How Cold Is Too Cold for Dogs and Cats? Temperature Chart by Size

For most healthy dogs, cold starts to matter below about 7°C (45°F), becomes risky for small and thin-coated dogs below about 0°C (32°F), and is dangerous for nearly every dog below about -7°C (20°F). Big, thick-coated dogs cope with more, while small, young, old and sick dogs reach trouble sooner. Wind, rain and wet fur can make any temperature feel several steps colder.

The short answer

• Above 7°C (45°F): most dogs are comfortable. Very small or hairless dogs may already want a coat.
• 0 to 7°C (32 to 45°F): fine for most dogs, but watch small, thin-coated, young and senior dogs.
• -7 to 0°C (20 to 32°F): potentially unsafe for small and medium dogs. Keep walks short and use a coat where it helps.
• Below -7°C (20°F): dangerous for small dogs, risky for all dogs. Toilet breaks and short outings only.
• Below -12°C (10°F): potentially life-threatening, even for large dogs, within a fairly short time.
• Cats: keep cats indoors when it drops below about 7°C (45°F). Below freezing, outdoor cats need warm shelter.
• Wet or windy? Treat the day as one or two steps colder than the thermometer says.

Dog cold weather chart by size

The most widely used reference is the weather safety scale from the Tufts Animal Care and Condition (TACC) scales, developed at Tufts University's veterinary school by Dr. Gary Patronek. It scores risk from 1 to 5 depending on the temperature and the size of the dog. The chart below is a simplified reading of that scale, rounded to easy °C and °F bands. Use it as a starting point, not a guarantee: your own dog's coat, age, health and what they are used to all shift the numbers.

What the levels mean in practice:

1. No risk: walk and play as usual.
2. Low risk: normal walks are fine; keep an eye on dogs that feel the cold.
3. Caution: shorten walks, consider a coat for small or thin-coated dogs, and come home if your dog shivers or lifts paws.
4. Dangerous: brief outings only, with a coat and paw protection for dogs that need them. No long sessions in the yard.
5. Life-threatening: toilet breaks only, then straight back inside. A dog should never be left outdoors at this level.

What makes cold more dangerous

The thermometer is only part of the picture. The Tufts scale adjusts the score up or down for several factors, and veterinarians recommend thinking about the "feels like" temperature rather than the air temperature alone.

• Wind: wind strips away the warm layer of air trapped in the coat. Use the wind chill figure from your forecast, or count it as one level worse.
• Rain, sleet or wet snow: wet fur loses most of its insulation. Tufts adds two points for a dog out in rain or sleet, which can turn a mild day into a dangerous one.
• Thin or short coat: Greyhounds, Whippets, Chihuahuas, Boxers and similar breeds lose heat fast. Count one level worse.
• Thick double coat: Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, Bernese Mountain Dogs and other northern breeds are built for cold. Count one level better, but they can still get frostbite and hypothermia.
• Age and health: puppies under six months, senior dogs, and dogs with heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hormone problems such as hypothyroidism, or arthritis handle cold poorly. Count one level worse.
• Body condition: very lean dogs have less insulation. Extra weight is not a healthy way to keep warm, though, and carries its own risks.
• Acclimatisation and shelter: a dog used to the cold, or with a dry, draft-free spot to rest, copes better than one that lives indoors and suddenly faces a cold snap.

How cold is too cold for cats?

Cats are generally safest indoors once the temperature drops below about 7°C (45°F). Below that point, outdoor cats start to struggle to stay warm, and below freezing they are at real risk of hypothermia and frostbite, especially on the ear tips, tail and paws. Kittens, senior cats, thin cats, sick cats and hairless breeds such as the Sphynx feel the cold much sooner.

Indoors, most cats are comfortable when the home stays somewhere around 18 to 22°C (65 to 72°F). If you turn the heating down at night or while away, give your cat a warm bed off the floor, away from drafts, and a blanket they can burrow into.

If you care for cats that live outdoors, provide an insulated, raised shelter with straw (not blankets, which hold moisture) and check that water bowls have not frozen. Changes in appetite, hiding or lethargy in winter can point to illness as much as cold, so read our guide to the signs your cat is sick.

Signs of hypothermia and frostbite

Yes, dogs and cats can get hypothermia. It happens when body temperature falls below the normal range of roughly 38 to 39°C (101 to 102.5°F).

