Some dogs launch themselves into fresh powder as if they had waited all year for it. Some cats take one step onto a snowy doorstep and retreat in disgust. One compilation of dogs and cats playing in the snow collected both reactions, and the contrast is what made it so funny.
Dogs in snow: digging, bounding and face-plants
Snow changes everything a dog thinks it knows about the ground. Familiar smells are buried, footing gives way, and a thrown ball disappears on landing. Many dogs respond with pure enthusiasm: bounding through drifts, digging furiously, rolling on their backs and pushing their noses deep under the surface. The face-plant at full speed is a staple of every snow compilation for good reason.
Not every dog is built the same, though. A thick double coat and big feet handle deep snow easily; a small, short-haired dog chills much faster and may need a coat or a shorter outing.
Cats and snow: caution first
Cats tend to approach snow like a scientist. They sniff it, pat it with one paw, shake the paw and test again. Some decide it is a great toy and pounce on falling flakes; others stop at the doorway and refuse to go any further. Both reactions turned up in the compilation, and the pauses before the decision are often the best moments.
Winter safety tips for dogs and cats
The American Veterinary Medical Association's cold-weather advice is short and practical:
- Know your pet's limits. Cold tolerance varies with coat, body fat, age and health. Shorten walks in very cold weather.
- Dress short-coated dogs. A sweater or coat helps dogs with thin fur, and well-fitted booties protect paws.
- Clean feet after walks. Wipe or wash paws, legs and belly to remove snow, ice, salt and de-icing chemicals, and check paws for cracks or injuries.
- Use pet-safe de-icers and clean up antifreeze spills quickly; both can poison animals.
- Bang the hood before starting the car. Cats and wildlife sometimes shelter near warm engines.
- Keep pets off frozen ponds, lakes and streams, and never leave them alone in a car.
- Watch for warning signs. Call a vet if your pet shivers hard or becomes very lethargic after being outside.
Keep pets well away from working machinery such as snowblowers and ploughs, like the one in the cover frame. Then let your animal set the pace: some will play for an hour, some will want to be back on the sofa in two minutes.
Explore more: Chaya beside an owner shovelling snow; Fletcher’s individual introduction to snowfall.
Related reading
- Nine Golden Retriever Puppies Explore the Snow
- Ginzey The Dog Cheats A Snow Maze In The Most Lovable Way Ever
- Learn From The Cat: Don't Jump In The Snow
- Two Kittens Found in a Snow-Covered Box: The Full Rescue Account
- Sophie the Cat Discovers Snow at the Doorway
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