Keeping my 11 month old cat warm

[Mharte88]

I just got my gorgeous boy at Easter; he is short haired ginger variety. As the time has come for the cold weather, now really low temperatures, I do not keep heating on all night, I doubt anyone does.
I got a self body warming mat, but he seems to hate the cracle noise it makes, so hasn't sat on it long enough to realise how warm it gets. I have heard this before; I am worried about an electric blanket type of cat mat however for all sorts of reasons. Has anyone come across a blanket that does the trick? I had a "cellular" baby blanket for all of my babies, lightweught but really trapped the heat? The other thought was a coat for him; I would try all of these things out for myself, but having had my 3rd booster I am not feeling to well and returns at the Post Office mean lots of people coughing and spluttering all around?

I would be grateful for any suggestions please.

Hot water bottle, I bought one for my dog and he loves it!

My cats just start sleeping on my bed when it's chilly. Or get an igloo type bed so it gets warmer as it's enclosed. I really don't think its something you need to think too much.

Our cats love to sleep on a sheepskin rug, or a folded wool throw/blanket. It has to be wool though. Or you could get one of those felt cat caves - I keep toying with the idea but they’re quite expensive!

We let them sleep upstairs with us when the temperature outside drops below 5-6 c. Otherwise they’re downstairs. If wild animals can survive in a burrow outdoors, I’m sure our cats will be fine on the sofa.

He’s a cat, he has fir and will probably just find ways to make himself warm. I’ve never in a whole life of having cats or dogs worried they might be cold. As a pp said, a hot water bottle if you must but please don’t put your cat in a jumper, it will hate it

My cat loves hot water bottles. I often make him one when I go to work on a cold day, and find him curled up on it 8 hours later when I come home - I don't think he moves all day. At night, he either comes down the bed and lies round my feet and my bottle, or he gets on top of the duvet where the bottle is.

Heat pads , that you stick in the microwave might help

I had a microwaveable heating pad for my dog when he was a puppy. My mum had one for her elderly cats too and they loved it. It’s designed for pets so very safe overnight. If you search for Snugglesafe microwave pet heating pad you should find them.

An igloo type bed that he can really snuggle into might go down well.

Well I do keep my heating on all night! But regardless - he's a cat! After seeing mine chilling out on the frosty grass the other morning I'm not worried even if I didn't have it on. Sure cats like warm spots, but curling up in a basket or other slightly enclosed space and their body temp will keep them cosy. Your cat will find a space.

We have an electric throw on the sofa that we leave on low for ours. He also likes those cheap fleecy blankets so have s few of those around.

You are way overthinking this! He will find somewhere where he is warm. Be that a bed, a corner somewhere etc...... have some blankets or a hot water bottle if you want but you don't need anything else.

I keep my heating on low (14 degrees) overnight since I got my cat. Actually this is nicer for me too!

Save this sort of thing when his joints are old and achy. He's a youngster and doesn't need them. Just leave a few cosy items around - blanket, dressing gown etc. Don't buy anything. He'll choose where to sleep which will be on your bed if given the chance.

Fluffy bed that hooks over radiator- cat loves it and stretches out with her belly warming against the radiator. Cat no2 just finds a human to lie on.

@practicallyperfectwithprosecco

Fluffy bed that hooks over radiator- cat loves it and stretches out with her belly warming against the radiator. Cat no2 just finds a human to lie on.

The radiator will be cold as OP doesn't have her heating on

Mine like hot water bottles but mainly just come to bed with me.

We use microwaveable heat pads, because I also worry about the safety risk with electric pet blankets. They work really well and stay warm a lot longer than a hot water bottle.

At night I am also their human hot water bottle

We put his bed (dog size because how could he be expected to contain himself to a mere cat size bed, he needs his space!) in front of the log burner while we were up , where he lays and roasts himself and often find him in there in the morning. Our thermostat is on 18 overnight so it's never that cold anyway

I'm feeling mean now. I've never thought out doing anything "extra" to keep my cats warm especially when they often voluntarily go outside and sit and sulk in bad weather
They normally sleep on DDs bed or on a fleece blanket in her room.

How cold does your house get??

Rest assured, whatever special thing you buy for him will be ignored and he’ll find a cardboard box or something!

Our cats have never had a cat bed let alone specific heating! Yours has managed to train you well in 11 months

Cats find their own spots to feel safe and warm, and they have fur. I wouldn’t worry too much about a cat staying warm enough inside. Or outside much of the time either.

I know nothing about cats so feel free to ignore, but we have an ancient dog. She has a lovely warm basket with a blanket which she settles down in for the night and I’ve no reason to believe she gets cold? We leave the downstairs door open (she sleeps in the living room) and she knows she can come upstairs to sleep in the spare room (one of her favourite snoozing spots during the day) and to date I can only think of a handful of occasions when she’s done so, so I assume she’s perfectly warm and happy downstairs!

I can’t believe people leave the heating on and have heated blankets etc for their cats! Ffs they have fur to keep them warm and the ability to curl up really tight. Chuck a light blanket over them but there’s really no need for all the pampering.

I used to worry about DBoycat being cold and I'm always cold. But cats have fur and they find warm places.