If you live in Colorado this winter, you may have noticed something unusual: winter doesn’t exactly feel like winter. Temperatures have been well above average, and snow has been noticeably scarce. For people, adjusting is easy. We check the forecast, grab a lighter jacket, or simply go home and change if we guessed wrong that morning.
But what about our pets? Do dogs and cats understand weather changes the way we do? And when the seasons behave unpredictably, do their bodies or behaviors respond differently?
It’s an interesting question, and the answer lies in how animals interpret the world around them.
Unlike humans, pets don’t recognize seasons by calendar dates or expectations of what winter or spring “should” feel like. Instead, their bodies respond to environmental signals such as daylight, temperature, and general environmental conditions. One of the most important factors is photoperiod, which refers to the amount of daylight in a 24-hour period.
As days become shorter in the fall, many animals experience hormonal changes that can influence coat growth, metabolism, and even activity levels. When days start getting longer in the spring, those signals shift again, often triggering shedding and increased activity. Because the length of daylight changes consistently every year, many seasonal biological processes still occur even if the weather itself feels unseasonably warm or cold.
This is why many dogs and cats still grow thicker coats in the fall, even if winter ends up being milder than expected. Coat changes are driven more by light exposure than temperature alone. However, pets that spend most of their time indoors may experience less dramatic seasonal coat changes because artificial lighting and climate-controlled homes can blur these natural signals.
Daily weather can still influence behavior, though. On warmer winter days, dogs may appear more energetic and eager to spend time outdoors. Cats might nap in sunny windows rather than burrow under blankets. These adjustments are less about seasonal biology and more about immediate comfort.
Eating habits can also shift slightly depending on the environment. Animals that spend a great deal of time outdoors sometimes eat more during colder weather because maintaining body heat requires extra energy. In a milder winter, those increased calorie needs may not be as noticeable. For most indoor pets, however, feeding schedules and routines set by their owners play a much larger role in appetite than seasonal temperature changes.
Animals live very much in the present moment. They simply respond to the conditions around them. While we might still be wondering where the Colorado winter went, our pets are doing what they’ve always done best, adapting to whatever the day brings.
