Securing winter shelters for animals is one of the important points that must be ensured to protect animals in the cold winter, as this season is considered one of the seasons that causes a lot of harm to animals if they are not protected from it, as they are vulnerable to diseases that are active in the winter and may cause Death to her.
Cold reduces the animal’s body temperature, which causes a decrease in its activity and vitality, and thus the animal becomes lethargic and lazy, which is considered one of the most important challenges that the breeder may face. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure the warmth factor for it by providing homes and special heating methods for it.
In this article from teketrek, I will review for you the importance of animals’ need for shelters, in addition to mentioning their types, how they are designed, and some tips for maintaining them. We will also mention some inspiring examples of the best shelters designed for animals to protect them from the cold winter. Stay with us and learn about this unique information that will help you secure a suitable and warm place. For your pet.
Why do animals need winter shelters?
Animals need winter shelters to protect them from factors that may cause deterioration in their health and physical condition. Therefore, the breeder works hard to secure suitable shelters for them. The following reasons are considered among the most important reasons why the breeder works to secure these shelters, and they are as follows:
Protecting it from the cold during the winter, as low temperatures greatly affect the animal’s health, vitality, and activity.
Protection from cold winds that affect the animal’s movement and activity.
Protection from diseases and danger, as rain, wind, hail, and snow all infect the animal with many diseases that pose a clear threat to its life and normal activity.
Providing a comfortable environment for it, as the appropriate temperature is one of the most important factors that help keep the animal in perfect physical health. These shelters also give it a feeling of security and stability that helps it remain in a comfortable psychological state.
Protecting animals from danger that threatens their lives, especially from predatory animals searching for food and a suitable place for them to protect them from the harsh cold of winter.
Providing food and water for animals by placing them in a warm place that is easy for the animal to access during cold winter periods.
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Types of winter animal shelters:
The types of shelters vary depending on the animal that will live in them, but they all serve one goal, which is to protect animals from the extreme cold and harsh weather factors they may be exposed to during the winter. Among the types of shelters designated for animals are the following:
Pet shelters (such as dogs and cats):
Pets need places of their own that guarantee them warmth and safety from all the factors they may be exposed to. These shelters are represented by small houses, wooden huts, or thermally insulated reinforced plastic, equipped with covers and amenities that ensure warmth for them in the winter while providing Dedicated places for water and food ensure easy delivery of food and water during cold times.
Agricultural animal shelters (cows, sheep, and poultry):
Agricultural animals need their own places to protect them from cold, rain, snow and wind, as these shelters ensure the continuity of their production. Cow and sheep pens vary in size, but they must be equipped with heating means and places designated for food and water. Poultry cages also have an appropriate design that ensures their protection. From cold, rain, snow and humidity, in addition to designated places for placing appropriate fodder and water.
Wildlife or bird shelters:
The breeder works to secure a natural or artificial shelter for it that protects it from extreme cold, rain, snow and wind. These shelters include holes in trees or artificial shelters that contain straw and leaves, in addition to containing places designated for placing food such as seeds and water to provide sufficient food for them. During the harsh winter.
How to design effective winter shelters:
The breeder studies how to design winter shelters for the animals to protect them from the harsh weather factors that may affect them, but care must be taken to ensure some of the main factors that ensure the comfort and safety of the animal, including the following:
Choose the appropriate location, as this factor is considered one of the most important factors that must be ensured to protect animals from rain, strong winds, and snow, and it must be ensured that it is close to food and water sites.
Use appropriate building materials to ensure insulation and protection in the winter. For example, you can use an insulated outdoor cat house for the winter or a waterproof outdoor cat house for the winter.
Ensure that the heating and ventilation factor is building a suitable shelter for the animal. For example, a heated outdoor cat house can be used for the winter with an appropriate ventilation system that allows air to be renewed and prevents moisture accumulation.
The size and design of the shelter must be ensured and made suitable for the animal that lives in it. For example, a large outdoor cat house can be used for the winter, which provides a suitable space for movement and rest and works to maintain its internal temperature.
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Tips for maintaining shelters during the winter:
There are some tips that the breeder must ensure and follow during the winter to maintain the animal’s health and keep it in an ideal physical condition. The most prominent of these tips are the following:
Periodic inspection of shelters and searching for any damage, hole or damage that may have occurred to the walls or ceiling, while ensuring and taking care of the thermal insulation of the shelter to prevent cold from leaking into it.
Work to constantly clean and sterilize the shelter at specific times to avoid the animals becoming infected with diseases that affect their lives.
Periodically check the heating system in the shelter and ensure that its ventilation holes are not blocked to avoid the accumulation of moisture and odors inside it.
Ensure the condition of food and water supplies periodically inside the shelter. It is preferable to use some special containers that prevent the water inside from freezing.
Ensure the technical condition of doors and windows and ensure that they are closed well. It is also preferable to use suitable covers and waterproof curtains to provide additional protection from water and snow in the winter.
Continuously monitor the animals and look for any signs of fatigue or illness caused by the cold, in addition to providing the necessary comfort for the animals inside the shelter.
Inspiring examples of winter shelters for animals:
Some people have designed inspiring winter shelters for animals to protect them from the harsh weather factors they experience during the winter. The following examples are among the most prominent winter shelters for wild animals in local parks and are as follows:
Seattle Zoo, USA: This zoo offers a special shelter for wild animals during the cold winter. These shelters include insulated designs and heating systems that help the animals stay warm throughout the winter.
Vienna Zoo, Austria: This zoo uses special technologies to control the climate inside, and this helps animals protect themselves from the cold of winter, especially large mammals and reptiles.
Hama: Some small farms have found some innovative solutions to protect their animals from the cold during the winter, the most famous of which are:
A small farm in Canada: This farm built special shelters for the cows from recycled materials, in addition to providing them with solar panels to provide the necessary heating and protect the livestock from the cold during the winter.
A farm in the United Kingdom: The designers built shelters that contain technologies that provide heating through thermal insulators and create smart ventilation holes for them that draw moisture from inside the shelters. This helps maintain an ideal temperature suitable for the types of livestock raised inside these shelters. Shelters.
FAQ:
Can cats survive the winter in insulated shelters?
Yes, it can survive the cold winter, but it must be ensured that it has all the necessary food and water, while ensuring the safety and technical condition of the shelter and ensuring that there are no holes in its walls and roof to prevent cold from seeping inside.
How long do most animals stay in shelters?
Animals can stay for a long time in shelters provided they are provided with appropriate food and water, and their comfort and warmth are guaranteed.
How to make a warm house for cats in winter?
Anyone can build a shelter or a small hut for cats to protect them in the winter, as there are many types, including glass or wooden ones, but attention must be paid to the necessity of having means of heating for them, along with some covers and curtains that protect the animal from the cold and shelter during the cold winter period.
Where do stray cats go in winter?
Stray cats search for any comfortable place that provides them with warmth and protection from the harsh cold and predators during the winter.
In conclusion, we find that the idea of winter animal shelters is not just a duty for the breeder, but it is an imperative necessity. Every person must work and ensure their safety to preserve the health of these animals and protect them, whether from diseases or from other predators that threaten their lives. Therefore, every breeder must work seriously. And take effective steps in preparing the necessary shelters for animals before the onset of winter, and ensure that all means are available to keep them warm and in good health throughout the period of extreme cold.
