The Best Grooming Tools for Longhaired Cats

 Best grooming tools long haired cats

Cosmo is a long-haired beauty who always needs proper grooming. She enjoys being combed, too. If your cat has a long or even medium length coat, as silky and lustrous as it may be, you may find that that fur gets everywhere...and she's going to need some proper grooming. Her hair gets everywhere, adn I mean everywhere.

I know the consequences of matted fur. I've had to take my manicure scissors adn snip snarls out of Cosmo's fur when she got mats in it. One time, I took to an application of olive oil in some areas to loosen up the mats. That didn't go so well...even though olive oil is a great product to use as a beauty treatment, it's not what you want to reach for as far as cats' coats may be concerned. But using the right grooming tools is what made the difference! That's what I want to share with you in this post.

WE've used a variety of tools: currying combs, gloves, brushes. The best part of it is that Cosmo genuinely enjoys a good grooming session and I don't have to try to get her to sit still (like I had to do when I used the little scissors - I had to resassure her with that one...)

The least effective tool was something called the "kitty komb korner" The others didn't show that much interst in it...what it is is a corner piece designed with massaging nib bristles that your cat rubs up on and gets a nice work-over. To entice them to notice it, it took some work. Even though I love the concept. 

The grooming gloves I have a great. You just put them on and stroke your cat just like you do in any other situation - except that these gloves are fashioned with silicone massaging nibs on the indide. They're designed for all types of pets, short and long haired cats too...Not only is effective at making your cat's coat look her best, but it's a great bonding tool for the both of you. They are great for those brush-adverse cats that just don't want to sit still and a fussy, or think the brush is a toy.

Tips For Grooming

A tool with a narrow or tight weave as far as the bristle layout goes, will capture more loose hair. A looser one will pick up less. Loose bristled tools are better for going around the more delicate areas of your cats like their face adn tail. The tight weave combs work much better on their outer bodies. Also, tight-weave patterns (with many rows of bristles) are the best for grooming the undercoat. Tools with looser-woven bristles do not get there easily.

Rake-style tools are the best choice for removing loose fur. You will have to catch it as it falls (and it may be a lot, depending on when your cat was last worked on...) but these make the best de-shedders.We use a grooming rake on Cosmo and she will definitely sit still for this. She will arch her back up in the air...that's how much she likes it.

The easiest part of your cat to comb is clearly, the top of her head adn her back. The tail, being more sensitive, I'm the most gently with and use a tool with wide-set teeth there. Long strokes up and down Cosmo's tail. The part of the comb with more compactly set teeth, is better for her back, as it will catch the most loose hair.Start with your tool, and work in the direction of the growth as you comb.Nows it sometimes hard to reach their bellies - cats, as a rule, think of that as their "no no zone" - a few esceptions of course. If you can get her to lit on her side that will work better. 

I start with her head with the narrow tooth part of the tool, adn work my way down. When the teeth catches enough loose fur , I pull it out and commence combing.

It blows my mind what comes off of Cosmo sometimes!

We have a currier comb, it has tiny needle-like bristles and this is excellent at catching a lot of that loose hair she sheds. 

If the weather is nice, better yet, try grooming your cat outdoors, all that shedded hair will drift away to the wind and you won't have to be bothered with cleaning it up, so a win-win for you both.

Self-Cleaning Brush

This has been great for regular use. The beauty is in the compactly arranged rubber ball-tipped bristles which keep your cat from getting scratched. They lie and move at a 135 degree angle. The bristles are made from wire tines, which excel at reaching the undercoat. Push the tab on the back to release the accumulated loose fur; the bristles will retract in turn.  Then there's different colors to choose from. The ergonomically-designed handle gives you superb comfort while you comb her out so no danger of a sore thumb. 

They have a strap on the wrist to ensure they fit snugly. 

With long-haired cats, it's important to tackle the undercoat.

