Recommendations for heated beds? And some concerns.

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Lately I've been wanting to get my cat a heated cat bed, but I have some concerns about heated beds/blankets. I was hoping I could find some answers and some people who have had experience with them?
  1. Can it catch on fire at all?
  2. Can it overheat?
  3. Can it burn my cats?
  4. Do they actually work?
  5. Would it be ok if the cats tried to lay on the bed together? It still wouldn't overheat?
And does anyone have any recommendations for good heated beds? I don't think my cats will like anything that wraps around them or has sides, but maybe they will, who knows. I was looking at this bed from K&H. Has anyone used it before? And if so, did it work as intended?
 

She's a witch

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I’ve had a simple heating pad for two years (not available on amazon anymore) and I’m very happy with it, cats absolutely love it. It has overheat protection so it shuts down if it’s on for too long or overheats. I guess everything can catch the fire but last winter I even let it on when we left for a weekend - don’t do it, it was stupid, I’m saying it just to show you how safe I feel with this.
My cats are not snuggle buddies but because I have only one pad, I catch them laying on this together which is pretty rare sight so yes, even if there’s not enough space for both cats on it, they try to fit in.
i want to buy a second one and I was looking
At the Product you linked and I have two observations: firstly, it warms up when cat is already on the bed, so it means they can’t be tempted with the warmth itself, they need to learn that the warmth comes after they spend some time on it. Secondly, you can buy the insert of that product half price and apparently use it with any existing bed which I think may make more sense.
K&H PET PRODUCTS Pet Bed Warmer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009YWLCM/?tag=thecatsite

You’ll hear stories that they cause cancer so you need to make your own decision about this.
 
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Caspers Human

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Any household electrical appliance/device is supposed to be approved by a recognized agency like Underwriters Laboratories before it goes on sale to the public. If an appliance has a "U.L." label, that means that it adheres to certain safety standards to ensure that it won't fail in a way that could cause a fire, electrocute a person or injure them in some unexpected way.

If the heating pad you use for your kitty is U.L Approved, you have reasonable assurances that it won't be dangerous if used properly.

People use electric blankets and heating pads on their beds all the time. I have never heard any stories, in recent times, about heating blankets causing any harm. I think that, if used responsibly, there is very little risk.

Oh, no... The "cancer thing" again... :headshake:

Yes, most heating blankets do emit electromagnetic fields but there isn't any firm evidence that electrical fields cause harm.
Some have said that long term exposure to electrical fields may cause cancer but your cell phone, your computer, your microwave oven, your TV and just about every electrical item in your house gives off electrical fields. Then there are fields from TV towers, cell towers and even the earth, itself, all around us, 24/7/365, but nobody has ever shown that anybody has gotten cancer from any of these things. It's all just supposition. Any study that has reported to show a link between electromagnetic fields and cancer has used extraordinary circumstances like putting your head inside an MRI machine for a week straight as a reference.

I wouldn't say that it's a zero chance but I don't think there is any unusual risk from using an electric blanket.

Bottom line: If you think your cat would like to have an electric bed warmer, go ahead and try one. Maybe he'll like it. :)
 
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Thank you guys!! And especially for the link to the pad itself! I'll probably be getting that so I can get him a bed that fits him nicely to put on top of it. My super big fear was some kind of fire. My mother has really ingrained in my head that electric blankets/heaters/pet beds/etc are unsafe. I'm super paranoid and anxious to begin with, so the thought of something happening really scares me!
I think I will be getting him the pad, and if he likes it I'll get one for my elder cat as well. <3

As for the cancer thing...I don't see how a heat pad is anymore dangerous than laying on my PS4 or cable box/router. xD
 

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As for the cancer thing...I don't see how a heat pad is anymore dangerous than laying on my PS4 or cable box/router. xD
LOL! :D

I've had an electric mattress pad on my bed, during winter, for more than ten years and I haven't noticed any ef-f-e-e-cts @#$%^&*()... ;)
 

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I'll probably be getting that so I can get him a bed that fits him nicely to put on top of it.
I think there should be something on top of this particular insert pad so that cats don’t touch it directly; there are other pads that shouldn’t be used with anything on it (I have one like this) which I personally prefer as they are easier to clean to me (you need to wipe them down and wait to dry rather than wash). I think this K&H one has to be under the bed or a blanket.

Edited to add: there are also self warming beds that may be easier on your fire anxiety.
 

Caspers Human

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I think there should be something on top of this particular insert pad so that cats don’t touch it directly...
I think it depends on the way the thing is made to be used.

