It’s got so cold that Elsa and Anna have their thermals on, even Olaf has his big coat on. But what does this mean for your companion animals and how can we help keep them warm and safe in this cold weather? Read on as we’re sharing some tips to help keep your prey animals cosy and your mind at ease:
Add extra bedding to enclosures and sleeping areas
Add in some extra hay/straw for some additional warmth, treat it like you do on a Monday morning when that alarm’s going off. Throw on an extra layer, snuggle down, make it cosy.
Frequently check and replenish water bowls
It’s 1990 something and you’ve just finished watching ‘You’ve Been Framed ’, laughing about that guy that got his tongue stuck to a frozen lamppost…. Thought you’d try it, realised it’s actually not that funny…. It’s not funny for your companions either. Change those water bowls on a regular basis to stop them from freezing, keep it fresh.
Use animal safe heat pods
To give your companions another option for additional heat try a Snugglesafe microwavable heat pad. They provide the same level of warm and fuzzies that you get when snuggling into a hot water bottle listening to Tom Hardy reading the latest Cebeebies Bedtime story.
Keep them active with enrichment
Keep on top of giving them enrichment like toys and digging boxes. Keep up the natural behaviours and they’ll keep moving about, not getting bored, preventing them starting on their bunstruction contracts. What makes you smile more than watching your buns in a digging box, their bums shaking like your Thursday night Zumba class?
Companionship is vital
What’s better than a gingerbread latte on a winters day? Having someone to snuggle with. What’s more heart-warming than seeing a fluffle snuggled whilst there’s a snow flurry outside…
Extra outside layers
If the wind is picking up, secure outside shelters with some tarp to keep the wind out. Make sure it’s secured in like Spanx on a Saturday night and you’re good to go.
What not to do
Do not add clothing; coats and winter shoes are not needed! Your furry friends have the perfect winter fluff built in, they do not need any more layers or fashion accessories, this is not a Taylor Swift concert. Clothing causes stress and can cause injury particularly for prey animals with delicate skeletons such as rabbits and guinea pigs, why would you want to inflict unnecessary suffering.
When it comes to outdoor rabbits, they adapt to the weather conditions like an influencer on Love Island, there’s no need to bring them indoors in colder weather*
*Unless they are immediate danger e.g damaged predator proof homes or tornados. If you need to bring them in at that point then it’s time for you to layer up, save on the heating bill and turn it off…
With a few additions, winter months can be a breeze, remember to watch for any signs of sick animals and if in doubt, give your rabbit savvy vet a shout.
