Winter is miserable for everyone, especially your cat. Although covered in fur, cats don’t much like the cold. Staying warm is their top priority.
It’s why we constantly find them soaking up puddles of sun. If you want to keep your cat warm in the winter, but you don’t want to increase your heating bills, give these methods a shot.
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How Warm Do Cats Usually Like To Be?
Cats run an average body temperature of 100-102°F, while humans hang around 98.6°F. Your cat is already running a higher body temperature than you, so they like it a bit toasty. Even in the summer, I find my cats lying in a strip of sunshine on the floor like it wasn’t the Sahara Desert outside.
Some cat breeds need extra heat sources and protection (e.g. the Sphynx, Devon Rex, Peterbald, etc.) during colder weather. If you live in a chilly place like Minnesota, like us, you come up with creative ways to keep your cats warm in the winter.
Methods That Keep Your Cats Warm In Winter
1. Cat Caves
Unlike regular cat beds, cat caves provide both a safe haven and a warm spot in winter. This type of cat bed is covered, helping to retain your cat’s body heat while they relax. Some cat caves are made from self-warming thermal material that does this job even better.
2. Cardboard Boxes
Believe it or not, cardboard boxes are one of the best (and cheapest) ways to keep your cat warm in winter. Boxes retain your cat’s body heat just like cat caves do, which is why very few cats can resist the allure of a cardboard box. Make your own cozy cat palace with some of these tutorials from Pinterest.
3. Thermal Pad
A thermal pad is like a heating pad powered by your cat’s own body heat. It’s basically just a rectangle of fuzzy cloth with a foam shape inside to give it structure. We got ours for only $15 on Amazon (although there are other designs for modest prices too).
4. Pet Clothing
It takes a special cat to wear clothes, but our cat Loki ‘warmed up’ to his sweater when the weather got cold. If you live in a colder climate and you want your cat to wear pet clothing, start early in their life. The younger, the better. Older cats have a hard time adjusting.
5. Cuddles!
This method keeps BOTH of you warm. Even if your cat isn’t a lap cat, they’ll usually hang around you if the weather is chilly. Encourage them to sit or lay down with you by spreading a soft blanket across your legs. Microfiber plush and faux fur blankets are a big hit in our household.
Other Ways To Stay Warm
There are plenty of things you can do to keep your house warm without turning up the heat, but the main thing is to make sure your windows are airtight. If you have older windows like we do, use 3M insulation wrap to seal your windows.
You should also use draft guards for doors, window air conditioning units, and any other areas where drafts can come in. Your furnace won’t have to work as hard to keep the house warm, and your energy bills will go down.
Have extra blankets on hand that you’re comfortable with your cat using. Some materials like suede and velvet are difficult to clean, and they’re magnets for cat hair.
