How to heat a passivehouse with cats 6 October 2022 at 8:25AM in Energy 28 replies 2.3K views

Green_hopeful

https://c60design.co.uk/many-cats-take-heat-passive-house/ We have three cats in the room and two humans and it’s two degrees warmer than the rest of the house. Just wondering how many more we need. Turns out it’s cheaper to heat with gas. 

Alnat1

There's also the problem off having to let many cats in and out of the room, unless you can cope with a row of stinky litter trays? Heat would be lost each time doors were opened especially if they wanted to go outdoors.

Green_hopeful

Yes that’s a disadvantage. They do like you to open the door to go out and then immediately back in the door you just closed. Ours sleep 95% of the time which saves on the door opening. One is nearly 6kg so I think she will be producing a bit more than 14 watts. They are also good for heat the person because two like to sleep on me. 

JohnB47

Just some thoughts.

I can't see a date mentioned anywhere on that website, so it's probable that it does not take into account the recent hike in cat food prices.

Anyway, when a cat indicates that it wants to come in or go out of a door, you open it and the cat just sits there looking at you. Who knows what they're thinking?

Apparently we loose most of our heat via our heads. Now if you could train a cat to curl up and sleep on your head, it might just be cheaper than putting the heating on.

MattMattMattUK

The problem with cats is that the home of everyone who has cats smells of cats, they will claim that it does not, but to those of it without cats there is a distinct cat smell and if they have a litter tray there is also a distinct cat urine smell. 

Also cat food would cost more than heating your home in the first place. 

Alnat1

True, you'll have to input a much greater quantity of energy (food) than you'll get out in heat.

I suppose the litter tray might give off a little heat for a while after use?

ariarnia

if the cats were agreeable an insulated and well fitted cat flap would minimise heat loss. im also thinking you would need less cats than that as out cats when inside like to be where the people are so maybe 5 cats would be enough to keep the lounge warm (ignoring the heat generated by the humans in the room) and the rest of the house could be colder. i will have to suggest to OH this means we should get another three cats... 

EssexHebridean

JohnB47 said:

Just some thoughts.

I can't see a date mentioned anywhere on that website, so it's probable that it does not take into account the recent hike in cat food prices.

Anyway, when a cat indicates that it wants to come in or go out of a door, you open it and the cat just sits there looking at you. Who knows what they're thinking?

Apparently we loose most of our heat via our heads. Now if you could train a cat to curl up and sleep on your head, it might just be cheaper than putting the heating on.

Some years ago we had a cat whose favoured sleeping position was indeed curled up around the top of my head. I can confirm that I have NEVER slept warmer! 

Green_hopeful

One of my cats does like to sleep on my head in the summer. I can also vouch for how hot that is.  In the winter she likes to sleep on my neck which is also quite warm but equally annoying.

The cat litter is in the en-suite and I can say it does sometimes smell and I definitely notice it but that’s my own fault for not washing out the tray properly. 

I have to feed the cats anyway or they make it plain they are not happy. So whilst their food is not cheap it’s an inevitable cost of owning cats. 

On a similar subject I have considered heating my greenhouse with our ducks. Their house is always toasty in the morning but the greenhouse is always so crammed with plants that there would be very little room for the ducks.

Alnat1

I've yet to find a well insulated cat flap, they all cause a huge draught. If anyone finds one, please post details

GingerTim

Get some sheep instead?