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With energy bills continuing to rise, most of us are looking to keep our fuel bills down and finding alternative ways to keep warm - in our house it’s blankets, slippers, hot water bottles and extra layers!
But what about the cats?
Give a little extra thought to how your cat used to keep cosy (radiator beds? That sweet spot on the under floor heating) and how this might have changed. Here’s how you can keep your cat warm and snuggly until warmer days return:
📦 A warm cat bed
Lots of cats like to sleep on our furniture, but having their own beds can help to keep them toasty. Soft cat igloos or the cave type beds are fab for them to curl up inside and keep warm, as are the super fluffy donut beds (and in my experience - the cheaper the better for getting the fluff really soft and snuggly rather than the more expensive ones!).
If your cat is more of a cardboard box fan, provide plenty of them to give them lots of choice and position them out of draughty areas. Finally, don’t underestimate the attraction of a pillow and blanket fort for your cat (and yourself obviously!) that you can build in your cat’s favourite places.
🥵 Use heat packs with care
Hot water bottles or the microwave heat packs can be excellent at creating warm spots where you need them. However, use them carefully so it doesn’t become too hot for your cat, especially older cats who don’t like to move around too much.
Either wait until these are a warm temperature (rather than hot) before placing under a blanket or bed, or use them to warm up your cat’s bed and remove them before your cat gets in. Self heating cat beds look ideal, who has one?! Let me know how good it is…!
🌅 Give them access to warmer areas
If your cat likes to dig inside your cardigan or under your jumper like mine, let them in! (As if I need to tell you that 😉) If you have a heat source such as a fire place, log burner or electric heater, place extra bedding for your cat nearby (at a safe distance of course) and help them make use of the space. Chilly, but sunny days can still provide areas of sunshine through your windows so use these too.
This is extra important if your cat is not in your bedroom at night (both mine snuggle up with us overnight), they are older and less able to find a warm spot themselves and if they have shorter fur - rexs and sphinxes - I’ve got you!
☔️ If your cat has outside access, always make sure they have unrestricted access back inside.
Otherwise you may find they find shelter elsewhere (taking advantage of an open cat flap in another house) or brace the cold sitting on the door step waiting to get back in. If you have strays in your area, providing an enclosed cat shelter outside can help them find a warm, safe place to rest.
One final thought:
🧣 Avoid dressing them up unless they are VERY comfortable with this already. Body suits or jumpers might do the trick in keeping them warm, but the discomfort and potential stress of wearing them may cause you both problems in the long run.
🔥Keep cosy all!🔥
#keepingcatswarm #catbehaviour
