Chilly Days Ahead: Essential Tips to Winterize Your Pet Care Routine
A cat and dog explore a frost covered pathway on a crisp Autumn morning.
As the daylight hours grow shorter and the cold air begins to settle over the land, our routines with our pets naturally shift.
Long walks become brisk outings and the unpredictable weather can keep us inside more.
Even our indoor cat will adjust to the growing darkness and spend more time snoozing than ever.
And the shedding, though not as bad as in Spring, definitely picks up its pace. It’s time to shift into a new gear and get you and your pets ready. The routines will change and so will the needs of our pets.
Purrs and Wags will show you how to prepare for the colder, darker days ahead with helpful products and useful guides to keep your pets safe, healthy, and content.
Disclosure: As an Amazon associate, this post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps support this blog and my ability to keep bringing you important articles regarding the care and life enrichment of your precious fur kids.
Ways to Prepare Your Pet for the Cooler Weather
1) Fall Grooming
As pets shed their coats in the Autumn, keeping on top of their grooming needs becomes even more important than usual.
Just a few minutes of brushing a day can make a big difference in the cleanliness of your pets, your home, and even your own clothing.
If you take your dog or cat to a groomer, be sure to book an appointment to get their coats, paws, and nails in peak condition.
2) Check Your Pet First Aid Supplies
If you have a first aid kit for your pets, now is a good time to check for items that are expired or that you used and didn’t replace.
You can also add some items that are specific to winter care for your pets such as a heating pack, extra blanket and paw balm for dry or cracked paw pads.
If you don’t have a first aid kit for your pets, now is a great time to get one ready. Check out our guide to preparing your own pet first aid kit.
Learn how to prepare a first aid kit for your pets to keep them safe in an emergency.
3) The Darkness is Coming
In Autumn, the reduced hours of sunlight as the nights grow longer mean that walking your dog in the dark is probably a reality.
Make sure that you have walking gear that is reflective or lights up in the dark to keep both you and your dog safer.
Light Up Dog Collar- Make your pooch as visible as possible with this LED collar.
Light Up Cat Collar- Keep your cat or small dog safe and easy to see in the dark.
Light Up Leash- For ultimate visibility when walking your dog on leash, try a light-up leash.
4) Prepare for the Rains
The weather in Fall can be very unpredictable. But one thing is certain. It often brings rainy days and storms.
Walking gear such as a waterproof raincoat for your dog and, perhaps, waterproof booties can keep your dog dry and warm on those rainy walks.
Dog Raincoat- an adjustable raincoat with built-in harness for your pup with a removable hood and clear visor for better vision and reflective edge stripping for improved visibility in the dark.
Waterproof Dog Shoes- Keep your dogs feet dry and protected with these waterproof shoes with non-slip soles and two adjustable and reflective straps to keep them in place. It takes time for your dog to adjust to the feeling of shoes but they can really protect your pooch, especially when the ice and snow arrives.
5) Prepare for the Cold
In Canada, the cold weather hits early and hits hard. You need to be prepared for the inevitable turn in the weather before it happens.
Consider the breed of your dog and make sure you have all the winter walk accessories you need. Dogs with thin coats will need extra protection in the frosty weather.
You may even want to use dog shoes to protect your pup’s paws or even dog suspenders to keep even their legs warm and dry.
Waterproof Winter Dog Jacket- Keep your pet dry and give your chilly pooch some extra protection for the colder days with this fleece lined jacket with quick-release closure and reflective striping.
Dog Suspender Boots- These boots will keep your dog’s legs warm and dry, shielding them from rain, snow, ice, and salt. You’ll never lose a dog boot again.
6) Give Your Home a “Spring Clean” in the Fall
Now that the heat of Summer has passed and before the icy cold air of Winter returns, throw open those windows and give your home a deep cleaning.
You can get rid of pet odours and built-up fur and grime to make your home sparkle this Fall.
Once the cold comes, opening your windows won’t be practical so take advantage of that fresh, clean Fall air while you can. Learn more with our guide to deep cleaning the pet-friendly home.
Follow our comprehensive guide to giving your home the deep clean it needs when you have pets.
7) Set Up a Paw Cleaning Station
Between the rain, ice and snow that comes as Fall progresses, muddy paw prints are a reality. Even your kitty, if it goes outdoors, can leave pawprints on your floors.
Set up a spot just inside your door with pet wipes or a paw cleaner, towels, and paw balm to clean up your pet’s paws and avoid those paw prints.
8) Deep Clean Your Vehicle
At this time of year, your vehicle may need a deep cleaning after all those Summer road trips with your pets. Sand, mud, nose prints, drool, and pet hair can really take a toll on your car interior.
Give your vehicle interior a good scrub before the snow flies and those Winter messes start!
Get plenty of tips and tricks by visiting our pet parent’s guide to getting pet messes out of your vehicle.
Learn all the tips and tricks to give your vehicle a deep cleaning when your pets make it a big ol’ mess!
9) Give Your Cat a Cozy Nest
Cats love a warm spot to cuddle up and have a nap. And, with a nip in the air, even your indoor kitty may crave an extra warm cuddle den to climb in for a snooze. How about a wool cat cave to really give them a warm and cozy spot.
You can also add extra blankets or towels to their favourite cat bed to make it extra snuggly and warm. Another option is to provide your feline friend with a self-warming mat to make their snoozing nest extra cozy and warm.
10) Prep for Indoor Play Days
Inevitably, there will be times when your pets don’t go outside or spend less time outdoors than usual when the weather is foul.
It’s up to you to provide your pets with entertainment and exercise. This will enrich their days and keep them out of trouble.
So, it’s well worth it to plan ahead for these days with a few indoor activities for your pets that you can rotate to keep the boredom at bay.
Purrs and Wags can help with plenty of ideas for keeping your pets indoors and entertained.
Explore the many ways you can entertain your pets to prevent boredom, depression, and destructive behaviours.
A Season of Change
Autumn is a time when we need to adjust our pet care routines and the products we use to care for them to ensure that everyone, including your pets are ready to tackle the days ahead.
With just a few tweaks, you can keep your pets comfortable, safe, and happy through the Fall. It’s well worth it for all those purrs and wags!