Early (mild) hypothermia:

• Shivering, which may be strong
• Cold ears, paws and tail
• Seeking warmth, whining or anxiety
• Reluctance to keep walking, lifting paws, hunching up

Moderate to severe hypothermia:

• Weakness, stumbling or stiff, clumsy movement
• Confusion, dullness or unusual sleepiness
• Pale or bluish gums
• Slow or shallow breathing and a slow heartbeat
• Shivering that stops while the pet is still cold. This is a bad sign, not a good one.
• Collapse or unresponsiveness

Frostbite most often affects the ear tips, tail, toes, footpads and scrotum. The skin may look pale, grey or bluish and feel cold and hard, then become red, swollen and painful as it warms. Damaged skin can blister or darken over the following days. Frostbite is easy to miss at first, so check these areas after any long or wet outing. A dog in pain may also limp, lick a paw or not want to be touched, which we cover in signs your dog is in pain.

If you suspect hypothermia or frostbite, bring your pet into a warm room, dry them gently, wrap them in warm (not hot) blankets, and call your vet. Do not rub frostbitten skin, and do not use heating pads or hair dryers directly on the skin, which can burn tissue that cannot feel heat properly.

Keep winter care on track in PetVitals. Log walks and symptoms, note anything unusual after cold days, and set reminders for paw checks and vet visits so nothing slips through the cracks this season.

Winter walk tips

• Go shorter and more often. Two or three brief walks beat one long one on a cold day. As a rough guide, many small dogs are done after 10 to 15 minutes at levels 3 to 4.
• Walk at the warmest time of day. Late morning to mid-afternoon is usually best, especially for small and older dogs.
• Keep them moving. Standing around chatting in the cold chills a dog much faster than brisk walking.
• Watch your dog, not just the forecast. Shivering, slowing down, lifting paws or trying to turn for home all mean it is time to go back.
• Dry them off afterwards. Towel the coat, belly and legs, and dry between the toes.
• Care for the paws. Trim the fur between the pads so ice balls do not form, use a paw balm or wax before walks, or try dog boots if your dog will wear them.
• Stay visible. Winter days are short. A reflective collar, lead or light helps drivers see you.
• Keep them hydrated. Dogs lose water in dry winter air too, and eating snow is not a good substitute. See how much water a dog or cat should drink.

Hidden winter dangers

Antifreeze. Most car antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which tastes sweet and is extremely toxic. As little as a teaspoon can cause fatal kidney failure in a cat, and a few tablespoons can poison a dog. Early signs look like drunkenness: wobbling, vomiting, excessive thirst. Treatment works best within hours, so call a vet or animal poison line immediately if you suspect any exposure. Clean up spills, store containers sealed and out of reach, and consider a propylene glycol (pet-safer) product. Our list of foods and substances toxic to dogs and cats covers other household risks.

De-icing salt and chemicals. Rock salt and many ice melts irritate and crack footpads, and dogs lick them off later, which can upset the stomach. Wipe or rinse paws after every walk and use pet-safe ice melt on your own paths.

Cars act like fridges. In winter a parked car holds in the cold and steals body heat, just as it traps heat in summer. Do not leave pets waiting in a car on cold days.

Car engines and outdoor cats. Cats often crawl under cars or into engine bays to soak up leftover warmth. Before starting the car, bang on the hood or honk the horn and give any hidden animal a chance to escape.

Frozen water. Ponds, lakes and rivers can look solid and give way under a dog's weight. Keep dogs on a lead near ice.

Space heaters and fireplaces. Pets love to lie close to heat sources. Use guards, and keep heaters where they cannot be knocked over or brush against fur.

Which dogs need a coat?

A coat or sweater is not just fashion for some dogs. It genuinely helps:

• Small and toy breeds such as Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Pinschers and toy poodles
• Thin, short-coated breeds such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Boxers, Dobermans and Staffies
• Hairless or nearly hairless dogs
• Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with arthritis or other health conditions
• Dogs that have been clipped short for the season

Thick double-coated breeds such as Huskies, Malamutes and Newfoundlands usually do not need a coat and can overheat in one. Whatever your dog wears, it should fit snugly without rubbing, cover the chest and belly, and be taken off as soon as it gets wet, because a soaked coat makes a dog colder.

When to call a vet

Call your vet straight away, or go to an emergency clinic, if your dog or cat:

• Is weak, confused, stumbling or collapsed after being out in the cold
• Has stopped shivering but still feels cold to the touch
• Has pale, grey or blue skin on the ears, tail or toes, or areas that blister or turn dark
• Might have licked or drunk antifreeze, even if they seem fine
• Has cracked, bleeding or very sore paws that do not settle within a day or two
• Is a puppy, kitten, senior or chronically ill pet and seems unwell after cold exposure

Winter is also a good time to book a routine check for older pets, since arthritis and some other conditions get worse in the cold. Not sure when your pet last had one? See how often a dog or cat should go to the vet.