Why Do Cats Like Heating Pads – 5 Reasons!

Humans often keep personal heating pads on hand in their homes to help with sore muscles or cramps. If you have ever left your heating pad out after you used it, it is likely your cat has jumped on it to snuggle up against the warmth. So, why do cats like heating pads?

Cats like heating pads because it quickly warms their bodies. Heating pads also make cats feel safe and secure. Heating pads help older cats with arthritis, and also reduce joint stiffness in cats who have become cold.

Reasons Cats Like Heating Pads

There are a few important reasons why cats like heating pads that you may not have considered. 

Cats Love To Be Extra Warm

This one might feel self-explanatory, but cats are warm-blooded animals and automatically gravitate towards anything warm. Once they realize a heating pad puts out a source of heat, they will keep returning to that spot. For them, it is the equivalent of putting on a sweater as a human.

It Reminds Them Of Snuggling With Their Mother

Cats also love heating pads because they are reminiscent of their early days as kittens. Most cats love to snuggle, and a heating pad feels similar to their first days of life when they were cuddling with their siblings. Your cat may continue to sit on a heating pad because it makes them feel nostalgic.

It Helps Their Arthritis

Older cats tend to be the biggest fans of heating pads because it soothes their sore joints, especially those who have arthritis.

There are heating pads on the market that are specifically designed for cats, and your vet might recommend you purchase one of these if you have an older cat who needs relief from arthritis. 

Your Cat Thinks Your Heating Pad Is A Cozy Bed For Them

Most heating pads are rectangular with soft cushioned padding around them, and your cat may think they resemble a bed.

They are typically the perfect size for a cat to curl up on, making them a great napping spot for your cat. They usually are not shy to make themselves right at home anywhere they deem a comfortable spot to sleep. 

Makes Your Cat Feels Safe And Secure 

Compared to sleeping on the cold hard floor, a warm and soft heating pad is a very cozy and safe spot to snooze. Most cats are constantly seeking to uplevel their napping game, and they often find sleeping on a heating pad to be very peaceful. 

Is It Okay For A Cat To Sit On A Heating Pad

It is ok for your cat to sit on a heating pad for a while, but heating pads can be dangerous if left on for too long. Most modern heating pads have a feature where they turn off automatically after a certain amount of time, which is essential.

If a heating pad is left on for too long while unattended, it can cause a significant fire hazard in your home. Heating pads can cause house fires, especially if they are left under blankets or in your bed while still hot.

It is also written in the safety notes for most heating pads not to put the heating pad directly on your body, as it does get very hot over time and could cause burns.

Your cat may not realize when they have been sitting on a heating pad that is still turned on, and you want to make sure they do not burn themselves, especially if you have a breed of cat that does not have a thick coat of fur.  

Is A Heating Pad Good For An Old Cat 

Yes, heating pads are great for older cats. As cats get into their elderly years, they may start experiencing more difficulty jumping and moving around due to stiff joints.

This issue becomes even more prominent during colder months. A heating pad will help your cat reduce that stiffness and regain mobility in their limbs, similar to how heating pads help humans with sore joints.

In addition to helping with their mobility, heating pads are also an excellent way for older cats to keep themselves healthy.

Being cold can weaken a cat’s overall immunity, which makes them increasingly susceptible to illness. Sitting on a heating pad for a few hours a day allows your cat to counteract this, especially during winter. 

Do Kittens Need A Heating Pad?

Kittens do not need a heating pad, but they enjoy using heating pads because it reminds them of being with their family at the beginning of their life.

Until a kitten is weaned from its mother, it spent most of its days nursing from its mother’s belly along with all its siblings. The heating pad replaces that body warmth once a cat is no longer with its family.

If you adopt a kitten in the very first few weeks of their life before they are old enough to be separated from their mother, a heating pad might be essential to keep them healthy.

Very young kittens need to keep their internal body temperature high, and while you can make sure they are wrapped in blankets, it may not be enough to keep a super young kitten warm.

With your veterinarian’s recommendation, if you are taking care of a kitten under eight weeks of age, you can wrap a kitten in a blanket and then set them on a heating pad that is turned on a low setting. 

If you do this, make sure the kitten can move around if needed, and keep a close eye on the heating pad to ensure it remains at a safe temperature.  

What Temperature Should A Cat Heating Pad Be

If your cat does sit on a heating pad, it should never be hotter than 102 degrees.

While heating pads are built to be safe and not get to a dangerously hot level, it is still essential to make sure your heating pad stays within the appropriate range for your cat. That temperature matches a cat’s internal body temperature and will keep them warm and safe.  

How Do You Make A Homemade Heating Pad For Cats 

You can make a DIY homemade heating pad for your cat to test out if they would enjoy having a real heating pad of their own. To do this, you will want to start with an old sock.

Stuff the sock full of uncooked rice or oats. Tie the open end of the sock, and place it in the microwave for one or two minutes. When you remove it, test the temperature to mark sure it is warm but not too hot before giving it to your cat to use.

An even more basic homemade heating pad can be made by warming a bath towel or blanket in your dryer for ten minutes.

When the towel comes out of the dryer, it should be warm to the touch. Your cat can cuddle with it for extra warmth. Of course, a warm towel will not retain the heat for as long as a real heating pad.  

Other Ways To Keep A Cat Warm 

If you are struggling to keep a cat warm, there are other methods you can try outside of a heating pad. The simplest one is using your body heat by putting the cat on your chest or doing skin-to-skin contact with them. This is the easiest way to try and help a cat get warm if they are willing to snuggle. 

If that is not an option for you and your cat, the next best way to keep your cat warm is by purchasing a cozy cat bed for them. For maximum warmth, you will want to get a bed that has fleece or a thicker material on the inside that allows them to stay insulated. 

Another simple way to keep your cat warm is by making sure they stay active. Muscles warm up when they are in motion, so playing a fun game or throwing a toy for your cat can help them warm their internal body temperature up on a colder day .