Heated Cat Pads: The Guide

While it can be a bit of a nuisance when your feline friend finds the most inappropriate place to park their bum, it’s usually something they shouldn’t be sat on or something you’re actively using. It’s thought that cats gravitate towards heat because of an instinct that’s bred into them from their ancestors. Our domestic moggy is a descendant of a desert species of cat so it’s no wonder that during the British Winters they’ve grown accustomed to, they still like to seek out warmth to curl up in.

For cats, warmth is equal to security. As largely solitary animals, they will experience the warmth and security of their mother and their littermates as a kitten and as soon as they grow, they’re on their own. It’s suggested that warmth comforts them. As a very alert species that is always on the lookout for danger, it can be rare to see cats fully relax. Warm bedding and beds comfort them and allow them to relax enough to enter into a nice deep sleep. Who doesn’t love being nice and cosy for a snooze?

Cats will often cuddle with their owners as a means of comforting themselves and stealing their body heat to help them sleep better.

If your cat spends a lot of time trying to find nice warm spots in the house or outside to sleep in then you can fulfil their need by safely providing them with better options. You might even save yourself the hassle of having to clean cat hair from your keyboard every other day. Giving them better options will also prevent your outdoor kitties from climbing under cars on cold days to lie in the heat of their recently running engine which can be a very dangerous nap for them.

When you’re considering different beds and blankets to provide extra warmth for your moggy on cold days, there’s a variety of different options. While they might love cuddling up with you when you turn your electric blanket on, it’s understandable that you might not want to leave it plugged in all day draining electricity. We’ve found some options that are hazard-free and safe for your feline friend to use even when you’re not home.

Sometimes giving your four-legged friend a nice, warm bed will be enough to provide all the warmth they need, especially when it’s not very cold out. When you go to bed, it may be cold but it will gradually absorb your body heat and become nice and warm. Cat beds are exactly the same, they may not be instantly toasty but within minutes they will absorb your moggy’s own body heat and provide a nice comfortable location for a nap!

If your cat loves to sprawl out then you may want to give them a nice warm blanket. Vet bedding like Ham & Boo Non-Slip Vet Bedding comes pre-cut to the perfect size for your beloved pet and is often a very alluring bed choice with its warm, comfortable surface that traps plenty of heat for your cat to sleep on.

When you’re considering bed options for retaining heat, you should be considering nice deep beds that will help in retaining heat. Cave-style beds like the Beddies Brown Sleeping Bag Bed are great for creating a little bubble of heat for your moggy to curl up tightly in and benefit from less heat escaping. If they don’t like to be fully covered then a nice soft bed with high sides like the Snuggle Plush Bed Grey-Cream will also do a great job at keeping in lots of heat and helping to make them feel secure.

If body heat isn’t enough to keep your cat nice and warm, you can give them a little boost with a microwavable heating pad like the Snugglesafe Heat Pad. The pad itself is a hard plastic but it’s perfectly safe to use unlike electric heated pads or hot water bottles that pose some risks. The disc comes with a soft cover that can be placed in their bed to heat it up for them. A comfortable bed might not seem that alluring but a nice bed with a warming pad inside will call to them.

It only takes a few minutes to heat up fully in the microwave and can retain heat for up to ten hours of snuggling. The microwavable heat pad is a great option for risk-free extra heat.

Self heating pads usually contain a foil-like material that is excellent at respecting heat. It takes your cat lying on it for it to reflect their own body heat back to them and keep them warm. Self heating pads are great, they’ll never get too hot because they’re only reflecting heat, not creating it.

There are a number of great ways to keep your cat nice and warm when your lap isn’t available for them to curl up on all day. For heating pad options and all of your other cat essentials, visit us in store or online.