This XLCl 2-sided rake is ideal for a full undercoat combout. Regular use can help prevent mats adn tangles in the fur, plus it will be good for kitty's circulation, too.  The handle has a comfortable shape rnabling you to tackle Fluffy without cramping.

#4 The Scaredy Cut

Let's face it, not too many cats are a fan of electric clippers ...they're not that loud but they do have a bibration to them that is nerve-wracking, from a feline point of view, and nto too many will sit still when you are coming at them with a pair of shears. I've used manicure scissors to trim some, uh, embarrassing and gross stuff off of Cosmo that no other tool could reach, and I think it may have been because she trusts that I wanted to help as her owner. 

Well, this tool will give you the advantages of both . It conists of a pair of shears (just like the kind your local barber uses) with a ribbed tip so you won't accidentally nick your cat, plus 7 attachable guards that you can swap out to get the best out of of your cat's haircut. So whether you're needing to trim off unsightly mats or do an all-over cut, you'll have a guard that will suit your needs and leave your feline friend witha better appearance that ever. 

The scissors are stainless steel and there are a couple of different "grippers' for the inside finger holes, so you won't be uncomfortable either. One is gel and the other is smooth, they can help fit your fingers better and avoid cramping. You also get a nice little storage bag and ainsert to organize the different guards. And if you're left handed no problem as there are lefty scissors available as well as right-hand friendly, as well as different color choices. This is the kit to get when you want a manual method that gives you different grooming options in addition to making things easier and less daunting for kitty.

Neabot P1

I've saved the "big ticket" one for last - if you've ever had or currently own a small pet vacuum to suck up all that pet hair that drifts and lands everywhere, you will love this, as it is designed on that principle. The power of a mini vacuum complete with 5 different attachmentsa de-shedder, brush and clipper set with 4 attachment guards (I know this isn't always the ideal thing for cats, but if you have dogs, too, they may tolerate it better)  and ta special brush, lastly a wand style these last two are very reminiscent of your own vacuum attachments. 

The loose fur you comb off gets trapped int the air hose and filter so you are free from the flyaway hair that's always obvious in grooming sessions. Afterward you just detach the filter compartment and empty it just like you do with your real vacuum. While it does cost more than the other tools I have presented here, it is definetely worth the money if you have multiple pets. Cats, dogs, long silky coat rabbits too, will benefit from being groomed with this amazing tool.

Buyers Guide

When choosing proper grooming tools, there are a few things that need to be considered. Although long-haired cats differ in coat density, and length. Some breeds have denser coats than others if they originated from cold climates. The Siberian and the Norwegian forest cat come to mind here. To survive the harsh winter they developed thicker coats. Wcwn qhwn yu live in warm places like like sunny Arizona they still retain the characteristics of a heavy coat but they tend to shed more in the spring . Most cats do regardless of breed. So it's no surprise that you may find they excess shedding increases around the time the weather gets warmer. Then there re breeds like the Ragdoll and the Maine Coon, both larger in size than other domietic breeds,m that have double coat that needs special attention to.

Not to mention the fact that cats groom themselves via their tongues...this is why they get hairballs, and the "dry heaves". Most of us hate that sound, but you know your cat doesn't enjoy it either!  Which is why it's so important to pay attentn to their grooming. 

GoPets 2-Sided Rake and Comb

I really like this tool as it gives you practically 3 in one ergonokmicly designed sp your hands don't get tired, it includes a rake to ease off loose fur and untangles the top coat, and a tightly woven comb side for thoroughly combing the undercoat. The silicone gel handle prevents cramping in your hands so you can give Miss Kitty the treatment she deserves.  At 7.5" in length this tool not only will do the three important tasks of deshadding, detangling and combing, but it won't take up a lot of room either.  The 2.5" wide bristles are stainless steel with protective tips to prevent snagging. Seriously evry pet owner should have one of these.

Pine Pellets for Cat Litter

Ever heard of pine pellets? Can you use them in cat litter boxes?

