When the weather turns cold, cat owners will find that their little fur babies seem to have changed their "cat persona" — they used to be aloof and not clingy, but now they wish they could stick to you like glue; they used to jump around and wreck the house, but now they do nothing but eat and sleep; even their toilet habits have become "picky" — if the litter box is even a little unsatisfactory, they turn around and leave. In fact, these winter-exclusive behaviors are the cats' way of quietly adapting to winter! Today, we'll break down these little winter habits of cats and drop some key tips for all cat parents~
First, let's ask everyone a question: Is your cat a "sun-chasing expert" in winter? As soon as the sun shines through the window sill, it accurately seizes the best spot with sunlight, curls up into a fur ball and stays motionless, not even willing to stretch its tail outside the sun. This isn't the cat being lazy — it's their "energy-saving and warming trick". A cat's normal body temperature is higher than that of humans (38-39.2℃), and maintaining body temperature in winter consumes more energy. The infrared rays in sunlight help them warm up quickly, acting as a free "natural heater". Sometimes when you pick it up, it will run back with a dissatisfied look — after all, who can resist the warm sun?
Besides chasing the sun, cats in winter are also fanatical about "human heaters". They used to like sleeping in the corner of the sofa, but now they must sneak into your bed — either snuggling next to your legs, curling up on your chest, or even burying their little heads in your neck. Don't complain about being crushed and out of breath; this is the ultimate trust your cat has in you! A cat's paws and abdomen are where body heat is lost the fastest. Snuggling close to its owner not only allows it to get heat, but the owner's scent also makes it feel more secure in the cold winter. Some cat parents say, "In winter, half the bed is mine, and the other half is the cat's" — this is totally true～
Activating "sleepyhead mode" is another major feature of cats in winter. They can play with a cat teaser for half an hour in summer, but in winter, they start yawning after 5 minutes and wish to sleep for 20 hours a day. This is actually a cat's survival instinct — just like bears hibernating, reducing activity can lower energy consumption and avoid starvation due to the increased difficulty of finding food in winter (even though indoor cats don't have to worry about food, their instincts remain unchanged). However, it's important to note that even if cats love sleeping, you still need to spend 10-15 minutes interacting with them every day; otherwise, they are prone to gaining weight and may even become depressed due to lack of exercise.
There's another easy-to-overlook detail: cats groom themselves more frequently in winter. In summer, they groom to cool down, but in winter, it's to "weave" a warm coat — when a cat's saliva sticks to its fur and dries, it makes the fur fluffier, forming a layer of air insulation, just like the down jacket we wear. But here's a reminder: frequent grooming makes cats swallow more fur, and their metabolism slows down in winter, making them more likely to develop hairballs. Remember to regularly give your cat hairball remedy or cat grass～
Here's the key point! Cats' toilet habits also become "picky" in winter — this is the part our cat litter factory cares most about～ When it's cold, cats are unwilling to stay in a cold litter box for long and are particularly repelled by damp, smelly litter. If the litter has poor clumping ability, weak odor absorption, or the litter box is placed in a ventilated area (where cold wind blows directly), the cat may refuse to use it and even secretly defecate on the sofa or under the bed. It's really frustrating!
Here are some winter cat litter usage tips for all cat parents: ① Prioritize litter with fast clumping and good moisture absorption to avoid the cat's paws getting stuck in damp litter and feeling cold; ② Place the litter box away from areas with direct cold wind, such as balconies and doorways. If possible, put a small mat next to the litter box to keep the cat's paws warm when stepping on it; ③ Cats drink less water in winter, making their urine more concentrated and the odor more obvious. It's recommended to clean the litter box every day and completely replace the litter once a week to keep it clean and dry～