I have an electric bed warmer that goes over the mattress like a fitted sheet. Then you put the sheets over that and a blanket goes on top. It doesn't get really hot but it keeps the bed nice and warm in the winter. Even if you turn it up to the maximum setting it doesn't make the bed so hot that it becomes uncomfortable.

There are heating pads that can get uncomfortably hot so you should put something between it and the person using it in order to insulate it a little bit.

Most, if not all, heating pads and electric blankets, sold today, use low voltage instead of the full house current that the old fashioned ones used to use. There should be a small control box that acts as a power supply, similar to the one used to power your laptop computer, which allows the user to control the temperature. It also protects the user from being exposed to full-on mains voltage in case of a problem. This would also help guard against fires, too.

Read the instructions on any electrical appliance before you use it and obey all warnings.

Also check to be sure that the appliance is certified by a recognized agency like UL or CE.

If you use a bit of common sense, there should be no reason to worry about using an electric bed warmer. :)
 

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I use the SnuggleSafe microwavable heating pad. It's safe to use but you would still want to wrap the pad in a towel or blanket to prevent any burns.

Some pads and beds only heat up when they sense weight on top, such as a cat, and only warm up to a certain temperature regardless if there's a single 6 pound cat on top or multiple cats weighing 20 pounds total.. When there is no weight, the heat is off.

Anything heated can potentially burn a cat or person. Use caution and add a folded blanket or towel on top to prevent burns. You could even plug an electric bed or blanket into one of those timer things so it auto turns off after a certain amount of time.
 
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Secondly, you can buy the insert of that product half price and apparently use it with any existing bed which I think may make more sense.
K&H PET PRODUCTS Pet Bed Warmer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009YWLCM/?tag=thecatsite
I ordered this one earlier today. Thanks again for pointing it out! Im kind of (and by kind of, I mean really) dumb and probably wouldn't have noticed that I can get just the pad for cheaper. <3

Thanks guys for the advice and reassurances. <3 Def not worried about the cancer thing tbh. The cats are sleeping on my PS4, routers, cable boxes, and now one of the kittens, much to my dismay, has taken a liking to laying right on top of my computer. If anything I think the heater will have a lower risk of causing cancer. :lol:
 

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Oh, no... The "cancer thing" again... :headshake:
Some people do believe, for whatever reason, that all electromagnetic things cause cancer, even the Earth's natural electromagnetic field :rolleyes3: You occasionally see such posts from believers here on TCS.

You know what's great as a heated cat bed? A steam radiator that is common in old houses. Now these do get super HOT even with a safety cover over it so it's best to put a folded towel or blanket on top to keep a cat from being burned or, if there's space above the radiator, install a shelf over the radiator so the cat can still get the warm air but not get burned.
 

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I have used K&H cat heat pads for years and still have many of them. I have had both the pads and the beds. What I really like is they use only around 6 watts of electricity. They are designed to be run 24/7 and it is actually harder for them to be frequently unplugged because then they have to warm up again. They are consistently 10 -15 degrees warmer than the ambient air, and cats can sense the heat and gravitate towards them. The heat dissipates into the air when not in use. When a cat lays on them the warmth builds to 102 degrees because it is trapped by the cats body. This is a normal body temp. for a cat.
Cats absolutely ADORE them and are often in them especially in the winter. I also use them in my outdoor beds (of course the exterior ones), and have never had a problem. If something goes wrong, (ONE out of perhaps twenty pads) they just quit warming. The only problem I have with the beds is that they are much harder to clean. I will usually cover them with a thin receiving type blanket so I can wash it frequently. I prefer just the pads, put them on a regular cat bed, and then cover them with a fleece blanket, two layers at the most. some pads come with a fleece cover which is nice, then I cover it with one layer of a fleece blanket. I have NEVER had a cat not like them!
 
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LTS3

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I forgot - I also have this electric heating pad: K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Small Animal Pad, Tan - Chewy.com I actually use it to keep a cage warm in the winter when I have small animals. I have my thermostat set pretty low. Every time I take the cage out to clean, Emma zooms over to the pad and stretches out on it. The pad is comfortably warm enough to hold a bare hand on for a long time with no risk of burns. Emma always protests when I move her off so I can put the cage back on. I don't have small animals at the moment so Emma has the pad all to herself even though it's not currently plugged in.
 

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I use a small electric heating pad. I wrap the pad in a thick towel and place her bed on top of that so she is insulated and not in direct contact. It has 3 settings and I have only ever used the lowest setting. She loves it in the winter and it keeps her so warm and toasty she spreads out her body in a gigantic stretch and lays like that all spread out. If she gets too warm she will go to another bed or I can turn it off. But during the really cold arctic nights when its hard to keep the house warm we both have our electric blankets going and stay toasty.
 
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