October 29, 2011 was an historic date. Winter Storm Alfred, almost two months before the start of winter, dumped various amounts of snow all over the Northeast. From Maryland to Maine, millions lost power as trees, still heavy with leaves, grabbed the dense saturated snow and ripped boughs and branches to the ground, taking down lines right along with them.
In Connecticut alone, almost a million people were without electricity. For a week or more, many spent their time in dark, cold homes. Many abandoned their homes to stay with friends and relatives who had power or generators.
Cats, however, had to stay home, or worse, outside in the dark.
So, what's the big deal? you ask. Cats have fur coats, so they were under no danger of the cold (unless of course you have a Sphynx, or one of the other rare breeds with little hair).
Well, there are other factors to consider besides the temperature in the house.
- Your cat may wear a fur coat, but if you vacate your cold house for warmer places, make sure your cat is left with the appropriate provisions. If you can't make it home every day to make sure your cat has fresh food, water and a clean litter box, then be sure to have someone available who can.
- Yes, cats have very good eyesight in the dark (by the way, cats cannot see in complete darkness; they need a small amount of light to bounce off the retina).But, in the dark when no lights were on, cats might feel intimidated, being without their family and alone in the pitch black. Cats are creatures of habit and appreciate routine. A 10-day power outage most certainly certainly constitutes as a change in routine.
- If your cat is outside, this could cause some major issues. Weather, along with the downed power lines and trees, can put your cat in harm's way. If possible, keep your cat indoors as much as possible and away from dangerous areas.
- Many people use kerosene heaters during such times, and this can be a problem as carbon monoxide is odorless and can kill both people and pets. Please be careful and never leave a kerosene stove or heater running when you're not home.
Winter Storm Alfred has left our state in disarray, with broken tree limbs everywhere, and though the lights are back on, danger still exists, including the weakened branches and trees that will come down at some point during the windy, snowy winter months.
Please use common sense and be careful.
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