Quick answer: Give your indoor cat several warm, draft-free beds raised off cold floors, add soft fleece layers and an enclosed hideaway, and keep heaters and fireplaces guarded. Keep fresh water and the litter box in a warm room, and call your vet if your cat shivers, seems weak or breathes slowly.
When the heating schedule changes and the floors get cold, most indoor cats quietly go looking for the warmest spot in the house: a sunny windowsill, the top of the dryer, the gap behind the radiator, or your side of the bed. That instinct is useful, but it can also lead them to unsafe places. This guide covers how to keep an indoor cat warm in winter in a way that is simple, inexpensive and safe, plus the warning signs that mean your cat is too cold.
Do indoor cats actually get cold in winter?
Yes. A fur coat helps, but it is not a thermostat. Indoor cats live in our climate-controlled homes, and many households turn the heat down at night or while everyone is at work. Cats who are very young, older, thin, short-haired or hairless, or living with a health condition generally have a harder time holding their body heat. The RSPCA advises keeping a cat’s environment between roughly 10 and 25°C (about 50–77°F), which is a helpful sanity check for rooms your cat spends long periods in, such as a sunroom, basement or garage conversion.
The other thing that changes in winter is behavior. Many cats sleep more, move less and stick close to heat sources. None of that is a problem on its own, but it means the places your cat chooses to rest matter more than they do in summer.
Give your cat warm, draft-free resting spots
The single most effective thing you can do is offer several cozy beds in places your cat already likes. Cats choose resting spots based on warmth, security and a good view, so think in terms of those three needs.
Lift beds off cold floors
Tile, stone and concrete floors pull heat away from a sleeping cat. A bed placed on a chair, a low shelf or a piece of furniture keeps your cat out of the floor-level draft. Raised spots also feel safer to many cats because they can watch the room.
Use soft, insulating layers
A thick, washable layer of fleece traps body heat and reflects it back to your cat, with no electricity involved. Our Teddy Fleece Cat Pad is designed for exactly this kind of job: drop it on a favorite chair, a windowsill or inside a hideaway to turn a cool surface into a warm one. A folded blanket works too, as long as you wash it regularly.
Offer an enclosed hideaway
Many cats love a covered space in winter because it holds warmth and blocks drafts. A cardboard box on its side lined with a blanket is a classic, and an indoor tent or cube works the same way. If your cat already uses our Pop-Up Portable Cat Play Tent, adding a Play Tent Fabric Pad inside turns it into a snug den for cold evenings.
Follow the sun
Move a bed into the sunniest window during the day. Check that the window is closed and secure, and that the spot does not get drafty after sunset.
Heating safety: what to avoid
Cats are very good at finding heat sources, and not all of them are safe. Cats Protection recommends putting a guard in front of open fires, and the same logic applies to wood stoves, space heaters and radiators with exposed elements.
| Heat source | Risk for cats | Safer approach |
|---|---|---|
| Space heaters | Burns, tipping over, singed fur or whiskers | Choose a model with a tip-over shut-off and keep it out of reach; never leave it on unattended |
| Fireplaces and wood stoves | Burns, sparks, hot glass | Use a sturdy screen or guard and supervise when lit |
| Human heating pads and electric blankets | Overheating or burns, because cats can’t always move away in time and may chew cords | Use insulating fleece beds instead; if you want a heated bed, choose one made specifically for pets and follow the instructions |
| Candles | Burns, knocked-over flames | Keep lit candles out of reach or switch to flameless versions |
| Laundry machines | Cats climbing into a warm dryer | Close machine doors and check inside before every cycle |
A good rule: if a heat source would burn your hand after a few minutes of contact, it can burn your cat. Cats also tend to doze off right next to heaters, so make sure there is always a cooler spot they can move to.
Food, water and litter in cold weather
Watch food intake and weight
The RSPCA notes that some cats may eat more during winter. That does not mean you should automatically increase portions, especially for indoor cats who are also less active. Keep an eye on body condition, and ask your vet before making big diet changes.
Keep fresh water available
Cats Protection reminds owners that cats still need fresh water in winter. Dry indoor heating can make the air feel parched, so refresh bowls daily and consider an extra water station in a warm room.
Put the litter box somewhere comfortable
If the litter box lives in a cold basement, garage or utility room, your cat may start to avoid it. The RSPCA recommends providing an indoor litter tray in winter. Moving the box to a warmer room is often enough to prevent accidents.
Cold snaps, power cuts and windows
If you lose power or heat, gather your cat into one smaller room, close the doors to hold warmth, and pile extra blankets into a bed or carrier. Check window and door seals near your cat’s favorite spots for drafts. If your cat ever slips outdoors in freezing weather, wipe their paws and belly when they come back, because Cats Protection and the AVMA both warn that road salt, de-icer and antifreeze can be harmful if licked off.
Cars are worth a mention too. The AVMA advises knocking on the hood or honking before starting a car in cold weather, because outdoor cats sometimes crawl into engine compartments for warmth. If your indoor cat goes on supervised outdoor trips, keep them short and skip them entirely on very cold days.
Signs your cat is too cold
Most indoor cats will simply relocate to a warmer spot. Be more concerned if you notice:
- Shivering that doesn’t stop once they settle somewhere warm
- Unusual weakness, lethargy or confusion
- Cold ears, paws or tail tip combined with low energy
- Slow or shallow breathing
The AAHA and AVMA describe these as possible signs of hypothermia. Warm your cat gently with blankets and call your vet promptly rather than waiting to see if it passes.
Keep them moving, not just warm
Winter often means fewer sunny windows, shorter days and more naps. Short play sessions before meals help keep muscles and joints working and burn some energy, which also helps with weight control. Our guide to indoor cat enrichment ideas has easy games that work in small apartments. Scratching is another natural stretch: a sturdy scratcher placed beside a warm bed gives your cat a reason to get up and move after a nap.
A quick winter checklist
- Two or three warm beds, at least one raised off the floor
- A covered hideaway in a draft-free room
- Guards on fireplaces and safe placement of space heaters
- Fresh water refreshed daily, ideally in more than one room
- Litter box in a comfortable, heated part of the home
- Daily play to keep your cat active
- Vet number saved in your phone, plus the signs of hypothermia
Give your cat a warm spot this winter
A soft, washable fleece pad turns any chair, shelf or hideaway into a cozy winter bed. Free US shipping on orders over $99.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is too cold for an indoor cat?
There is no single cut-off for every cat, but the RSPCA suggests keeping a cat’s environment between about 10 and 25°C (50–77°F). Kittens, seniors, thin or hairless cats and cats with health conditions need the warmer end of that range.
Is it safe to use a heating pad for my cat?
Avoid human heating pads and electric blankets, which can overheat or burn a cat. Insulating fleece beds are the simplest option. If you want a heated bed, choose one made specifically for pets and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do cats sleep more in winter?
Many cats rest more and move less when it is cold and days are short. Sudden big changes in sleep, appetite or activity are still worth discussing with your vet.
How can I tell if my cat is too cold?
Look for persistent shivering, weakness, lethargy, confusion or slow breathing. Warm your cat gently with blankets and call your veterinarian.
Should I feed my cat more in winter?
Some cats eat more in cold weather, but indoor cats are often less active. Monitor weight and body condition and ask your vet before changing portions.
Keep reading
Sources
- RSPCA – Caring for cats in winter
- Cats Protection – Cats and cold weather
- AVMA – Cold weather animal safety
- AAHA – Cold weather safety for pets
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your cat’s health, contact your veterinarian.
