Heated Cat Beds

January 29, 2026

Devices to Keep Little Ones Cozy

Candilee Jackson

In mid-November, some of us enjoyed (or endured!) falling temperatures for the first time which heralded the arrival of our first snow. Household thermostats are now reading somewhere in the low seventies, keeping everyone warm. However, if there is a litter of kittens in the house, the need for warmth takes on a whole new meaning.

Without a consistent source of heat, even a thermostat set at sixty-eight degrees can be deadly. “Kittens under three to four weeks of age cannot effectively generate and retain heat, and instead depend on access to an external source of warmth.”¹ Usually, mama cat takes care of the heating situation, but if the kittens are motherless for some reason or the kitten is a “singleton,” the responsibility for a heat source is on us, their human guardians.

A scientific study showed that kittens housed in warmer conditions (90°F) and relative humidity (50%) had better growth rates and lower rates of death than those housed at a cooler temperature – reinforcing the “critical impact of environmental warmth on overall health and survival.”¹

 

Hypothermia Risk

A leading cause of kitten mortality, hypothermia is a major consideration in proper kitten care. A heat source can help prevent hypothermia. “Hypothermia contributes to immune suppression, slowed digestion, and organ failure.”¹

Options for Heat Sources

• Electric heating pads
• Microwave heating disc or pad
• Incubator
• Rice-filled socks AKA “rice moms”
• Single-use hand warmers
• Self-warming heating pads
• Enclosed cat beds AKA“cat clams”

Each of these products varies in cost and comes with pros, cons, and tips for optimal usage.

Electric Heating Pad¹

Affordable and long-lasting, these items provide consistent heat. Prior to purchase, several tips should be considered. The pad should have a washable, easy-to-sanitize cover. Next, some heating pads have a two-hour shut-off timer, and since the goal is consistent heat, this type of heating pad should be avoided.  There are also heating pads made specifically for pets, designed not to get too hot. These are preferred. A “medium” setting should be selected, and “always provide a warm zone and a cool zone so that the kitten can move towards and away from the heat.”¹ On the downside, an electric device is not transportable or usable in a car.

Microwavable Heating Disc or Pad¹

Microwavable heating items are moderately affordable, do not require an electrical source, and are easy to sanitize. Some come with washable covers, and can “provide steady heat for roughly six hours.”¹ On the downside, this item can overheat, causing potential danger to the kitten. Additionally, the “heat is strongest after microwaving, and dissipates over the course of several hours.”¹ Before purchase, check the wattage of your microwave to ensure it is compatible with the heating product you are considering.

Incubator¹

Ideally, an incubator would be the “Rolls Royce” of heat sources; however, this luxury comes with prohibitive issues, including expense and size, and it is not transportable. However, if cost is not an option, an incubator provides ambient heat and is consistent in temperature regulation. Most will also have ports for oxygen and nebulizer use.

“Rice Mom”¹

This heat source is homemade, constructed with items available in most homes: old gym socks, a needle and thread, and unflavored/uncooked rice. How-to videos are available online and on YouTube. While not a favorite choice of this writer, this option is great during emergencies when nothing else is available. On the downside, this option is not a long-term solution, as the heat dissipates after 2 hours, and several “rice moms” are needed to warm a kitten nest adequately. It should be noted that once microwaved, there is a strong odor.

Single-Use Hand Warmers¹

These small warmers are affordable, but “a wasteful product to use long-term because it is disposable, and the product is dangerous if ingested.”¹ However, these warmers are easy to keep on hand and provide the fastest source of heat in an emergency. For optimal use, the warmers should be covered with a soft fleece blanket, and the kittens should be checked regularly to make sure they aren’t teething on the warmers.

Self-warming Heating Pads²

Self-warming heating sources come in pads or beds, and, as their name suggests, the animal’s body heat provides a reflective source of warmth when the animal simply lies on the pad. Affordability varies depending on size and shape, and cleaning is simple. However, kittens need to generate enough of their own body heat to make these pads efficient, making them not as effective as other items in this list.

Cat “Clams”²

While moderately affordable, this writer highly recommends their use. This product looks like a clam, oval in shape, with the “mouth” serving as the opening to the inner cave. This writer used them for birthing, and transferred the newborns and mama cat to a fresh clam afterward. This type of product goes by various names, but the concept of the “clam” is evident in all of them. This product is easily washed and sanitized.

Where to Buy

The majority of these heating products are available on Amazon, Chewy, PetSmart, and PetCo, and prices vary by brand and supplier. Google is always a great way to begin, typing “heat sources for kittens” into your search engine.

 

1. n.d. “Heat Sources for Kittens.” Kitten Lady. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://www.kittenlady.org/heatsources.
2. 2025. “Top 10 Best Kitten Warmer of October 2025.” Top 10 Best.How. October. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://top10best.how/kitten-warmer?utm_source+Bing&utm_medium=search&t_source=64&utm_campagain=6245&msclkid=5c5c9d27a4981a82cc38f5ddc12eb6f3.