Cat Heated Beds
Cat Heated Beds – when the heat rising from your laptop’s charger or coming through your radiator, your cat is going to make it its goal to sit on it. This is why it is a great idea to provide a cat heated beds to your feline buddy as the mercury drops, particularly if they like to stay outdoors.
The warmth can be particularly soothing for thin or sparsely-haired cats and cats who are recovering from an illness or surgery. Outdoor or feral cats in colder areas will especially look for warmth to protect them during colder weather.
In this article, we look at some factors you need to consider when purchasing a heated cat bed.
Guide to Purchasing a Heated Cat Bed
Here is a list of things you need to keep in mind when purchasing a heated cat bed.
1. Indoor or Outdoor Cat Heated Beds
If you have an indoor cat, you’ll have plenty of options to pick from for heated cat beds and pads. There are also a number of options for heated cat beds for outdoor cats that you can place in porches, garages, or barns. Outdoor cat beds usually have a roof, whereas most indoor cat beds do not have a covering.
2. Surface Area of the Location
The next thing to consider is where you will be placing the heated cat bed. For instance, are you planning to fit it on a small table next to a window? If there are any space limitations, you should measure the area and jot down its dimensions. This way, you can check the dimensions of the heated cat bed against the size of the cat bed and make sure that it’s going to fit.
3. Size of the Cat Heated Beds
Make sure the heated cat bed is sufficiently large to warm your feline’s body. A heated cat bed with a bigger surface area lets your cat move around between non-heated and heated areas as they like.
4. Washability
Given the amount of debris and fur cat beds seem to catch, it’s always a good idea to invest in a machine washable heated cat bed. You’ll just have to unzip the cover and toss it in the washing machine. Certain models allow you to remove the heating element before washing it. Nevertheless, all brands don’t offer this feature. Thus, make sure to keep an eye out for the machine washable models.
5. Foam
If your feline friend has joint issues, arthritis, or is overweight, you might want to get a heated cat bed that has memory foam or thick foam. This kind of foam offers a higher level of support and can maximise the comfort level of your cat.
6. Fabric
Since you’ll be washing the bed, you should double-check to make sure the fabric is colour-fast. If the design bleeds or fades when it gets wet, it could lose its attractiveness.
Moreover, you should choose beds made with dryer-safe or quick-drying fabrics. This will prevent mould and mildew growth which could be harmful to your cat’s health. For example, you might want to avoid cotton as it takes longer to dry and get something with polyester, nylon, or other quick-drying fabrics.
7. Removable Covers on Cat Heated Beds
Machine washable, removable covers will help you keep your heated cat bed clean. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation of having to clean your cat’s bed without a removable cover. If the manufacturer is selling extra cat bed covers, you should buy one as it will be useful to have on laundry day.
8. Chew Proof
When choosing a heated cat bed, you need to make sure that the bed is chew-safe. For example, electrical cords need to be chew-safe and thick to prevent the risk of electrocution.
9. Easy Entry of your Cat Heated Beds
Purchase a bed with low sides. This way, less mobile senior felines can enter and exit without any problem.
10. Privacy Level
Certain cats prefer the privacy and cosiness of a covered bed. However, other felines prefer a more open and mattress-like design.
11. Loose Strings and Fabrics
If the heated cat bed’s design includes hanging elements or frills, your feline could gnaw at these loose parts and ingest them. Thus, you need to find a bed that doesn’t have a lot of loose materials or strings.
12. Firmness
Cats usually don’t like to feel as if they are sinking. However, they also like to knead – it’s their way to self-soothe. Thus, you should choose a cat bed that’s firm but still has a bit to give to it.
13. Safety Settings
Electrically heated cat beds without a thermostat and safety precautions present a threat not just to your car but also to your house. When you first start using a new heated cat bed, carefully check the settings and ensure the bed is working the way it should. Sick and old cats with aching joints and other issues might not be able to realise that their skin or fur is burning in time to prevent injury. Thus, you’ll have to keep an eye out on things to check if everything is okay.
14. Durability
The best heated cat beds are those that are long-lasting and can withstand a bit of biting and scratching. If you’re buying a furniture-style cat bed, then make sure it has a sturdy structure and won’t fall when your feline is in it. This is particularly essential for window-perch beds where the fall to the floor might be significant.
Last Few Words
Finding a heated cat bed should be quite easy now that you have some guidelines to work with. Focus on providing your cat with the highest level of security and comfort when shopping around, and don’t settle for anything but the best for your furry friend.
Make sure to check out some amazing heated cat beds by Petnap here that your fur baby is surely going to love!