Is there such a thing as a safe heating pad for a kitty who is sheltering in the garage? We have made a bed for him of towels folded in the basin of the birdbath on the garage floor but wonder if there is something more out there.
I thought of a good old-fashioned hot water bottle but they don’t stay warm and claws can poke holes in them!
I have one of these for each of the two “cat houses” I have outside:
http://cozywinters.com/shop/kh-1000-1020.html
The cats LOVE them. Mine lay flat. They’re a bit stiff so I don’t know how they’d do in a bird bath. For the record, they have lasted for four years and counting. I’m not sure I bought them from this vendor but they are this brand.
I was told if you get one of those styrafoam picnic coolers, turn it upside down (with the lids taped on) and cut a Kitty door out the one side, put some blankets inside, their own body heat works to keep everything toasty warm 
Cozy Winters also has these. http://cozywinters.com/shop/kh-3111.html I haven’t tried this particular product, but I have other things from this vendor, both for the cats and for me, and I have yet to be dissatisfied with any of their products. Maybe you could put one of them inside the coolers that jessiesgrrl is talking about. I would suggest using straw in that cooler, instead of blankets, as blankets can get wet and cats can burrow into the straw.
The styrofoam cooler suggestion is a good one. Google it. You’ll find many animal shelter sites where they even give directions on how to make a double-layered “house.”
I used this one for my former feral until I brought her in for good. She loved it and one other feral would come and share it with her (it’s not really big enough for two though
http://www.amazon.com/Snuggle-Safe-Pet-Microwave-Heating/dp/B00008AJH9
Here’s another option for you. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Warming-Crate-14-Inch-22-Inch-Mocha/dp/B003ZYF1X4/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_2 It warms from the cat’s own body heat and reflects it back so no need to plug it in.
I bought one of these for an ultra-skinny stray cat who had taken up residence in my yard, but he wanted nothing to do with any shelter I provided. He was other accommodations in mind and now sleeps on his own pillow next to me at night. The other cats (also indoor) love the self-heating pad, which is now in one of the cat beds. It gets nice and warm, but even being inside the cats sleep happily on it. I think they would sleep on burning coals if it wouldn’t muss their fur.
2 sturdy cardboard boxes that stack inside each other such that the 2nd box forms a “roof” for the 1st box - not too big so that kitty body heat will warm the area - then line with a good amount of hay so kitty can burrow in & have a “hay cave” .
Choose the boxes such that there is an open “slot” of 5-6 inches at the front so kitty has quick jump in/ jump out access.
Also provide a more open box full of loose hay.
Kitty can choose which den suits him the best.
Either option will be much warmer than towels & safer than anything that plugs in …
besides “Hay Kitties” smell wonderful :yes:
Does pine straw warm kitties as well as other kinds of straw?
We can get hay at the pet shop (bunny timothy hay), but i worry about hay’s spontaneous combustion properties.
Thanks for all the ideas! The styrofoam cooler sounds good too, and the various cushions.
A Back on Track mini blanket would work, but they’re a little more expensive than some of the other options posted.
Best solution to cold cats - ever!
http://www.stabobspethouses.net/
These are made for somewhat “indoor” conditions. I purchased one, loved it so much, I immediately purchased two more. They houses are all situated on covered porches. The cats love them! It is a bit pricey but worth every penny. Very well made, comes very safely packaged and I don’t worry a bit about the cats.
Well, I have used a heating pad for a cat in our garage for a couple of years with no issues. It is nothing fancy, just the kind that doesn’t automatically shut off. For a cat who lives out in a shed, we use the microwaveable jell type pads, and they stay warm for about 12 hours, keeping that guy happy. I tried one of the beds that is made with the space age reflective material, and it didn’t work very well, according to my outdoor fellow who was cold.
I use regular heating pads too, underneath or in a cup cat bed.
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