Indoor Cat Comfort: Are Heated Cat Beds Safe to Leave Plugged In?

Cats love snuggling up in a cozy heated bed, especially as the weather gets colder. But can you leave the bed plugged in all the time, even if your kitty's not in it? Naturally, attentive pet parents want to ensure their pet's bed has all the right features for safety and comfort. This guide will walk you through how to pick the best bed to keep your feline friend comfy and warm.

Important Safety Features in Electric Heated Beds

Heating equipment is the second-leading cause of home fires in the U.S. So when selecting a heated bed for your kitty, it's OK to be choosy. Not all cat beds are made the same. Look for safety features such as:

• Thermostatic controls: This feature ensures the bed will not exceed a specific temperature. For example, when unoccupied, K&H electric beds stay at about 15°F above your home's temperature. Once your pet curls up in the bed, the internal thermostatic control slowly warms the bed to his natural body temperature of about 102°F.

• MET safety certification: Don't be fooled by products that say safety-listed parts rather than safety-listed product, as those products can be dangerous. A UL or MET safety-listed bed has passed rigorous testing to comply with government and industry safety standards. All 120V electrical K&H Pet products are MET safety tested and certified.

One great choice if you want to leave your cat's bed plugged in is the K&H Thermo-Kitty Cuddle Up. It has an orthopedic foam base for extra comfort and is thermostatically controlled to heat only to your cat's body temperature.

Human Heating Pads Aren't Safe for Pets

When considering safety, remember that heating pads designed for humans are dangerous for cats. Because they're not made for your kitty, they can get way too hot and potentially burn your cat or cause heat stroke.

If you want a pet bed with a lower profile similar to a human heating pad, try the K&H Amazin' Thermo-Kitty Pad. The heated version keeps your cat toasty warm and has a special polyester cover that attracts dander, hair, and dirt.

You might also be interested in the K&H Pet Bed Warmer. This waterproof pet heating pad can slide inside most zippered indoor pet beds, warming to the perfect temperature.

Leaving a Pet Bed Plugged In

Can you leave a heated electric pet bed plugged in? It depends on how the bed is designed. Unless a pet bed is MET-safety tested and certified with automatic internal thermostatic controls, you shouldn't leave it plugged in. The bed might overheat and catch fire.

K&H electric heated beds are MET-safety tested, so you can have peace of mind leaving the bed plugged in all the time. (Of course, if you're going away on vacation, it's always a good idea to unplug all your personal electrical items.) If you want to take extra precautions, you can wrap all the electrical cords in your home in a pet-safe cover to prevent errant chewing.

A great choice is the K&H Thermo-Kitty Heated Cat Bed. Its six-inch tall soft foam walls "hug" your kitty, letting her feel secure. It's thermostatically controlled and can be left plugged in without worry.

Outdoor Pet Bed Safety

When the temperatures get colder, feral cats and kittens need safe, warm homes. But you want to make sure your outdoor bed is MET-safety tested and thermostatically controlled too, so you can leave it plugged in without concern. Of course, you should also keep the bed somewhere protected from rain and snow, like a covered patio, barn, or garage.

The K&H Extreme Weather Heated Kitty Pad is a great choice for outdoor cats. It's covered in washable fleece for comfort, thermostatically controlled so it doesn't get too hot, and has a steel-wrapped cord for safety.

Another option is the K&H Thermo Outdoor Kitty House (Heated), which is basically a cat bed with a roof. Plus, it's water and weather-resistant and insulated. The home is easy to assemble and looks like a tiny house.

Alternatives to Electric Heated Beds

If you'd rather opt for a heated bed that doesn't need to be plugged in, you still have a lot of options for your feline friend, such as:

• K&H Microwavable Pet Bed Warmer: Pop the warmer in the microwave, and it stays toasty for up to 12 hours. It can turn any bed into a cozy haven. When using the warmer, cover it with a blanket or towel so your kitty doesn't lay directly on it.

• K&H Self-Warming Hut: A perfect cave for cats that want extra privacy. The metalized insulation in its cushion radiates heat back to your pet.

• K&H Self-Warming Nuzzle Nest Pet Bed: A fashionable choice with a leopard print design. It's machine-washable and has a unique insulation that absorbs your kitty's body heat and radiates it back.

• K&H Self-Warming Pet Pad: A self-warming pad with a supersoft microfleece design. It radiates your pet's body heat right back, and it's easy to clean.

K&H Electric Beds Are Safe to Leave Plugged In

Not all heated cat beds are created equal. If you want a bed you can leave plugged in, you'll want a MET-safety-certified bed that is thermostatically controlled to ensure the temperatures don't get too hot. A K&H electric heated bed is an easy choice that combines all these safety features into one cozy, toasty bed.

This article is the final part of our Indoor Cat Comfort series. If you missed the previous two articles, be sure to check out Caring for Elderly Cats with Heated Beds and Are Heated Beds Good for Cats?