A reader writes:

I saw an electric heated cat bed at the pet store the other day, and it got me wondering how I’d know if I needed it. Our condo temperature varies wildly with the seasons. How can I tell if our cat is too cold? What are the best ways to help her stay warm when she needs to?

Dear Readers,

When cats want more warmth, they seek out soft substances which wrap around them and hold in the heat. We can see if our cat is drawn near radiators and other heat sources. If we find our cat curled up with their paws tucked in and their nose buried in their fur, this is their most heat conserving position.

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Cats aren’t necessarily too cold if they do any, or all, of these things. Cats will automatically conserve heat in some way as the temperature drops, even if they are in a relaxed posture in other ways.

But if we rarely find the cat uncurled, or away from a particularly warm or sheltered spot, we might want to make sure they have more spots, especially ones where they can spend time with us. If we have a lean, short-haired cat, or an older cat, or a cat with thyroid problems or other medical conditions, it might be a loving move for us to make sure they have a spot or two they can use to warm up.

It can be as simple as a blanket on the floor near a heat vent, or a bed we plug in that makes its own heat. We can get a play tunnel or a cave-like bed which shuts out drafts, and see if our cat likes it.

Don’t be shy about announcing what we are doing, speculate on where to put it, and make a fuss over bringing it home and setting it up. This is fun for the cat as well as for us.

Yes, I know.

What if my cat doesn’t like their new bed?

We worry our cat will shun their new, fussed over, bed. But what we like in a bed might not be what our cat likes. Here’s what to look for:

Properties. A cat doesn’t necessarily want a furry fabric. Insulating qualities are more important. See if the bed has lots of cushioning if we know our cat likes that. If they sprawl on the floor, a soft mat might be a better choice.

Another thing we might not know is if a cat bed might be lined with some kind of crackly material, often to help reflect the cat’s heat back at them. This can be a feature some cats love, but some cats find the noise annoying.

It makes sense to get a washable bed; and then wash it when we get home. What the bed has been through will be written all over it, scent-wise, but this could be a bad thing. If any of the smells has bad memories for our cat, they won’t find it appealing. Make it smell like our house and reassure the cat.

Placement. Where we put the bed is far more important than anything else. If the bed is in a poor spot for a bed, it won’t be a bed.

If our cat already has chosen some good spots to sleep in, see if we can’t put the bed there. Even if it’s on our bed, or the couch or chair, it’s still more softness, and it’s easier to clean when we can remove it.

If we want to encourage the cat to use a new spot, place it somewhere a cat can hang out without being disturbed or getting in the way. Don’t put it in a rarely trafficked room unless the cat is already sleeping there. We want them to hang out near us.

Plugin. We can get beds which have a heater in them. Is it safe to have them in a cat bed? That depends.

Electric blankets often come with a warning to keep them away from pets. This is because both dogs and cats can chew on the cords and get a nasty shock. There’s also the electrical/magnetic fields; some cats are sensitive to them. There has been some concerns about constantly having a magnetic field so close to our bodies, so many use the electric heater only for warming, and then turn it off.

We can also put the bed on a timer so it’s not on all the time. A well-insulated bed will retain the heat, especially if the cat is there.

See if the heat sources are “shielded” against magnetic fields, are waterproofed, and do not put the cords near the surface where the cat is sleeping. Of course, if the bed gets wet, we need to be able to take out the heating element and wash the rest of the bed.

Whether we buy beds or blankets, our cats will appreciate our concern. Don’t forget to remind them that we, too, are good sources of heat.

Cuddling warms us inside and out.

Here are my tips on keeping cats cool. Take some care with cats and heat sources, and find out why cats love to sleep in the sun.

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