The Best Heated Cat Beds

The best heated cat bed is a low-watt bed with a built-in thermostat that your cat can leave at any time. Our top pick is the K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed, a cushioned bed with a removable warmer. Below are five warm options, including one that needs no power.

Our picks at a glance

• Best overall: K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed
• Best heated mat: K&H Thermo-Kitty Mat
• Best cushioned heated bed: K&H Thermo-Kitty Fashion Splash
• Best for garages and porches: K&H Extreme Weather Heated Kitty Pad
• Best no-cord option: FurHaven ThermaNAP Faux Fur Self-Warming Pet Bed Mat

The best heated cat beds

Best heated bedPhoto: K&H Pet Products

Cat beds

K&H Thermo-Kitty Bed

Best for: Cats who love warm spots

A round bed with 6-inch foam walls and a removable 4-watt warmer. K&H says the surface warms to about 102°F when your cat lies on it. It comes in 16-inch and 20-inch sizes, and the cover machine washes once the warmer is out. Skip it if you need a bed with an on/off switch, since it has none.

• Pro: Removable 4-watt thermostat-controlled heater
• Pro: 6-inch foam walls hug your cat
• Pro: Fleece cover is machine washable
• Con: Needs an outlet nearby
• Con: Only two sizes

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Best heated matPhoto: K&H Pet Products

Heated cat beds

K&H Thermo-Kitty Mat

Best for: Adding warmth to a bed or perch you already have

A flat, reversible pad that measures 12.5 x 25 inches. It uses a 6-watt warmer with a dual thermostat and a removable cover. It suits a cat tree shelf, a window perch or a bed you already own. Skip it if your cat likes sides to lean on.

• Pro: Dual thermostat warms to about 102°F only when a cat lies on it
• Pro: Removable cover you can machine wash
• Pro: Compact 12.5 x 25 inch size
• Con: No on/off switch, so it is always on when plugged in
• Con: Flat pad with no sides

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Best cushioned heated bedPhoto: K&H Pet Products

Heated cat beds

K&H Thermo-Kitty Fashion Splash

Best for: Cats who like a cushioned bed with raised sides

This bolster bed has an orthopedic foam base and soft raised sides. The small size is 18 inches round with a 4-watt warmer. The large is 16 x 22 inches with a 7-watt warmer. Skip it if you want to use it outdoors, because K&H lists it for indoor use only.

• Pro: Orthopedic foam base with over-stuffed bolsters
• Pro: Removable 4-watt warmer in the small size
• Pro: Machine washable once the warmer is out
• Con: No on/off switch, so it is always on when plugged in
• Con: Indoor use only

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Best for garages and porchesPhoto: K&H Pet Products

Heated cat beds

K&H Extreme Weather Heated Kitty Pad

Best for: Cats who spend time in a barn, garage or shed

A 12.5 x 18.5 inch pad made of ABS plastic, with a 40-watt heater and a steel-wrapped cord. K&H says it is made for sheltered spaces like garages, sheds and porches. Skip it for a cozy living room bed, since it is a firm pad with a fleece cover, and keep it out of direct rain or snow.

• Pro: Water-resistant ABS plastic body
• Pro: Steel-wrapped 5.5-foot cord that deters chewing
• Pro: Removable, washable faux fleece cover
• Con: Must be kept sheltered from direct rain or snow
• Con: No on/off switch, so it is always on when plugged in

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Best budgetPhoto: FurHaven

Cat beds

FurHaven ThermaNAP Faux Fur Self-Warming Pet Bed Mat

Best for: Budget shoppers and travel

A thin mat with a plush faux fur top and an insulating batting core. FurHaven says it reflects your cat’s own body heat and works without electricity. It comes in small and large sizes and is machine washable. Skip it if your cat needs real added heat, since it only holds the warmth your cat makes.

• Pro: Self-warming with no electricity
• Pro: Thin and light enough to carry
• Pro: Machine washable
• Con: Flat mat with no sides
• Con: Offers less cushioning than a thick bed

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How to choose a heated cat bed

Look for low heat and a thermostat

Cornell Feline Health Center says cats look for warm places to rest. It also says too much heat can burn an older cat who can’t move quickly, and it advises aiming for “warm, not hot.” The K&H beds here use thermostats that warm to about 102°F when a cat lies on them. K&H says they stay about 10 to 15°F above room temperature when empty.

Check whether it has a switch

All three K&H heated products here have no on/off switch. They stay on whenever they are plugged in. K&H says they are made for continuous use, but MET Labs suggests unplugging them during long absences.

Choose the right style

• Cushioned bed: Good for cats who like to curl up with sides around them.
• Flat mat: Good for adding warmth to a perch, tree or bed you already have.
• Outdoor-style pad: Only for sheltered spots like a garage or shed.
• No-power mat: Good if you don’t want a cord at all.

Check the cover and the cord

Pick a cover you can remove and wash. For the K&H beds, you unplug the bed and take out the warmer before washing the cover. Think about cords too. K&H says its Extreme Weather pad has a steel-wrapped cord that deters chewing. No cord can be called chew-proof, so check for damage often.

Safety tips

• Let your cat leave the bed. K&H says not to put its heated pads where a pet can’t move off them. Cornell warns about burns for older cats who can’t move quickly.
• Ask your vet first for kittens and frail cats. K&H says to talk to a vet before using its pads with young kittens, recovering pets, or any pet that can’t move off the pad on its own.
• Don’t use an extension cord. K&H labels its products “Do not use with extension cord.”
• Keep covers on and the pad dry. Put nothing on the pad except the cover. Don’t soak the pad or machine wash it. For the Extreme Weather pad, only the cover is washable.
• Keep the bed out of drafts. Cornell says to keep an older cat’s bed out of drafty areas.
• Offer other beds too. For more ideas, see our guide to the best cat beds.