Do Cats Hibernate In Winter?
Although this is not always evident, animals change their habits to adapt to new temperatures. We’ve all heard of animals hibernating, and we notice that pets also change their activity when it’s cold. So, do cats hibernate during the winter season?
In winter, animals need to burn more energy in all their activities. In addition to that, finding food this season is very difficult. In response to these circumstances, some species conserve energy by hibernating.
Do we know if cats hibernate?
Hibernation is not just sleep, as in this state the animal undergoes drastic physiological changes. The body temperature is lowered almost to equal the ambient temperature.
Heart and respiratory rates also drop dramatically. A hibernating animal has a reduced consciousness, so it will be alien to the environment around it.
Domestic cats do not need to hibernate. In fact, in our homes, they receive enough food and enjoy an environment in which the temperature is controlled.
So why are cats less active during the winter?
Many people who have a cat in their home suspect that their pets hibernate in the winter because they spend most of the day sleeping.
Although they sleep a lot, this is a common habit for cats throughout the seasons; However, some humans claim that their feline companions sleep more during the cold season.
But this needn’t be a cause for concern – even some people tend to be less active or feel weaker in the winter. This is normal, but cat owners are advised to involve their pets in fun indoor activities to ward off obesity and boredom during the winter.
And do wild cats hibernate?
Street and feral cats can survive the winter months thanks to their thicker coat. Although it can be safely stated that cats do not go into hibernation, these animals can have a kind of temporary hibernation, which lasts a few hours.
This lethargy state brakes the body’s metabolism for short periods during the course of the day. With this strategy, the cat maintains a normal body temperature throughout the day while performing its usual activities.
Why it is important to know your cat
Like humans, cats are all different from each other. Some felines are more sensitive to cold and do not like winter. Although there are general sleep patterns, for each species some aspects differ due to the needs of the individual animal and external factors that can change its behavior.
Mood disturbance
It is known that with the arrival of winter some people may present with seasonal affective disorder (SAD for its name in English), characterized by depressive symptoms.
Although cats cannot be formally talked about, veterinarians and owners of these felines claim to notice similar changes in some specimens; these, in fact, are sadder and less playful during the winter.
How to help a cat improve its mood in the winter season
Thankfully, we can do a lot to liven up our cats. A few simple changes can positively affect the behavior of these felines. For instance:
- Suggest some activities : this will help them sleep well. Remember to interact with your cats. Be more innovative by changing toys, hooking up a bird feeder near the window or simply offering different cardboard boxes for your cats to explore. It is vital to minimize cat stress as much as possible.
- Light Exposure : Make sure you open the curtains to let the sunlight in. Natural light can be decisive for the mood of cats. You can also put a lamp near the place where the animal sleeps
- Take action on sudden changes in temperature : make sure you offer a warm environment to your cats, such as a heatable bed or alternatively you can place it near a window where the sun is shining or a safe stove.
- Watch over eating habits : like people, cats can eat out of boredom. Therefore, check and verify the correct ingestion of food and its quality by the cat.
