Energy prices and keeping pets warm

Agusya

Due to high heating prices im no longer able to have home as warm as I would like to. I would leave heating on when i go to work so my cat(previously 2 until recently) is comfortable but i cant really do that any more - I do have it set up so temp doesnt go below 17 degrees but thats not amazing . Shes 16 and i dont want her to be cold. She has radiator bed which for some reason hasnt been using this winter, i got her new igloo bed and she has thermal -this one with foil in- blanket in. I was thinking about getting her electric blanket which would be on most of the time but afraid it could be expensive to run. How do you keep your pets warm?? Thanks  

tizerbelle

My cat has a fur coat, it keeps her warm!

We have always had cats and dogs - even before central heating was a thing and have never left any heating on just for the animals.  Heck we don't even have the heating on during the day if I'm working from home. 

The_Unready

Can you knit a nice jumper for the cat to go over their fur coat?

Perhaps some nice booties as well?

Mnoee

I'd be wary of leaving an electric blanket on all day - I know they're a lot safer than they used to be, but there's still a risk of fire. 

I think you're worrying unnecessarily. You have plenty of options already for your kitty to stay warm.

Right now it's 15c in the warmest part of my house and my cats have chosen the conservatory to snuggle up in, despite it being the coolest room by quite a long way. They're a bit younger than yours, so the option to run around to stay warm is still on the cards - as well as the usual cat beds of various styles in every room of the house that they'll ignore as they'd prefer to sit on a discarded hoodie on the sofa. 

TripleH

Our youngest cat hates the warmth (long haired and young), she likes nothing more than rolling around in the snow.

What position does your home face? Our previous home was cold (often warmer outside than inside especially on ground floor). Our eldest (17), would sleep on the morning on our bed, we would leave the curtains closed all the time in winter (except on a weekend to air). Then in the afternoon when the sun hit the top floor, she'd go up there and sunbathe until night-time. She was more than happy with that and in fact became a lot more active and social despite her age.

I can't remember the direction we faced but if you create little dens that utilise the sun as much as possible that will help.

Mrs_Z

Could you make a bed for her with a hot water bottle underneath?  That would provide extra warmth for few hours.  It's difficult to say when it's too cold for cats but if you offer them a choice, then it's up to them.  We have couple of Devon Rexes which definitely prefer staying near the radiators but they have a thinner coat compared to moggies.

MovingForwards

My cat, 15 this year, can go where she wants inside.

There's blankets on the sofa and bed for her to adjust as she sees fit. When the sun comes shining through, she takes herself off for a sunbathe.

I've never left heating on in all the years I've had cats.

Slinky

Mrs_Z said:

Could you make a bed for her with a hot water bottle underneath?  That would provide extra warmth for few hours.  It's difficult to say when it's too cold for cats but if you offer them a choice, then it's up to them.  We have couple of Devon Rexes which definitely prefer staying near the radiators but they have a thinner coat compared to moggies.

Our cat from my childhood was put outside at night (yikes, wouldn't do it to our cat today). Dad built a little bunker outside the back door which gave shelter, it had an old coat in it which we used to put a hot water bottle under. From time to time, we'd open the door and invite the cat in, often he'd stay outside preferring his bed to our not very well heated home.

MalMonroe

Aw, I really do love when people are so kind to their pets.

We've had cats for over 30 years (not the same ones, sadly) and when we first started owning them I went out to work and my daughter to school. I was a single parent and couldn't afford to leave heating on all day in our absence. For years our two boy cats were left in with no heating but they had the whole house to roam in and they also had warm and cosy cat blankets and beds. Of course they could, and did, snuggle up together. But not having heating on during winter didn't seem to do them any harm as one of those cats lived to be 18 and the other one 17. We decided that we wouldn't own any more pets because we found it so heartbreaking when they died. 

Then we found a tiny kitten by the side of a busy road and obviously couldn't leave it there. She is now 12. However, our circumstances have now changed - I'm retired and also work from home so have the heating on most of the time in winter. Our cat benefits from that but if I was still having to go out to work, I wouldn't leave the heating on.

I honestly don't think cats suffer and that 17 degrees will be more than ample for your cat - also, she's going to be really cosy in her igloo bed.  Plus, as someone has said, she has her fur. 

Marsha2007

I've never left the heating on for any pets I've had. Our two cats are old - 13 years but they migrate upstairs during the day as the sun comes in and it's warmer. I have a big fluffy fleece on the beds which they snuggle up in or I've put their beds behind the bedroom door out of any draughts. They won't go cold! 

TripleH

Our middle 2 cuddle for warmth, usually in a box somewhere housing a cushion.

Forgot about hot water bottles. Our second eldest comandeers my wife's whenever she has one for her back.