First off, what are pine pellets? Well, they're designed and manufactured as equine bedding material...in other words, made with horses in mind. But they are also well suited to other animals, including pets. They can work great for rabbit, cat and dog litter boxes. 

Long story short, my husband and I adopted two adorable puppies from one of his cousins last summer. They were so teeny, not much bigger than guinea pigs at six weeks of age. We used puppy pads when they were at that early stage. But as they got older we wanted to graduate them to something a little more "grown up" (in addition to taking them outside rgulary...well, a couple times a day, ...) It's no fun to step in your know what on your way to the kitchen in the dark. Ick!

 But I'm getting off track a little...I saw a video on Youtube of a woman who was training her puppies with litter trays. It seemed like a more relaxed version of crate training. They did have a nice pen that was big enough to run around but they were being trained to use this plastic tray filled with some substrate that was not kitty litter, but pine pellets. 

She then proceeded to tell us viewers that she only paid about $7 for a 25-pound bag from Tractor Supply. Better yet, the puppies seemed to take to them. I had no idea that it was possible to train a puppy to "go in" a litter box the way cats do. I've had kittens and they will take to them pretty easily, even at six to eight weeks. But at 7 dollars a bag, it was worth a shot. And a tray looked easier for them to crawl into. 

The key is to keep them in the pen while you feed them and then watch to make sure they get used to the trays. When they do, you praise them loudly and offer a treat. So I got started. I filled up one of those under-the-bed boxes with the new bag of pellets (it was as heavy as all get-out...)  and my youngest cat (Blaze) wasted no time and made a beeline for the box and prompted to...yep, that's right.

Of course, I wouldn't know if the puppies were using the tray or my cats were, so I made sure to fill up two of them and position one in the puppy pen and the other outside living room. So as it turns out cats, even those who are used to commonplace clay litter, will surprisingly take to pine pellets. My other two cats have only been exposed to one other type of littler that was dehydrated corn cob based.  I remember when I got them neutered and spayed I was told I need to replace their litter with shredded paper as it would be easier for them post-op. They didn't like that too well, until I mixed in paper strips with the litter they were used to.

So what are the advantages of using pine pellets for cats?  Well, if you'd like to see for yourself...

Odor minimizing...Pine is a naturally fresh scent and no perfumes to deal with which is one thing I don't like about some litter brands.

The pellets break down upon use...when kitty urinates, the pellets dissolve into sawdust. Biodegradeable and earth-friendly.

Comes in a big bag that will last a long time (depending on how many cats you have.)

Change it out periodically by pouring it out in the backyard. Pooper Scooper optional.

Cost. Litter is somewhere around $10-$12 for about a gallon sized amount.

And now, the cons, or disadvantages....

Bag is heavy. Weighs 50 pounds...Be sure and lift with your knees when you lug it into the house!

If using a tray/litter pan, you may find stray pellels on the floor and stepping on them can be a b!tch.

How safe are pine pellets? Well, our dogs would eat the odd pellet, but nothing serious happened. After awhile the honeymoon was over for these things, and our dogs would want to go outside to  "go". (it's getting easier now that they are getting older) We eventually just put pieces of cardboard in the trays as they'd rather play in the pellet tray like it's a sandbox. The littlest one would use it as a place to hide her toys from her brother, lol...) 

And I kind of got aggravated stepping on these things, they hurt just like stepping on a Lego when you've got bare feet. SO I decided to put what was left of them into one of my cats' covered boxes, and they do use it, it does not stink like the litter does (it takes about a month or so to get to that point. With clay litter, if I'm in the next room and I heaer one of them digging, I know she or he has just eliminated. With these pellets, I can't tell. Cats in general will not try to eat the pellets, at least mine don't.  SO suffice it to say they are generally safe for cats. 

If you use a covered litter box rather than one of those flatter pans that are 4-5" in height, you won't have to deal with stray pellets everywhere.  They won't be able to kick them out. Me, I use a large Sterile bin with a hole cut in the top. That is their box!

The smell of urine /ammonia at some point, will tell you that it's time to change out the pellets for a batch of fresh ones.

So that is the lowdown on pine pellets for cats, I hope you got a lot out of reading this article, and your feline friends take to pine pellets!

Best Litter for Multiple Cat Households

 Best Litter Multiple Cats Buying Guide 2022

This is the article you need to read if you're looking for the best litter for multiple cats in your household. Having more than one feline in your domicile means special considerations when it comes to choosing a good brand, how much to use, and what matierl to look for. And that's just the starting point.I know, it's no fun to deal with problems like tracking litter around the house, foul odors, and whatever else. By nature, cats are relatively clean creatures. But when guests come over and they smell the litter box before they even see your cats, that's kind of humiliating. Choosing th e best brands that do what you need for however many cats you have is how you gain a foothold.

Unless you are one of the lucky few who has managed to toilet train a cat (strange, but true), you need litter...There's a lot of brands out there, but they are not all created equal. Sometimes it's through trial and error. Luckily, it doesn't have to be. 

How I Picked the Best Litter Multiple Cats

Well, three words...first hand experience. My long career as a cat lady has meant that trying out different litters is second only to trying new foods. When I have been shopping for cat litter, I look at three major things...the price, the components, and the value for both. I've used brands that were downright awful and those that were excellent, and a few were in-between.

A Spotlight on Some of the Best Cat Litter Multiple Cats 2022

Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Litter For Multiple Cat Households

I thought we'd start off by talking about my favorite brand - TidyCats. We spotted this on one shopping excursion (Wal-mart) and it looked like a good deal. I couldn't pass up the container that doubles as a storage bucket - the carrying handle is so much easier to handle than those bulky cardboard cartons. It's a heavyweight at 35 pounds, but the ideal size for more than one cat. 

It does have a fragrance added, but it's mild and slowly dissipates over time and doesn't overpower me with "perfumy"-ness. It clumps great and there isn't much dust sifting through the air when being dispensed. If you just arrived at the door - you wouldn't even know I had cats right away - odor control is super.

What I like best: Produces tight clumps, very little residual dust, fragrance is subtle, little to no odor, storage bucket design

What I don't like: It's heavy, no big deal of course...Also special care needs to be taken when opening a new container.as some of the plastic edges are sharp.

Tidy Cats Lightweight Unscented

This one has always been my go-to fav...if I can get it, these days, it's kind of a crapshoot - sometimes I can't find the unscented adn will opt for the one with Glade in it. Thankfully, the Glade scent gradually evaporates but when I first open it up it's very potent. I love how much lighter it is, as it comes in a large jug with carrying handle on the side, I'll buy 2 at a time as it takes one to fill each box. It dos clump well, no complaints there. When I first pour it in the box a little residual dust sifts around a little, one small caveat is that becasue it is n't as dense, the cats track it out more easily, but since they "go" in a covered box most of it stays where it should adn whatever gets out I sweep up easily. 

What I like about it: It's less dense and easier to handle, 

no odor, clumps well

What I don't like as much: It produces a little more residual dust than the standard weight litter

Arm and Hammer

You can't go wrong with Arm and Hammer anything - it's a trusted brand that's been around for ages and never lets me down, so naturally I gravitate towards their brands of cat litters,. I bought the ***** when I just had Buddy and Cosmo. it comes in a large cardboard carton with carrying handle. 

I

t's 14 lbs, but the carrying handle makes it easier. ALthough A&H also makes a "Multi-Cat" variety too, I find this one very satisfactory, in that the fragrance, if any is very subtle, the litter pellets are compact, clumping takes place well, and my guys don't track it everywhere. Plus, the cardboard box is recyclable.

