Energy prices and keeping pets warm

Elisheba

My cats are 15 and 16.  I have never left the heating on for them, or my dog, and they all seem fine.  I have put some old jumpers in the airing cupboard where the 16 year old like to sleep and she is very happy curled up in those.  The 15 years old most often curls up on the back of a sofa (not the many rugs I have left out for them all to use!).  They are designed to tolerate cooler temperatures with their fur, so I wouldn't worry too much.

SensibleSarah

I'm also not one to leave the heating on for pets - I don't turn it on for myself most of the time either. My last dog used to burrow herself under blankets sometimes as she was fairly thin-coated but my current two dogs don't seem to feel the cold at all. My remaining cat (lost two oldies last year) will use a radiator bed when the heating is on but otherwise has igloo beds and will sometimes get herself under a blanket/throw that I have on all sofas and my bed - but she does this in the summer too so don't think it's her being cold as such, just the way she prefers to sleep. 

Agusya

Mnoee said:

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. 

thanks! I wont worry then Can I ask since your house 15c or so what do you wear? I will need to probably turn my heating off from April completely (I dont cope well in cold my house atm is 18c with normal prices it was at 20-21)

Agusya

T
ripleH said:

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.

I havent seen sun in months . Its been pretty bad winter -wet and windy with literally no sun . Not sure how my house is positioned but in living room I have windows on both sides

Agusya

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.

that is a good idea thank you!

Mnoee

Agusya said:

Mnoee said:

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. 

thanks! I wont worry then Can I ask since your house 15c or so what do you wear? I will need to probably turn my heating off from April completely (I dont cope well in cold my house atm is 18c with normal prices it was at 20-21)

I tend to wear leggings or tights under my trousers, with a t-shirt, light jumper with a heavier jumper on top. Plus fluffy slipper socks over my normal socks. I use light fingerless gloves sometimes too, but not every day. Basically lots of light layers keep you warmer than a single heavy layer. I'm often dragging a hoover round or similar, so I can take some layers off easily when I'm warmer from activity. It's only if I'm sat doing nothing that I need all the layers.

It does take a while to adjust to a cooler temperature, but it's very do-able. 

TBagpuss

Agusya said:

Mnoee said:

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. 

thanks! I wont worry then Can I ask since your house 15c or so what do you wear? I will need to probably turn my heating off from April completely (I don't cope well in cold my house atm is 18c with normal prices it was at 20-21)

Layering is good - thin base layers - leggings and long sleeved tops. You can get base layers in places like millets or Blacks, which are designed for people to wear when thy are hiking etc. , but even things like wearing tights under trousers, or an extra  shirt will give some of the same benefits .
Having several thin layers is usually warmer than one thick layer, as you benefit from the air trapped between the layers (also makes it easier to take a layer off as you warmup!) . Also, many people find that they feel warmer and more comfortable if their extremities are warm - so a couple of pairs of socks, plus slippers with soles, to keep your feet warm can help you to feel much warmer and more comfortable all over - 
Hot drinks and meals can also help . Also moving - getting up and doing something energetic for 5-10 minutes every hour or so can help you stay warmer (and having a fleecy blanket or similar to snuggle under when you are not feeling energetic can be great too, you're heating you rather than the whole room / whole house. Encouraging kitty to snuggle with to chare heat is nice , too. 

For the cat - unless you have a Sphinx or other variety with no or very little hair, they will usually be OK -their fur is pretty efficient at keeping them warm - you may find that she moults a lot when the weather warms up - my cats both get much thicker coats in the winter (they have access to the outside and both chose to spend a fair amount of time outside) When it starts to warm up in Spring they shed - my boy, who has a thicker cat, looks like a completely different cat in the summer as his winter coat is so much thick. (he's another who will go out and roll in the snow for fun, and will stay out in the rain for quite long periods. My girl doesn't have such a thick coat and the change is not as noticeable, and she comes indoors much quicker when it is cold or wet.

It you are concerned about yours you could set the heating to come on for an hour in the middle of the day so that the house doesn't get really col, and you could consider buying a heating pad - there are pads sold specifically for pets - most of them have timers and safety settings so they will cut out if the overheat, so it she is elderly you could think about getting one and have it set up to come on for half an hour or so a couple of times a day.

I personally have my heating on for an hour or some in the morning when I am getting up and then gains from about 5.30 when I get in from work. It's on frost setting the rest of the time - I'm sure it goes well below 17 during the day when I am out.