As the Met Office issues amber severe weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK, Cats Protection is issuing important safety and welfare advice to protect pet cats.

The plunging temperatures, icy conditions and heavy snowfall present risks for cats but some simple actions will keep cats safe:

• When your cat comes in from the snow, wipe off any road grit and any other substances that may stick to their paws or fur

• Keep the doors of sheds and outbuildings shut or wedged open, so that cats do not become trapped

• Anti-freeze is fatal to cats, so please clean up any spillages after using de-icers or screen washes on vehicles

• Cats are also known to climb into vehicle engines for warmth and comfort so check under the bonnet of your vehicle before starting your journey 

• Ensure your cat is microchipped and the contact details are up to date. If your cat wanders off in search of a warm place, then microchipping vastly increases the chances they will be found and safely returned to you

• If your cat goes outside, then let them out during the times when temperatures are highest and traffic levels are lowest. If the forecast shows extreme weather and you are worried about your cat suffering frostbite or hypothermia then keep them indoors and provide lots of enrichment through play and puzzle feeders

• Take special care of cats that have arthritis, as the cold can severely affect their joints. Provide plenty of warm and easily accessible places for your cat to sleep in. If you are concerned about your cat's health or they seem arthritic, then seek veterinary advice

• If your cat uses an outdoor water source to drink, make sure it doesn't freeze. Add a ping pong ball to the water to slow down ice formation and always have clean, fresh water available inside in case the outdoor source is inaccessible

• Check your cat flap regularly to ensure it hasn't frozen over or become blocked by snow

• Consider taking out pet insurance for your cat in view of the general risk to your cat posed by the winter weather

Two kittens who almost died last winter were brothers Icy and Chilly. They were found abandoned in a cardboard box beside a cold, wet road less than a mile from Cats Protection National Cat Centre Wales in Bridgend.

Chilly weighed just 410g, while Icy was even smaller at 370g. They were believed to be around four weeks old at which point they should weigh at least 500g and should not be separated from their mother. They were barely able to walk and required round-the-clock care.  

Sue Ben-Saud, Adoption Centre Manager, explains: "We named the kittens Icy and Chilly because they were wet, freezing cold and infested with fleas when they arrived. Chilly was very flat and minutes away from death.

We weren't sure they would survive but fortunately, our vet was on site at the time and she quickly gave them honey diluted with warm water to raise their glucose levels, before wrapping them up warmly and rushing to her vet practice where they received lifesaving care."

Thankfully the kittens went on to make a full recovery but had they not been found when they were, both would certainly have perished from the cold and lack of maternal care.

For further advice on keeping cats safe, please visit www.cats.org.uk/cats-and-cold-weather