If your cat sits in front of the heater, you probably have a lot of questions. In today’s article, I will explain why cats sit in front of heaters, and explain why it can be dangerous.
Why do cats sit in front of heaters?
Cats sit in front of heaters because they have a warm natural body temperature. While humans have a body temperature of 98.6 F, cats’ natural body temperature ranges from 101 F to 102.5 F.
This is mostly due to the fact that cats are descendants of wild cats from the desert, where the temperature is very hot.
Cats feel more comfortable in the heat than the cold. This is why cats will frequently lay out in the sun, or burrow under warm blankets.
Warm temperatures are very comfortable for a cat and help them relax. That being said, is it dangerous for a cat to be too close to a heater?
Is it dangerous for a cat to sit in front of a heater
If your cat sits in front of a heater for short periods of time, it should be fine. However, it can be very dangerous if your cat falls asleep in front of a heater.
If your cat only lays in front of the heater for short periods of time, they will most likely be fine. They will leave if they get too hot or uncomfortable.
However, the problems begin once your cat falls asleep in front of a heater.
Cat falls asleep in front of heater
If your cat falls asleep in front of a heater, they might not notice when it gets too hot. Additionally, due to the fur covering their skin, cats can sometimes be delayed when recognizing when it is too hot. This can cause them to unwillingly stay too long in front of a heater, which can result in burns.
Should I let my cat sit in front of a heater?
While it’s fine if they only sit in front of a heater for a couple minutes, I recommend that you play it safe and don’t allow this behavior.
Also, even if your cat spends a lot of short periods of time in front of the heater, it can eventually dry out their skin and cause irritation.
If you want to let them sit in front of the heater, there are some precautions you should take.
- Don’t let them fall asleep next to the heater.
- While they can be close, don’t let their fur touch the heater.
- Try putting their bed a foot or two away from the heater
- Stay in the room and monitor them while they are next to the heater.
- Set a timer on the heater if you need to leave the room.
- Put cover over the heater if it comes with one
- Use a heater that rotates and doesn’t stay fixated on one spot
- Put a fence around the heater so that your cat can’t touch it
Related article: Why do cats like air vents?
Other ways to keep your cat warm
Luckily, there are plenty of other safe ways to keep your cat warm, including cat heating pads, turning up the house heater, and letting them outside.
Cat heating pads
Cat heating pads are very popular and are a great way to keep your cat warm. They are pretty cheap and can be purchased on amazon for around only $20.
Many of them are combined with a bed to make it a nice, soft space that your cat will love to sit and lay on. They are also way safer than portable heaters.
Heating pads are also great for a cat in heat.
Turning up central heating
You can also reduce your cat’s desire for a personal heater by turning up the temperature on your central heating. This can keep them warm and they probably won’t be as inclined to sit next to the portable heater.
Let them outside
Of course, this is only an option if you have an outdoor cat and live in a warm area. However, if you do have an outdoor cat and live in a warm climate, you should let your cat spend more time outside.
They can easily bask in the sun outside instead of crowding next to an indoor heater.
You should not use candles in your house, as the wax can get stuck in their fur.
How to tell if your cat is burned
It is very important that you know the signs of skin burns on your cat. It can sometimes be difficult to spot because cats are very good at concealing their pain.
However, if you suspect your cat might be burned, you should keep an eye out for the following symptoms.
Burned hair
You should closely examine your cat’s fur to see if any of the hairs are burned. You can also probably be able to smell the burnt hair.
Red patches on skin
A cat that is burned will likely have discolored patches of skin that turn red. They will eventually blister over.
Apprehensiveness
If your cat starts to act very anxious and doesn’t let you touch them, there is a chance they have burned skin.
Dry skin
Lastly, your cat might be burned if their skin starts to dry out and become flakey. This will likely cause them to start itching their skin. This can eventually lead to an infection.
If you observe any of these symptoms on your cat after they sit near a heater, you should contact a vet immediately.