What I like about it: No overpowering fragrance, clumps firmly, little tracking, Box is biodegradable

What I don't like as much: Nothing really to knock on - I;m very pleased.

Arm & Hammer Slide

This is another brand I got not too long ago that I'm pleased with so far. It's a 14 pound box that is biodegradeable afterward. It is formulated to not stick as much as conventional brands. Out of the box, the fragrance, if any (box didn't say) was very subtle. It also didn't kick up dust either, which is great if changing the cat box makes you sneeze from all those loose particles' resisdue in the air floats around. . It was about an hour before I found it had been "christened" by one of my cats.  The lack of dust meant that when I scooped the poop, there were much less particles going out too. 

What I like about it: Scent is pleasant, clumps are very firm and less particles go out with them, no dust

What I don't like: So far, can't find anything yet.

World's Best Cat Litter

I know most of us are a little suspiscious of anything that claims to be the best of something, but I have to tell you you won't be disappointed in this one if you're looking for an alternative to clay. Instead of clay pellets, it's made from corncob fibers, and better yet - it's flushable. Yes, you heard that right. On those messy rainy days when you don't feel liek dragging one more thing out to the trash, these biodegradeable pellets will soon become your new best friend.

 So if you're seeking a great litter for two cats or more that will not stink to high heaven and clumps well, look no further.

What I like about it: Septic-safe, clumps, eco-friendly

What I don't like as much: Some people didn't like the odor, or that it wasn't compatible with their device (e.g LitterRobot)

Best Litter Multiple Cats Buyers Guide

Now that I've shared my favorite brands let's go over the most important factors when choosing good litter for multiple cat resuidences. 

Clumping vs Clay

When I got my first official ("debut") cat in 1991, I was introduced to "clumping" cat litter. It's formulated to solidify around their waste so you can easily take the pooper scooper adn dip it out. 

I have always despised clay litter, I got used to the kind that clumps around their, uh, business, and wuldn't have it any other way. How did we ever live without it? When your cat pes or poops the granules in the litter "stick" around it, making it easier to scoop. My ultimate favorite type of cat litter is the kind that clumps and the "lightweight" It really does live up to a name - it' weighs hal of what conventional litter does. Nice to not have to breeak a sweat lugging a heavy container to the car! The one downside of it, though, is it does seem to leave more dust. "Normal" weight litter, I don't notice this as much. 

Clay is the most common litter component, mainly bentonite, kaolite, and sepiolite. Or a combination of these, regardless of whether they are formulated to clump or not.  Some people are looking into natural ingredients like wheat, corn, pine, and sawdust. In some cases, cats too, like us, have allergies, and the less dust or fragrance present, the better. 

A crystalized synthetic silica is one of the newest ingredients that's come along. Some cats aren't picky about where they "go". Others are. case in point. Like most kids, I enjoyed playing in the sandbox. Much to my chagrin, the neighbor's cat had defiled it one day. Putting a cover on it put an end to the unwanted "night deposits".

There's a few instances in which non clumping cat litter would be preferable - such as post-op. Also, with cats that are diabetic or with kidney issues, as well as very young cats, when the granules could be a little rough on the incision, and it's a good idea to stay on top of the cats' urinary status. When my guys had been spayed and neutred, I was encouraged to use newspaper shredding.

How Much Litter Will You Need?

Experts always say you need one litter box per cat and then an extra. With that logic I'd need 4. A lot of this is becasue of the territorial nature of cats. When you have more than one cat it does mean having to be more on top of cleaning duties. 

You also have to have a certain depth, as cats love to dig. I have a covered litter box I made for my cats using one of those big 12-gallon totes that i cut a hole in the lid and they can come and go as they please instead of buying a conventional litter pan. It helps cut down on all that messy tracking, regardless of which brand of litter I usel. They also have more privacy too.

The typical litter pan is about 4" deep. I remember using these years ago and another thing i made use of was pan liners - It made doing complete changeouts much esaier.  Ideally, at least 3" of litter should be used. Depending on how many cats and litter pans are present WhenI fill/refill my litter "totes" I triy to get in the ballpark of 5" 

Also it's important to do a periodic change-out of the litter. Depending on how many cats you have, this could be every month or every eight weeks. Ammonia, which is present in cats' urine, can build up. The only way to manage this is a complete change over. I also start out, between changes, putting down a buffer - I do this by tracing a piec of cardboard around the bottom of the box and cutting it to size, to go in the bottom . One small problem with clay based litter is that some parts of it stick to the bottom. The cardboard buffer I make fits in the nooks and crannies of the tote box and catches all those wet clumps the "pooper scooper" may miss. Makes things easy. I'd encourage you to do this too.

Making "Scents"

Some litters that you find are scented. Personally, I don't like the scented type as much as it seems like the fragrance added makes it worse. It's like perfume...it doesn't negate the smell of cats' poop, sintead its like covering it up, the best deoderizer is always baking soda. I spreinkle a little in after I do a few "dips" adn it keeps odor under control way better than any of those fragrances. Sometimes the unscented kind I prefer is sold out and I have to grab one of those fragrant ones anyway. However, the use of baking soda in the box tends to help keep that part from being bothersome.It's not always that bad, though...when you are replacing litter and opening up a fresh container, the fragrance is at its highest peak, but it dos disappate over time.

Non-scented litters are sometimes equipped with baking soda adn charcoal, two of the best natural deodorizers - and no obnoxious perfume that will knock you over about as much as the smell of cat poop!

Which Material?

The variety of materials used in cat litter is more varied now than it used to be. Of course, results may vary. Most cat litter you see is made of. One time I was out at Ingles and a certain brand caught my eye becasue it was made with shredded corncob fibers. I think it did wel lin the deoderizing department, but I don't think my cats took to it well. It didn't clump well, either. At the end of the day the whole thing got damp. Some matierlas no matter how well are advertised, just don't bode well. The presence of paper fibers, since paper is highly porous, could mean that dampness adn moisture will set in easily, adn require more frequent changing. 

Conclusion

Well, I hope I have enlightened you well on the topic of litter - wow, didin't realize how much goes into perfecting the sandbox, am I right? You should also be better equipped to make a smart decision on picking the best litter for your multiple cat household.

Heated Pet Beds For Cats

Happy winter solstice my fellow cat people! The chilly weather is upon us which is why I started my new article about finding the best heated cat beds.  Although felines are blessed in the Darwinian sense, of developing a thicker, fuller coat during the cold months as a form of adaptation, it's always a good idea to treat them to a nice toasty place to nap. 

We have our own thermal heated blankets and such, why not treat Miss Kitty too, to her very own.Heated pet beds for cats are a real boon in the wintertime!  They're great for dogs too...in fact many older pets, or those with certain health problems like arthritis can benefit from a nice warm mat that has a special electric apparatus - preferably one that can be controlled, as you certainly don't want to cook Fido or Fluffy :)

A good quality heated mat should have several things in place, a nice soft outer cover, a certain thickness, and safety features like a thermostat setting.

Once I was invited to test out a kitty mat with a heater on the house! I enthusiastically agreed to do so and when I'd had at least a week of use I was able to produce a good assessment of it.

This one has a fleece outer cover, if you unzip it on the side you can look inside and see the heating element ; it looks to be made of vinyl. It plugs into any standard electric outlet, It does not have an adjusting setting; it's pre-set at a mild temp so I don't have to worry that it will get too hot.

This is my sweet furry daughter using it right now:

I've been able to remove the heating insert for warm months so they can have something to lay on. I haven't tried to wash it yet, but did give it some work with the mini pet vac.

Sorry but I don't think the seller carries this anymore, but wasn't that a lovely gift to get? I mean for my cats.

Other considerations - besides the weather, some cats can benefit if they are aged, senior cats may have more achy joints. Some cats may develop arthritis too, in which a heated bed or mat would be very therapeutic. Not too different from the heating pad I used to use that had an adjustable setting on it I used for treating pain. 

 In this guide and post, I walk you through everything you need to know as well as some good recommendations 

Pregnant and nursing cats, too also need more warmth. As well as privacy, ideally one of th e most popular styles in the plush mat, which can go within a contained object, even something simple like a cardboard box, Sterilite tote, etc., that you convert into a cat house or dwelling.

How I Chose the Best Heated Cat Beds

Well, three fourths of what I know about cats. their habits and how they gravitate to things. 

The other fourth - I checked them out. Any that I felt like were unsuitable for cats or could be a fire hazard (some people actually had conformation of this in pictures - yikes) I eliminated.

GASUR Heated Cat Bed with Adjustable Temperature

Looking for a pet mat with a heater but don't want to worry about it getting too hot? Look no further, this one is ideal as it ticks off all the boxes with its adjustable temp feature that lets you move it up or down within 5 different degree ranges. The Auto Shutoff is a great addition here, as it lets you set how many hours of duration to have the warmth setting, depending on your cat's conditions. The extra long 83" cord is not only easy to reach outlets but chew proof too.  Although cats are not prone to chewing (well, not like dogs and rabbits)  this is a nice feature to have. Not only do you have these safety bonuses built in for a worry-free experience, it comes in two sizes so whether you've got a kitten or a Maine Coon no problem. 

This would be a grat pad to look into for older cats, cats who have joint problems, or just need to keep cozy during the winter. 

And if you work long shifts ad can't be there to attend to your pet on those chilly winter days, the multiple options for setting the temp will grant you much peace of mind.

Pros: Auto shutooff, Multiple temperature settings that can be adjusted, Time intervals can be set

Cons:Some people thought a 2 hour setting would have been a good idea, also it's not intended for outdoor use

Buying Guide

Before i get into the meat of this post, you may have thought, beds for cats? I know dogs like to have their won, but cats are funny. Where do they usually sleep? Wherever they feel like it. One of my cats always lays on my bed, and he's happy as a clam. Many times, what do cats prefer as far as spaces go? Yours. This is because they always follow your scent, they can pick up onit, and it represents comfort to them, so that;s why they always want to liei in your chair, your sofa, you get the idea.  As I type this right now, Cosmo is sitting on my lap. So why do they need their own bed? Much less with warmers.

There are three th ings to look for in a heated cat bed: A soft outer cover -it can be fleece, or microfiber. Better yet if you can unzip the cover and wash it periodically. You know cats, their hair gets on everything. I use a small handheld vacuum for that before washing things my cats lay on extensively. Second, a cetain thickness to it - too thin and the risk of it getting too hot is there. . Look for a mat that is about 2" thick at least. 

Third is an adjustable thermostat. This is a safety feature....As long as the temperature can be controlled, you don't have to worry about Fluffy getting barbequed... This one I own just has a switch on one side. I wish it had a auto shutoff feature as I forgot to switch it off when Blaze wandered off. But since it is temp-controlled for safety, it didn't get too hot to casue trouble, but i do have to remember to switch it off more diligently.

It plugs into a standard outlet. I can wash the outer fleece cover. In the summertime, I may take out the heating element so they can just lay on the mat. 

How do you entice your cat to use his or her new bed? 

There is a running joke around the cat-meme community that your cat will show way more interst int he packaging that the actual thing you bought for him. I've got pictures on my hard drive of Buddy getting comfy in the box from Amazon so I know I'm not alone here. Well, I can tell you the secret, and that is to think like a cat does. Cats follow our scent as I mentioned earlier. What will get them to come around is to attempt to use the product yourself. No, I'm not insinuating that you can actually get into the bed yourself (that's too weird to picture...) But what you want to do is take a piece of clothing you had on recently, or take a random object you use often and set it in there. Rule-o numero uno-never make a cat think you want him to "do" something. Be as nonchalant as you can. When he gets the impression that you've got dibs on the new bed, he'll come around.  Some people like to use catnip as a lure, but the thing about catnip is this: some cats go nuts for it, others could care less. If yours is of the former, by all means use it as a training tool, I just think the "transferring your scent" method is the most effective.

