Cats are highly sensitive to temperature and require warm resting spots, appropriate outdoor access management, and protection from cold and heat to maintain good welfare.
Cats maintain body temperature behaviourally — seeking warm spots, curling tight, or seeking shade. Denied access to warm resting areas, cats expend energy thermoregulating at the expense of immune function. Arthritis is painful in cold weather. Outdoor cats in winter need access to shelter. Cars parked in sun become dangerously hot within minutes; cats trapped in cars or conservatories are at acute risk of heatstroke. Providing multiple warm, draught-free resting areas is a fundamental welfare requirement.