Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Leaving cats without heating

22 replies

twiney · 18/12/2017 07:19

Hello all!

I'll be gone for four full days over Christmas and am wondering what to do about my cats.

I have an awesome cat lady who comes in and plays with them for an hour a day whilst I'm away, but am wondering about heating.

I have a really old boiler with no option of having it come on on a timer or leaving it on low constantly whilst I'm away. I also dont "trust" it so tend to just switch it off completely until I get back.

But are the cats going to be cold?

Ive asked pet owner friends, some seem to think they should have heating, others say that with blankets etc lying around they will be fine.

Your thoughts?!

OP posts:
billybagpuss · 18/12/2017 07:21

No they will not be cold, they have big fur coats, they will be fine. Your cat lady however may be a little cold do you have a small heater she can turn on for an hour when she comes to play?

DryHeave · 18/12/2017 07:21

They’ll be fine. Leave some blankets and a cardboard box to snuggle in. They’ve got fur coats.

Branleuse · 18/12/2017 07:44

Theyll be fine, but you really should have the heating on at least an hour or two a day in case it freezes . You dont want burst pipes.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/12/2017 09:32

We leave the heating on for Harry and last time I turned it up when it got a bit cold (we've got a Nest system) Blush

We also live in an end terrace solid brick house and when it gets really cold it takes ages to warm up again so it's for our benefit as well. It is really...

EachandEveryone · 18/12/2017 10:16

Im in the same boat my neighbour shamed me and said it was freezing last time she fed them Back in the Summer! Im going ro contain them into four rooms i think. Ill put another fleece on my bed as thats where they tend to sleep.

Want2beme · 18/12/2017 10:39

Would they sleep in snugglebags? Leave a cuddly blanket for their minder as wellGrin

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/12/2017 13:33

I think they'll be cold.

Todayfrustratingday · 21/12/2017 13:40

My 3 cats love to snuggle up to each other and they'll also head straight for a fluffy towel/fleece/old towelling dressing down laid on the floor or kitchen table for them. If you're really concerned buy some rubber hot water bottles and ask your kindly cat lady to boil your kettle, fill them and place the hot bottles near to your cats favourite sleeping places. My cats can't be trusted not to spew up their dinner so if I am ever away overnight I leave the heating on low and they only have the run of the kitchen/dining room and the garden via the cat flap in the patio doors (I can clean up spew from tiled kitchen floor!)

Original poster
twiney · 21/12/2017 15:09

Thanks for this advice everyone, considering nost have said they will be fine and I dont have much practical choice I will go for it and keave them with some padded boxes etc.

A bit paranoid I'm going to get back and find them frozen to death!

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 21/12/2017 15:13

What breed are they? Mine like heat and would be miserable if they were cold.

hendricksyousay · 21/12/2017 15:17

Can you get a heat pad and put a blanket on it ?

winewellies · 21/12/2017 15:18

I am cat sitter , some of my customers leave heating on timer but a couple don't have that option so I just flick the heating on for the time I am there or one leaves an electric heater which I switch on when I am there just to take the chill off - then I switch it off as I leave .
Maybe that's an option? ~ they won't freeze to death without though if they have something to snuggle into , just might sulk for longer when you're back !

Masonbee · 21/12/2017 15:18

A box with polystyrene packing in and a nice smelling (for a cat) blanket on the top had always gone down a storm with cats I've known (currently catless Sad). They warm it up with their body heat and it insulates them as well

cherrycola2004 · 21/12/2017 15:18

Mine have this
www.petnap.co.uk/acatalog/Standard-Petnap-Metal-Pet-heat-pad-1.html#SID=1

Can get fleece cover. Costs pennies per day and can be left on 24/7 goes cool when cat is not on it

cherrycola2004 · 21/12/2017 15:19

Or get hooded beds

Todayfrustratingday · 21/12/2017 16:33

How many cats and what age are they?

QuestionableMouse · 21/12/2017 16:35

Mine would be cold. Turn the heating off. If your cold clothed, your cats will be too.

What about a couple of oil filled radiators on a timer?

ClareB83 · 21/12/2017 16:52

What about an electric blanket on a timed plug? Or is that a little bit burn the house down?

I always leave the heating on low for my cat. I'd be too sad thinking of him all cold and annoyed.

ToadOfSadness · 21/12/2017 19:14

I have heat pads which were permanently plugged in.

Also a small oil filled radiator which could be set with a timer, and a 'small space' heater which would come on at a certain temp. Made by Dimplex, they don't get really hot but keep the chill off.

I also have a thermal pet bed (non electric).

While it is true that cats have fur coats they also feel the cold and it wouldn't be comfortable for them. I wouldn't leave mine in an unheated house, in fact mine had the heaters when the boiler broke down and the rest of the house was cold.

Floralnomad · 21/12/2017 19:19

If they spend most / all of their time indoors they will be cold without heating , my mum has an indoor Ragdoll who is 15 and she keeps the heating on 24/7 for him .

DrMadelineMaxwell · 21/12/2017 22:04

Hooded beds are £8 in Aldi at present. Our boy kitten loves his.

Ashlesage07 · 16/03/2018 07:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread