Best Cat-Friendly Space Heaters
11 Key Features to Look For
by ZoeyThere's no better feeling than being nice and snuggly with your cats during the cold winter time. To keep your area warm, you might think to invest in a space heater, as it can be cheaper than turning on your home's central heating system. However, be cautious, as some heaters pose a hazard to your cats. In this guide, we'll go over the best type of space heaters to keep your furry friends warm, safe, and cozy. We'll also point out 11 key features to look for when purchasing your own space heater.
Interested in a quick list of the best products? Check out our list of the best cat-friendly space heaters.
Ceramic Heaters - Safe and Cat-Friendly
The best cat-friendly space heater type is ceramic.
Ceramic heaters are strong, lightweight and durable. These appliances are made up with a ceramic shell in the outer region that surrounds the electric heating system. The shell is cool to the touch, so won't harm your cats if they're up against it directly. The lack of a dangeorus metal heating element makes this the ceramic heater heater great for pets and children.
Types of Ceramic heaters
Ceramic heaters come in several different flavors.
1) Ceramic Tower Heaters
The Ceramic Tower Heater is best for the conventional user. Most designs are tall and skinny, with a motor that allows for the unit to rotate along its axis. This sleek design allows for the warm air to disperse across the room. If you and your cats live in an apartment or within a single room, this is the perfect choice for you.
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2) Compact Ceramic Heaters
These models are great for personal use, but are not great for heating the the entire room. They are often placed under or on top of one's desk. Their lightweight figure makes them good for personal use, but aren't good for heating the entire room.
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3) Ceramic Wall Heaters
Lastly, there are ceramic wall heaters. These are built into the wall, and carry more power than the other above two counterparts. However, they are more permanent so consider buying one only if you are interested in a more powerful, higher-quality room heater.
How Much Wattage Do I Need?
Heat output is measured in wattage. It's important that your space heater wattage isn't too high or too low, as a high wattage can cause your heater to fail, while a low wattage will keep your room cold.
The best way to figure out what wattage you need is to look at the chart below. To obtain the square footage, simply multiply the width and length of your room in feet. Consider adding more wattage if your room
- has multiple windows.
- is poorly insulated.
- has a high ceiling (usually if you're in the top floor of an apartment).
11 Features to Look For
Let's now go over the many different features ceramic space heaters can come with. It's important to have most of the following features, but obviously not necessary to have all.
1) Auto Shutoff
Space heaters with the Auto Shutoff function turns off the heater if it is tipped over. Additionally, if the heater measures internal compoments above a certain threshold, it will also turn off. This is an important safety feature to have, especially with cats and/or small children.
2) Cool to Touch
Most ceramic heaters are already cool to the touch. The central heating unit is embedded within the ceramic shell, and the outer layer is well insulated. Thus, the chance of burning yourself is very unlikely. Additionally, the source is often guarded with heavy duty plastic or metal grills.
3) Remote Control
Having a small remote control can be the difference between getting up, out of your bed and walking to the heater to adjust it, or adjusting the temperature from the comforts of being under your sheets. How convenient is it to lie in bed while turning the heater on or off?
4) Programmable Timers
Programmable timers allow you to set the heater on and off at specific intervals. As keeping the heater on throughout the night can overheat the room as well as increase energy costs, this is a great feature to have.
Additionally, some heaters come with auto shutoff, where the unit shuts off once it reaches a target temperature. After the temperature reaches about two degrees lower, the heater will turn itself back on again.
5) Dust and odor filter, with air ionizer feature
Some heaters help purify the air that it takes in. If you're interested in clearing the air of allergens and litter dust, check out our guide to selecting an air purifier.
6) Oscillating mode
Some heaters (especially the tall ones) can rotate 90, 170 or 360 degrees. This allows the heater to distribute the air easier.
7) Quiet operation
Consider checking out the noise rating (measured in decibels), especially if you plan to use it while sleeping.
8) Energy save modes
There are some heaters that have an energy save option. Consider this if you are really trying to cut down on energy costs.
9) Handle on Top, or Wheels
Heaters should have a handle so that it is easy to carry, or have attached wheels on the bottom if you plan to move it from room to room.
10) Thermostat
Most heaters come with a high, medium or low setting. Other more high-end versions have a built-in thermostat that adjusts its output temperature accordingly.
11) Independent Certifications
Consider checking to see if the space heater has been validated by a third party. The three largest inspectors include Underwriters Laboratories (UL), ETL Intertek and Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories certifies, validates, tests, verifies and inspects household appliances. WIth the UL Certificate logo on your product, you can be rest assured that your space heater has been validated to be safe, energy efficient and of the highest quality.
ETL Intertek
A product holding the ETL certification means that it has been tested and met the minimum requirements for safety standards. The qualifications of an ETL certification is similar to that of a UL.
CSA
Lastly, the Canadian Standards Association develops standards in over 50 different areas to promote efficiency, effectiveness and safety of products.
Safety Tips
Even with the safety features such as auto shutoff that are included in a good quality ceramic heater, consider following these safety rules to minimize risk
- Keep at least a meter of space around the heater.
- Ensure that the cord has enough slack so that if it catches our foot, the system won't tip over.
- Following the above tip, keep it somewhere where people or cats don't usually pass by
- Do not place near curtains, beddings, or any flammable substances.
- Do not sit directly on top of the heater. Discourage the cats from jumping on top of it.
- Unplug the unit when it's not in use.
- Place the unit on the ground. Most heaters are not designed to be placed on any surface.
Top Recommended Space Heaters for Cats
Now that you know all about ceramic heaters and what types of features to look for, check out our recommended products.
Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Digital Display and Remote Control
The Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower has a modern and sleek look. Also included are an auto shutoff feature with low/high speed settings. You can set the device to a specific temperature, and once your room reaches it, the unit will automatically shut off. Once the unit goes below 2 degrees of that temperature, the unit will turn back on.
With a total wattage rating of 1500 watts, this will be a perfect addition to heat up your room to keep you and your cats warm.
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- Product Name
- Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Digital Display and Remote Control
- Dimensions
- 8.25" x 7.25" x 23" tall
- Heat Temperature Modes
- High, Low and Auto.
- Safety Features
- Autoshutoff
- Features
- Carrying handles, 8-hour timer, programmable thermostats, widespread oscillation, remote control
- Certifications
- ETL Listed
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Unit Cost
- $$$ Check price
(51.05+ reviews)
Lasko 6435 Designer Series Ceramic Oscillating Heater with Remote Control
This ceramic oscillating heater fits great with any surrounding decor. Some of the features include oscillation, automatic overheat protection, and a full 1500 watts of comfort. Also included are a low/high quiet comfort setting with auto thermostat control.
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- Product Name
- Lasko 6435 Designer Series Ceramic Oscillating Heater with Remote Control
- Dimensions
- 8.25" x 8.25" x 16.05" tall
- Item Weight
- 8 pounds
- Energy Usage
- 11 amps and 1262 watts on full blast
- Unit Cost
- $$$ Check price (45.99+ reviews)
Lasko 6462 Full-Circle Warmth Ceramic Heater with Remote
If you're looking for an area other than a bedroom to heat, the Full Circle Warmth Ceramic Heater may be what you're looking for. This ceramic heater is able to give you a full circle sweep, spreading the warmth to a larger area.
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- Product Name
- Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote
- Dimensions
- 8.4" x 9.2" x 25"
- Item Weight
- 9.05 pounds
- Energy Output
- 1500 Watts
- Features
- Digital thermostat, quiet fan, automatic temperature control, 170 degree heat sweet setting.
- Unit Cost
- $$$ Check price (45.99+ reviews)
Hopefully that gives you a good overview on the best cat-friendly space heaters. Have any questions or suggestions? Comment below!
