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

Original poster

Cats and central heating this winter

79 replies

Stripedbag101 · 27/08/2022 22:16

I have been working from home the last couple of years and this winter will be back in the office, so my cat will be home alone from about 7:30am until about 7pm for three to four days a week.

I am worried she will be bored, lonely and cold! With gas prices sky rocketing I am reluctant to boost the heating during the day so have bought a few self heating blankets for her to sleep in.

other just be in the same boat - anyone else planning ahead? And if so what are you doing?

OP posts:
Original poster
Stripedbag101 · 27/08/2022 23:24

Honestly if this thread annoys people why not scroll on.

I jump on of people are neglecting animals. I don’t see the motivation for critiquing people who want to make sure their pets are comfortable??? Yes maybe it’s a little indulgent - but who is it harming??

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 27/08/2022 23:24

How about an enclosed cat bed. I have my eye on the curver one!

Coyoacan · 27/08/2022 23:31

I've had cats all my long, long life and it has never occurred to me to put the heating on for them. They are well designed by mother nature for the cold

Lindy2 · 27/08/2022 23:31

I think I'd make a hot water bottle in the morning and place it under a blanket.

Kitty could sleep on the blanket if they were cold.

I think that would be safer than leaving a heated blanket on while you are out. Also boiling 1 kettle is likely to be more economical than leaving any type of heating on all day.

Droo · 27/08/2022 23:34

A cheap option is a cardboard box with a hole cut out in the front. Most cats can’t resist boxes.

DomesticShortHair · 27/08/2022 23:36

Stripedbag101 · 27/08/2022 23:24

Honestly if this thread annoys people why not scroll on.

I jump on of people are neglecting animals. I don’t see the motivation for critiquing people who want to make sure their pets are comfortable??? Yes maybe it’s a little indulgent - but who is it harming??

Good for you. My cats are my number one priority in life. And I do whatever I can to give them the best life I can.

Just didn’t want you to think that there aren’t others who share your point of view.

MayISuggestSomeThickCutSteakChipsToGoWithThat · 27/08/2022 23:37

DCat has a blanket (mine) that he's staked claim too which I lay over him during the day. On a night time I tuck it underneath him once he's settled down for the night but not so tight he's trapped. Sometimes if it's really cold he disappears completely underneath it and you can just see the blanket moving up and down as he breathes. Won't entertain a hot water bottle near him but will occasionally lay on the electric blanket. Other times he lays on my chest and snuggles up to me but when he does that he won't let me put his blanket over us both to keep my arms warm so whilst he's nice and warm with my body heat my arms are usually freezing cold. He's 15 and spends most of his time sleeping now so keeping him warm and comfortable is more important than me staying warm. If he's really
Cold he pulls the drawer under the bed open and snuggles up in between the bedding and spare towels. It's just a pity he can't close it behind him again once he's decided to come back out cos I then end up bashing my ankle or foot off it getting out of bed to feed him if he goes in during the night

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 27/08/2022 23:38

Stripedbag101 · 27/08/2022 23:24

Honestly if this thread annoys people why not scroll on.

I jump on of people are neglecting animals. I don’t see the motivation for critiquing people who want to make sure their pets are comfortable??? Yes maybe it’s a little indulgent - but who is it harming??

Totally agree. Have just spent a fortune on cat trees and a catio …. So I’m glad to find I’m not the only one to spoil their cats.

PeloAddict · 27/08/2022 23:39

Stripedbag101 · 27/08/2022 23:08

Thanks you leafy😸. I will google one now!

If you fancy spoiling them

https://www.skyeskyns.co.uk/sheepskin-rugs-and-throws/medium-sheepkin-pet-mat.html

Leafy3 · 27/08/2022 23:42

@Stripedbag101 yw. If you drape it on her favourite chair it'll be above most draughts, create a nest shape with a blanket and she'll be snug :)

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/08/2022 00:11

Cats grow thicker coats in response to cooler weather. As long as there's a soft, warm surface to sleep on and there's access to any sunlight coming in through the windows, they're perfectly warm and contented during the day. They're also experts at detecting where the hot water pipes run under the floors if you've got the heating on Frost prevention.

