Winter gear for pets

[nscrbug]

Ok, so I have a male cat that just LOVES to go outside (supervised) even in the dead of winter. He literally claws at the door (much like a dog does) to let us know that he wants to go outside. Either my DH or I go out with him to supervise and make sure he doesn't get into too much mischief or run into the street. He doesn't seem to mind a little snow on our driveway, but I'm wondering if he would be more comfortable wearing a set of those "doggie booties" on his paws. Sometimes he will stay out for up to 30 minutes, and I worry about his paws getting too cold. I know this is probably a longshot, but...has anyone ever tried to get their cat to wear those booties? And if so, how much of a pain is it to get 'em on?

[lph]

Sorry, I'm not answering your question, but truly - I don't think you have to worry about it, unless he's poorly or old. Our shorthaired cat has her own cat flap and goes in and out at will, and willingly goes out, picking her way through snow up to her shoulder, when it's -20 C (around 0 F?) out. She just comes in a bit sooner, but still, she's out there for maybe half an hour, 45 minutes with no ill effects.

Quite funny, she comes in with all her fur and her tail poofed up, generating her own "down parka" so to speak :D

[nscrbug]

Yeah, I do realize that most cats are fairly tolerant of cold weather...I see strays roaming our neighborhood all the time in winter. But my little guy will sometimes start to lift his paws up, which tells me that the ground is too cold or hot (he does this in summer too, when the pavement is hot). Yet he is determined to stay out for as long as possible because he is...well...crazy! :p That's why I keep thinking of those silly booties...but I'm just not sure if it's worth the hassle it will be trying to get them on.

[abejita]

I've used muttluks (http://www.muttluks.com) on my pup before to keep his feet clean when it is muddy. They have leather bottoms and are super durable, which may be overkill for your kitty.

Another thing you might consider is something like Musher's Secret (http://www.musherssecret.net/). It is a waxy balm that you put on their feet to protect from the cold, salt and chemicals.

[Zen]

That sounds interesting. Dogs don't seem to take to those booties.
I'd like to know what's in it.

[NbyNW]

My dog actually started hopping on three legs the other day, it was so cold. Some guy actually yelled at me, "get that dog some boots!" We have Muttluks for him, but he won't wear them.

Musher's Secret sounds interesting . . .

[sundial]

I use Ruffwear Bark N Boots (http://www.ruffwear.com/dog_boots) and they have never come off during Kali's frisbee romps. There are liners and taller boots available as well. Something to think about during these frigid days....the pads will become more tender having to come into contact with streets and sidewalks and if your dog is an older dog, the skin is more delicate and could develop painful skin burns as a result. Also, little snow balls will develop between the toes and can build up to become painful during the course of their play time, so be sure and check their pads.

As for dog clothing, I recently purchased a polar fleece vest for Kali and Niki from Motley Mutt (http://motleymutt.com/Cozy-Fleece-Dog-Vests/c86/index.html). The vest is a better design than many other products on the market and the girls don't feel impeded by sleeves or a low chest strap. There are other products available--including hoodies.

As for cat boots...I don't know if these come small enough but they look more flexible and may fit snug enough for feline paws:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21093