Baby It's Cold Outside

Brrrrr, there's a chill in the air lately.  I know, I know, winter in Queensland isn't Canada-cold, but it's still cold and I acclimatised years ago.  The houses here aren't built to keep in the warmth, so if it's cold outside, it's definitely cold inside. Thank goodness winter is short here.

Okay, Queensland isn't THAT cold.

Us humans aren't the only ones that feel the change in the weather - the pets are all feeling the cold too.  Some more than others.

Someone likes a winter cuddle.

I admit, one of my favourite parts of cold weather is that my cats are very cuddly again.  Purrkins is always cuddly, but he is super cuddly in the cold weather.   And Clawde, well, Clawde doesn't cuddle much when it's warm, but when it's cold, I'm his new best friend.  He snuggles up to me morning, noon and night, his favourite place is on my legs curled up into a little ball.  Cat paralysis is a big winter affliction in this household - the fear of disturbing the cat's slumber if you move.

The problem with Cat Paralysis

Not only do I like the attention from him, but nothing is warmer than a furry hot water bottle.  They keep me nice and warm too.

Sometimes Clawde helps Manu to stay warm.

My chickens seem to survive the cold and must snuggle up together during the night in their protected coop.  They have voracious appetites, and they have stopped laying eggs, so all of that energy must go into keeping warm and cosy.  However I have one stupid chicken that has decided that she will not roost with the rest of the chickens, but has chosen to sleep about 8 feet up a tree next to the house.  I'm not sure how she survived the windy, cold night last night, but she did. Silly girl.  She's stubborn though, and my attempts to retrain her to sleep with everyone else have failed miserably, so out in the open she stays.

I think I'll resist the temptation...besides, I can't knit.

Manu doesn't seem to be as affected by the cold. He has what most would consider a normal amount of fur for a dog.  I suspect that as he is already 9 years old (getting up there for an extra-large dog) with arthritis, the coming winters will affect him more and more.  We have a doggie jacket for him, but he doesn't like it and tends to walk sideways when you put it on him - or he freezes in place like a statue.  True, it does entertain me enough that I do try and put it on him at least once a year. The only time I have seen him actually tolerate one is when we've been camping with very cool nights and we are sitting outside.  But that's it.  No jacket for him, thank you.  I didn't even buy him a sissy looking one, but no, he likes to be clothing free.

Chamois is another story.  Her distinct lack of fur on her stomach and poor coverage on the rest of her body makes her an ideal dog for the Queensland heat...just not the cold.  She can't tolerate the cold and curls up as tightly as she can to conserve body heat.  She's old too, but she's always been like this with the cold, and her creaky, arthritic old joints don't like it either.

She has always liked wearing a coat, even when she was 'little'.

Unlike Manu, Chamois does love her jacket.  When she sees me get it out, she sits up so that I can put it on her and then snuggles in for the night.  She'd benefit from a doggie onesie, I think, but I couldn't bear to humiliate her like that.  Or could I?

It may be more fun to get a cat onesie!

Chamois love of her jacket is almost as great as the love of her me taking her jacket off in the morning.  All girls know what it's like when the bra comes off at night - a big scratch and a stretch at the sudden freedom is always in order.  I indulge Chamois in a big all-over scratch after the jacket removal, and I think we may just bond a little over that shared experience.