And at night, that's when they become your best friend to steal your heat. In our case, it's clear when it gets a bit chilly at night because we'll wake up with a furry wee shite as a hat, having stolen space between our heads (and a pillow if there's half a chance) and one making herself as long and thin as possible between our backs.

caringcarer · 28/08/2022 00:16

In the winter up until now I have left underfloor heating on in kitchen for cats. I think this year I will have to switch it off. They will not be happy but they have warm baskets with 2 fleece blankets each so they should be ok.

Suzy14837 · 28/08/2022 00:18

Our house has hardly been unoccupied for 2.5 years so the cat has got very used to having heating all day. She's also an old lady with arthritic joints. She is definitely less settled and comfortable when she's cold. I have been considering using a plug-in heat pad for her but am not sure about leaving it on when I go out.

Leafy3 · 28/08/2022 00:20

@Suzy14837 real sheepskin rug, really helps those sore joints!

BookShark · 28/08/2022 00:40

Our cats sleep under the duvet if they're scared (for which read the postman/window cleaner/anyone else has dared to knock on the door).

I assume they'll do the same again if they're cold. Or on top of my laptop which seems to be their other favourite position if I'm at home.

I'll have blanket over my knee rather than turning on the heating - definitely not doing it if it's just the cats!

MrsMoastyToasty · 28/08/2022 01:07

I'm actually thinking about using my cats to keep me warm! One draped around my shoulders and the other on my lap. I might have to get a third one to keep my feet warm.

MrsLeBouef · 28/08/2022 01:21

Get a cat cave - it they are cold they will go in it.

WtoB · 28/08/2022 01:29

Last winter Our cat would get very nosy when the heating got cold at night, she would be grumpy and very loud, and by 3am she was a nightmare
we ended up leaving a oil heater on in the front room all night for her and her bed right up close…. She was ok for afew weeks and then she decided she didnt like the dark either…
So oil heater and a lamp on all night and she was as quiet as a mouse

She was very old tho.
Sadly she is gone now

Anystarinthesky · 28/08/2022 01:35

I bought this for my cat

She loves it.

tps://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/13051-my-pets-large-foldable-pet-bed--grey.aspx

www.homebargains.co.uk/products/31891-my-pets-large-foldable-pet-bed-pinkstone.aspx

They have this too.

www.homebargains.co.uk/products/6601-my-pets-self-heating-pet-bed.aspx

Anystarinthesky · 28/08/2022 01:42

www.homebargains.co.uk/products/13051-my-pets-large-foldable-pet-bed--grey.aspx

It didn't connect to the website in my last post.

I have a soft pillow lining my one, I might get the heating pad though.

Dazedandconfused10 · 28/08/2022 01:46

My cat has never used any bed / cooling mat / item I've bought to try make her life better 😂 that said, my hot water pipes go under the floor on my landing so it's basically heated flooring and I assume that is where she will live like most years or in a cupboard. I won't change my heating to suit her, but I know she'll find a warm spot

iloveeverykindofcat · 28/08/2022 07:10

Cats grow thicker coats in response to cooler weather.
Only one of mine does. She's a hardy Welsh moggie with an extremely dense, thick, glossy black coat. The other's mostly Abysinnian and has the same short slick coat year round. You'll find her lying on a metal sewer cover in the height of summer. What I'm concerned about this winter is the fact she has an ankle fused wtih a metal plate. It doesn't bother her at all normally, I don't think she even feels it, she can run, jump and everything. But the metal is colder than bone and I'm concerned she'll feel it in the winter. Humans can have the same plate, actually. They probably do as well. I've considered putting a little sock on her but she'll have it off in no time.

BeBesideTheSea · 28/08/2022 07:21

Don’t worry if she doesn’t use the cat cave / furry doughnut bed or sheepskin rug. We discovered by accident that ours will only use any of them if they are off the floor. meaning that when we go out we pop the 2 beds at either end of the sofa and the sheepskin on the armchair!

the things we do for our cats!

Hobele · 28/08/2022 07:48

If it's a 'standard' cat, she won't be cold in a house without heating. Just leave a fluffy throw out and she'll dig herself in it if she's cold. If it's a rex/sphynx/lykoi, I'd make sure they have a warm room but they tend to eat more anyway to keep themselves warm.

sandgrown · 28/08/2022 08:01

Most farms have feral cats to keep the vermin down. They live outside all the time and while they get fed they will not let you stroke them . They always find themselves a cosy spot in one of the barns to sleep between hay bales or feed bags.