It's dangerously cold in NYC this week. Here's how to keep your cats and dogs safe.

Frigid temperatures are hitting New York City. That’s potentially dangerous — not only for you, but also for your furry companions.

The season's coldest temperatures so far are expected early this week. With the wind taken into account, the National Weather Service warns it’ll feel like close to 0 degrees.

Potential impacts of the frigid weather include frostbite, hypothermia and even bursts of frozen pipes. The NWS recommends New Yorkers limit outdoor activity and check on relatives.

The same logic should be applied for pets. Andrew Torchia, a veterinarian and medical director at Heart of Chelsea, recommended that dog owners bundle up their canine companions if they need to go outside. Booties and coats will not only warm dogs, but also provide a calming effect, he said.

“Humans have cultivated this dependent relationship between humans and animals. We’ve created specific dog breeds to look and be shaped the way that they are, and with that comes the responsibility of taking care of small dogs and domesticated cats – especially in the cold weather,” he said.

The salt that’s put on the streets to melt ice can also be harmful for dogs’ paws. Smaller breeds have tracheas that can be sensitive to changes in temperature, so owners should be mindful of coughing or difficulty breathing, Torchia said.

He added that cats, birds and reptiles tend to prefer warmer temperatures than what humans are used to, so residents should make sure to keep their heat on for indoor pets.

And in the same way that forecasters are warning residents to be mindful of frostbite and other potentially fatal injuries from the cold, leaving a pet outside for too long in frigid weather can also be deadly, Torchia said.

“Just put yourself in their situation. If you wouldn’t want to be there, then most dogs wouldn’t want to be in that situation,” he said.

The Humane Society of the United States says that people should call local authorities if they see a pet left outside in any extreme weather conditions without food or shelter. The city’s emergency management agency instructs all New Yorkers to bring pets inside during cold weather and wipe dogs’ paws if they come in contact with any ice-melting chemicals outside.

The Animal Care Centers of New York generally accepts reports by phone of stray, lost or abandoned dogs, or allows dogs to be dropped off at its centers, but has suspended dog intakes due to critical capacity issues, according to the city’s 311 service.

ACC doesn’t capture or trap healthy adult cats, but says if you catch a cat and can’t provide it with vet care, you can contact a center at 212-788-4000 or email CommunityCats@nycacc.org to make arrangements. Most vets can also check cats or dogs for microchips to contact owners who may have lost them. Cats can be registered in ACC's found pets database to reunite them with owners when possible as well. ACC will also hold a stray animal for 72 hours to check databases for reports of lost pets, then evaluate them to determine any next steps. And ACC will take reports of kittens that appear to be abandoned by their mothers.

Bideawee — a rescue organization that took over the city's Feral Cat Initiative in 2019 — also has tips for building outdoor shelters for “community cats.” On Jan. 29, it will hold a webinar on building outdoor shelters.