Buddy enjoying his heated pad one chilly winter day...

A heated pet bed or mat is still a great accessory to have because cats have a tendency to seek out warm places. If you've ever had one get on the heating grate, your laptop computer or other tech tool ? Sputnik used to get on my printer, much to my consternation and badgering him to get off.Even as I type this, Blaze inadvertently kicked the printer on so I have to stay after her too. Good grief.  Do you think they do that to irk us humans? (It seems like it!) There's a logical explanation, and its called instinct - they like warm places, and many tools like laptops and computer consoles emit heat. Being warm means being secure, just like they were when they were kittens and they were never far from their mothers. So it's a safe bet that it won't take much effort on your part, other than the nonchalant "use" by you as in resting articles of your clothing, to pique interst.

Indoor or Outdoor?

Some cats, especially strays, semi-ferals, and barn cats are used to being outside, and not going to be easily rehabilitated to stay inside. Cats like this do fine, including in wintertime, under the right conditions, such as enclosures and little shelter houses. I have seen some people creating these out of large Sterilite totes and lining them with blankets. This is s great idea for cats to have shelter Although many pet beds are made with indoor use in mind, there are some that are designed with outdoor use in combination with shelter like the tote enclosure, your garage, shed or loft. Outdoor beds may have a higher wattage, but it's important that you use them in conjunction with some type of small shelter, as they won't be effective unless the heat is contained in some manner.

Of course, it's important to perform due diligence and make sure to check on your cat periodically - just in case.

#2 K & H Thermo-Kitty Round Bed

For those of you whose cats showed prefence towards the "donut" style bed, you'll find this one has a lot to offer, inclduing the high walls that will provide comfort adn security to your kitty in the wintertime. It comes in 2 sizes, 16" and 20" diameter and 6" depth. It is ideal for cats who "curl up" often when they nap...most do but some like to stretch out more, which is easier to do with a flat bed. It has a unique method of heating called thermostatic control, which means that it will sync up with your cats' natural body temperature relative to teh environment around him,  The internal thermostat warms when your cat is "present" and if she slinks off, it gets back down to the ambient temp. So no wasted energy and you can have peace of mind knowing that your cat will get too big a dose of heat, or worse, get cooked.  The heating element is found with in the cushion in the middle. Yes you can remove it for the warmer months of the year so it will still be useful.

Pros: Designed to heat up when your cat is present and go back to "normal" if she vacates, Design with walls provide security, Will fit small or bigger cats

Cons: Cat may not be able to stretch out as easily with the rounded contours

#3 Lectro-Soft Outdoor Kitty Bed

Also made by the K&H brand which has 20 years of experience with pet products, this is the bed you need to get if you've got feral cats you're hoping to rehabilitate, barn cats tha tneed a warm place out of the cold, or just a nice toasty spot in the garage for those felines that would rather be outside. It is a little thicker than its indoor cousin, about 2" thick and a 20-watt output, the heating elemetn si containerd within a vinyl enclosure but it does incldue a plush outer covering for comofrt. It aslo has the thermostatic heating concept built in meaning it will never get hot enough to burn your cat and will adjust to her natural body temperature. There are three different sizes available for the smallest kittens to Maine Coons. It's topped off with a five foot steel-encased cord.

Pros: Thermostatic design ensures consistent warming when cat is on it and goes back to neutral if cat leaves it, Good for feral adn outdoor cats, Can be used within shelter confinement, Waterproof vinyl outer cover, 3 different sizes

Cons: Some people said the cover did not stay on well