It’s cold outside for pets, too. Just like people, pets’ cold tolerance can vary from pet to pet based on their coat, body fat, activity level, and health.

It’s ideal to keep pets indoors when the temperatures drop below freezing.

But for some, that’s not an option. The following are a few tips from Stephen Larson, spokesman for the Kansas Adjutant General’s office for caring for your animals.

• A warm vehicle is appealing to outdoor and feral cats. Make some noise — bang on the hood or honk the horn before starting the engine.
• Check dog’s paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury or damage like cracked paw pads or bleeding.
• During walks, dog’s feet, legs and belly may pick up deicers, antifreeze or other chemicals that can be deadly. When inside, wipe down or wash your pet’s feet, legs, and belly to remove chemicals to reduce the risk of an animal getting poisoned by licking its feet or fur.
• Hot cars can be a threat to your animal. So can a cold car. A car can rapidly cool down in cold weather and can chill your pet.
• When walking a dog, stay away from frozen ponds, lakes, and other water. The ice may not be thick enough to hold the animal’s weight.