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As the weather turns colder for most of us, it’s time to get our coats out of the back of the closet. Some of our pets require winter apparel as well, and ZooToo has a rundown of some of the latest products out on the market for keeping your pets warm.
You can go with the traditional cute little sweaters and jackets that fill aisles at pet stores, or you can try something a bit different for your pets this winter. What you need depends on you and your pet’s lifestyle, so we’ll take a look at three different types.
The first is a Snuggie for dogs. That’s right: the popular Snuggie, or slanket, that’s basically a blanket with arm holes that will stay on even if you move around, is now available for dogs. This works for lazy pets that like to cuddle on cold days, or can be worn outside if your pet doesn’t get too messy.
If you and your dog like to spend more time playing outdoors, you have another option: the Ruff Wear K9 overcoat. This product has fleece on the inside but durable, water-resistant fabric on the outside. It’s perfect for getting a little muddy, wet, or dirty in cold weather. If the elements don’t slow you or your dog down, but your pet needs a little extra protection, then this is perfect.
Most dogs love running through the snow. But pet owners know that snowy weather is one of the most dangerous times for animals: if they get out and visibility is low, they can’t find their way back home (and we have a hard time finding them). The best thing to do is keep your pet inside in the middle of a storm. But if you have concerns, or if you’re going to just be out in the dark with your pet, consider getting the Ruff Wear Beacon Safety light.
The light clips onto your dog’s collar, and it contains lifetime LED lights. It’s watertight and compact, works in the snow, and can be seen from up to half a mile away. It can double as a clip-on light to any gear, including for humans. At that point one wonders why one couldn’t just attach a bike light to a dog’s collar, but the concept is still appealing if you have any concerns about your dog getting lost in snowy weather.
The ZooToo post even contains some winter gear for cats. I drew up short at that: I’ve seen a few pictures of cats in sweaters, and most of them didn’t look very happy. You can try to get your cat to wear some clothing if you want, or you can also just consider getting it the Slumber Pet Thermal Cat Mat. If your cat likes beds (some do, and some don’t; my childhood cat rejected all the cat beds we bought for him, preferring to curl up in boxes) and it gets chilly in your house (or if your cat goes outside, you can put this out for it), think about getting it this mat.
The thermal mat stores and reflects back the cat’s body heat, to keep it toasty in cold weather. It’s got a machine washable cover, and can be put outside as long as it’s sheltered a bit from most of the elements (put on a porch or a shelter or something).
Winter is coming, but we’re ready to face it, and we can get our pets ready for it too.
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*(The above image by Howard O. Young is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)