The energy crisis continues to hold us firmly in hand. In order to save resources and costs, the new decree of MiTE provided for a plan to contain the consumption of natural gas from Russia.
Il Ministry of Ecological Transition has already issued a recommendation not to exceed the temperature of 19 degrees in Italian homes, temperatures that can drop to 17 degrees in other types of buildings.
If the air seems a little too cool for us, we can still put on a thick sweater or pull the blanket out of the closet. But what about our pets?
Smart anti-cold strategies
Il professor Rainer Cermak of the Institute of Veterinary Physiology of the University of Leipzig, Germany, makes it clear that 19 degrees is not a problem for cats and dogs at all.
In addition to fur, our four-legged friends have strategies to cope well with lower temperatures, such as lying down curled up instead of fully stretching.
When the temperatures outside drop even more, however, it is important not to let cats and dogs lie on the cold floor: a warm blanket or a comfortable bed are necessary.
Dogs: What Should Owners Do?
The Dr. Willa Bohneta behavioral researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, Germany, says:
“For short-haired dogs that do not develop a winter coat, an apartment temperature of 19 ° C is still not a problem if they are well insulated from the surface they lie on (for example, a blanket to protect themselves from the cold floor)” .
Long-haired dogs, on the other hand, would still have more problems in the summer due to their thick fur, while in winter they are well protected.
Cats: how to help them when it’s cold
Our domestic cats are usually much less sensitive to cold than we think. Although originally descended from the Egyptian wildcat and hailing from warm regions, the European cat has now adapted well to the local climate.
The thick winter fur not only keeps it wonderfully warm, it is also the best insulation when it gets wet, as Dr. Bohnet explains.
In this way, outdoor cats could cope well with the harsh temperatures typical of the dark season. In case of difficulty, they would seek shelter in sheds protected from the wind and rain.
And the vast majority of indoor cats would have no problem with a slightly reduced temperature in the home. The owner should only intervene with some purebred cats that have little or no insulating hair, such as hairless cats. Bohnet recommends offering these felines a warm “house” suitable for them, which they will warm up with their own body heat.