me i'd attract other animals, like mice, so i didn't. </p> <p>is this a normal thing? do people leave cats outside for extended periods (like overnight or all day) in freezing temps? any suggestions for how to help a kitty out? </p>