“There seemed to be nothing wrong”, says his owner Gert Jan Bakker. Kwibus always played in the garden, but today he ran out after ten minutes and finished playing. “Inside he immediately lay down. We rubbed him warm, but soon his back leg started to pull. Drool came out of his mouth and in his eyes we could see that it was not going well.”
Excitement of the snow
Within minutes, Kwibus was dead. “We think it was a combination of his weak heart and the excitement of the snow. And the cold must have played a part too.”
Gert Jan is going to bury Kwibus in the garden. “We’re going to try to make a hole. It’s sad. He would turn four in the spring. He was still very young.”
Cat flap
It is exceptional that a cat dies in the snow, says Niels Dorland of the Animal Protection. “I’ve never heard of it before. Cats usually take shelter when it gets too cold. That’s why on cold days it’s important to tap the hood of the car before you drive away, because there could be a cat underneath.”
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Dorland thinks most cats don’t feel like going outside today. “Cats are animals that look for warmth.” In principle, cats outside in the winter are not bothered by the cold, but it is important that they can always go inside. It is helpful if the cat flap is working properly. “If domestic cats find it too cold outside, they will naturally stay inside.”
Rub dogs dry
Dogs can also get cold in the snow. It is therefore important that dogs keep moving. Especially when they roll and play in the snow. In extreme cold, according to the Animal Protection, it is useful to lubricate the soles of the feet with petroleum jelly or a special tar that you can buy at the vet.
Eating snow is not good for a dog, it can cause intestinal and stomach complaints. Licking road salt is also not good, so a dog can get salt poisoning. Animal Protection has one last tip: rub your dog dry after walking and provide a place where he can warm up again.
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