How Do I Keep My Indoor Cat Warm in Winter?

Give your indoor cat a choice of warm places: a bed off the floor and away from drafts, a sunny perch, and, if you like, a heated cat bed with room to move off the warm part.

Cats are comfortable at far higher temperatures than people are. Warm spots they can pick for themselves do more than turning up the thermostat.

The safety side is short, and it matters most with electric heat. The sections below cover where to put each bed, what to check, and the signs that need a vet.

Do indoor cats really get cold?

More than you might think. Every animal has a band of temperatures where it stays warm without spending extra energy, called the thermoneutral zone.

For domestic cats, that band is 30 to 38°C, or about 86 to 100°F, according to a review of cat housing research in The Scientific World Journal. The same review notes most homes sit closer to 22°C, around 72°F.

That gap is the surprising part. A room that feels just right to you sits more than 10 degrees below the bottom of a cat's comfort band.

The authors conclude that being slightly too cold may be a common experience for pet cats, and also an easy one to put right. Warm bedding, resting spots and boxes all help, because they let a cat warm itself.

Some cats need more help than others. The AVMA notes that very young and very old pets have a harder time regulating their body temperature. Merck's veterinary manual adds that kittens can't regulate their own temperature at all until about 4 weeks old.

Where should my cat sleep in winter?

Start with the floor. The ASPCA recommends a warm place to sleep that is off the floor and away from all drafts, such as a cozy bed with a warm blanket or pillow.

Height helps for another reason too. The AAFP and ISFM environmental needs guidelines describe a cat's safe place as private and secure, and often raised. A shelf, a window perch or a cat tree can all double as a warm bed.

A few details from those guidelines make a perch more inviting:

• Make it wide and long enough for your cat to stretch out fully.
• A hammock-style dip in the middle helps a cat feel hidden.
• Include one resting spot with a view outside. In winter, a sunny window is often the warmest place in the house.

Offer more than one. The same guidelines ask for key resources to be multiple and separated, so each cat can pick a spot without competing.

A covered bed, a cardboard box with a fleece blanket and a sunny sill give your cat a range of temperatures to choose from.

Winter air is dry as well as cold. The ASPCA suggests keeping your home humidified, because cold, dry air can leave pets with itchy, flaking skin.

Is a heated cat bed a good idea?

It can be, and the review in The Scientific World Journal lists heating elements among the ways to help cats stay comfortable. The question is which kind, and where it goes.

There are two broad types. A self-warming bed has no plug. It is lined with an insulating layer that holds in the cat's own body heat, so there is nothing to overheat and no cord to chew.

An electric heated cat bed or pad gives off its own warmth. It suits a cat who feels the cold, but it needs more care. The AVMA warns that heated pet mats are still capable of causing burns, even when used with caution.

The key is being able to move away. Merck's veterinary manual explains that heating pads can burn newborn animals because they are incapable of moving away from a surface that gets too hot. An adult cat needs the same escape route.

A few habits keep electric heat safe:

1. Choose a bed made for pets, and follow the maker's instructions for temperature and covers.
2. Heat only part of the bed, or place it beside an unheated bed, so your cat can move off the warmth whenever she likes.
3. Run the cord behind furniture where it can't be chewed.
4. Take extra care with kittens, senior cats, and any cat who moves stiffly or slowly. These are the cats least able to shift off a hot spot.
5. Check her skin now and then if she sleeps on heat for long stretches.

A contented cat in a warm bed is easy to spot. Our guide to signs of happiness in cats shows what that relaxed body language looks like.

How do I keep cords and heaters safe?

Every electric warm spot comes with a cord, and cords attract cats. The ASPCA notes that kittens, and sometimes adult cats, love to bite into electrical cords.

A bite can cause severe burns in the mouth and a buildup of fluid in the lungs, according to the ASPCA.

Its advice is to hide cords behind furniture, steer your cat to a toy when she heads for one, or use a bite-deterrent spray from a pet store.

Space heaters need distance. The AVMA warns they can burn a curious pet or be knocked over and start a fire. Keep them where your cat can't brush past, and never leave one running in an empty room.

Winter is also a good time for a quick home check. The AVMA suggests having your furnace looked at before the cold sets in and installing carbon monoxide detectors to keep the whole family safe.

What winter dangers reach indoor cats?

Cornell's Feline Health Center says the best way to avoid winter problems is to keep cats indoors at all times. Two hazards still reach the house, mostly through the garage and the driveway.

The first is antifreeze. Cornell warns that it is extremely toxic to cats and that they are drawn to its taste. Merck puts the lethal amount for a cat at only 1 to 2 teaspoons.

Clean up any spill straight away, and store the container where no pet can reach it. The ASPCA suggests choosing products made with propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.

The second is the car itself. Cornell notes that cats seek warmth in wheel wells and engine compartments. Even if your cat stays inside, a neighbor's cat may not, so bang on the hood or honk before starting the engine.

If you share your home with a dog, its winter needs are different. Our guide on how cold is too cold for dogs covers coats, boots and walks.

How can I tell if my cat is too cold?

The AVMA lists looking for warm places to burrow among the signs a pet is too cold. Indoors, that shows up in where she rests. A cat who starts living under the covers or beside a heating vent may want a warmer bed.

The AVMA's full list also includes shivering, seeming anxious, slowing down and weakness. Any of those means she needs warming up, and a vet call if she doesn't perk up quickly.

Call your vet promptly if your cat:

• feels cold to the touch and seems weak, confused or unusually slow. Merck lists weakness, confusion, shallow breathing and a slow pulse as signs of hypothermia.
• is a kitten under 4 weeks old who feels cool, since young kittens can't warm themselves
• has a sore, red or hairless patch of skin after lying on a heat source
• drools, won't eat, coughs, has trouble breathing or seems low on energy after being near a cord. The ASPCA lists these as possible signs of chewing an electrical cord.
• may have licked antifreeze. Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 right away.

Questions new cat parents ask

What temperature is too cold for an indoor cat?

No veterinary body sets one indoor number. Research puts a cat's comfort band at about 86 to 100°F, well above a typical home, so offer warm spots rather than chasing a thermostat setting.

Are heated cat beds safe?

Self-warming beds have no power source. Electric ones are safe with care: choose one made for pets, heat only part of the bed so your cat can move off it, and keep the cord out of reach.

Do cats like blankets?

Many do. The ASPCA suggests a cozy bed with a warm blanket or pillow, placed off the floor and out of drafts.

Do kittens need extra warmth?

Yes. Merck notes kittens can't regulate their body temperature until about 4 weeks old, and the AVMA says very young pets stay more sensitive to cold after that.

Sources

• Stella JL, Croney CC. Environmental Aspects of Domestic Cat Care and Management: Implications for Cat Welfare. The Scientific World Journal, 2016
• Ellis SLH, et al. AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2013
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Cold Weather Tips for Cats
• American Veterinary Medical Association: Cold Weather Animal Safety
• ASPCA: Cold Weather Safety Tips
• ASPCA: Keeping Your Foster Cats Out of Trouble
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Keeping Pets Safe During Cold Winter Months, 2025
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of the Neonate in Dogs and Cats

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.