Keeping Cats Warm in Winter
December 30, 2025
Ellen Vogel, CFMG, Elite FFCP (Veterinary)
Winter can be harsh on animals, and cats are no exception. Thankfully, many of our pet cats live indoors, but we don’t always consider how the colder temperatures can affect them. Their bodies know it’s winter outside as shown by the winter coats they put on. These are times when we should be thinking about their comfort and keeping them from the cold.
Many people often turn the thermostat down in winter. Whatever the reason for keeping your home cooler in the winter than in summer, your cat might not like the new temperature setting. Their normal body temperature is higher than humans, so they are happier with things a little warmer. There are several ways to provide the warmth they want without compromising our own comfort and needs.
Cats will seek out warm places to nap, and it is easy to make warm places even more enticing. Putting a comfortable bed or blanket where the sun shines in a favorite window or where the heat vent blows warm air are easy things to do.
Many cats like cave, igloo, or other styles of enclosed beds. Some beds are even designed to radiate their body heat back to them. These beds will keep the cat’s body heat in the enclosed space, making her warmer. Once she discovers this little hideaway that provides the safety she wants while keeping her warm, she may only come out for meals and pets.
You can also find heated beds made especially for pets. Please do not use a human heating pad as they are too hot and can burn an animal. Heated pet beds come in various shapes and sizes, from flat pads to those with sides as well as enclosed beds. Older pets especially will love curling up on the warm surface. Those of you with arthritis know how it feels when your joints get cold. The Feline Veterinary Medical Association reports 90% of cats over 10 have some arthritis or joint disease.1 A heated bed is an easy way to make these cats feel better.
If there is a cold snap in the weather and you don’t have a heated bed, consider washing and machine drying your cat’s bed. Or just throw a few towels or blankets in the dryer for a cycle. Once they are dry and warm, present them to your cat. Being a typical feline, she may turn her back on your gift. However, you will likely find her cuddled up and happy on her warm blanket once you walk away.
We often don’t think about the impact of weather when taking our cats outside in a carrier. After all, it’s a quick few steps to the car. Whether it’s to a veterinary appointment or a cat show, they have to be out in the cold even if for a brief period of time. If your home has a garage, it isn’t as bad going outside but it will still be colder than what your cat prefers. Your cat will be in a better mood arriving at the veterinary office or cat show if they have not had to endure much discomfort.
To keep your cat happy, it is best to warm up the car before bringing her out. If your car is in the garage, please remember to open the garage door first! It will just be a quick moment that she is exposed to the cold air when going from your warm house to the pre-heated car.
If the walk to the car is a little longer or if you aren’t able to warm the car up first, it is best to cover her carrier with a blanket. If it is extremely cold out, you might run the blanket through the dryer so it is warm when you first put it over the carrier. This will help keep the warmer air from your home in the carrier until the car warms up. Some cats prefer not seeing out the windows of the car anyway, making this a win-win situation for them.
Some of us have catios, screened porches, special fencing, or other enclosed areas that allow our cats to enjoy the fresh air of the great outdoors while keeping them safe from predators. If your cat has access to fresh air, be sure they can get back in the house whenever they want to in case they get cold. Nothing is worse than being stuck outside freezing with no way to get back inside!
If you have a cat that insists on staying in the fresh air no matter how cold, providing a place to get warm without coming inside is an option. An enclosed bed, an outdoor kitty house, or a heated bed or hut are good solutions. Just make sure your choice is designed and made for outside use.
While we do not recommend letting cats wander outside, we recognize this is a personal choice each owner makes for themselves and their cat. We are also aware that not all cats have the luxury of a home. Some of us have neighborhood cats, strays, or feral colonies living nearby. Any cat that lives outside or is an indoor/outdoor cat is vulnerable to harsh weather and will appreciate a warm place to rest.
Please consider providing a shelter for any cat that is outside and spending time around your home. This can be as simple as a Styrofoam cooler. An old towel placed inside will make it extra comfortable for homeless kitties.2
If you want something more in keeping with the style of your home, there are many choices available. With the internet at your fingertips, you can find outdoor cat houses in a wide variety of styles and materials. Some are even heated if an outdoor electrical outlet is near where you’ll put the house. Some cat houses are made from materials that insulate the cat’s body heat, helping to keep them warm without having to use electricity.
Keeping your cat warm will enhance their quality of life. A cat that is cold and uncomfortable will likely find a hiding spot and come out as little as possible. A cat that knows it has a place to go where she can stay warm and nap peacefully will be much more likely to want to spend some of her awake time playing, getting pets, or sitting with you.
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