Tips for pet owners with animals out in the cold

[Omaha Steve]

Pet owners are encouraged to bring their animals inside during this bitter cold snap. If pets must remain outside, it's important to make sure they have a solid structure to protect them with hay or straw inside for insulation. Dogs also need constant access to water, so pet owners should use heated bowls during freezing weather.

[Atman]

1. One of our cats just came home after four days out.

He went out Wednedsay evening. He usually spends the night out and sleeps all day (he's a semi-reformed feral cat we rescued as a young kitten). We figured he'd be back for breakfast and warm bed as soon as it started snowing, but Thursday morning he was nowhere to be found. He's usually waiting at the front door (or under the car) in the morning. It had already snowed about 2", but that never stops him. The temp continued to drop, snow kept falling. It got down to 11 below zero by Friday morning, still no cat. More sub zero Saturday and early Sunday. No cat. We thought he was a goner this time, but we kept calling and looking for him.

I was beginning to feel there was no way he could have survived that brutal cold for so long, but I opened the front door last night and there he was, very happy to be home. He scarfed down some dinner and hopped up on the window bench over the radiator. I have no clue where he was. A second owner? We live on a lake and there are many seasonal homes that are built on cinder block pillars...maybe he found a warm crawl space. I'm just thankful he made it back. But he's going to want to out again soon, I'm sure, but it's supposed to drop back to single digits again today.

[Uben]

2. Its that time of year....

....when the toms go out cattin around for a lady. I bet there's a female nearby he's been wooing....cold or no cold!

[Omaha Steve]

3. Kick