<p>This might seem like an odd question, but not having grown up with cats I am not sure . . . I would like to get a small space heater to put under the desk where I have been doing a lot of writing. I am worried that the cats (we have 2, they are 3 years old) will stick their paws into it. Is this a reasonable fear? Anyone with cats have a cat-proof space heater?</p>
<p>I’ve had a bunch of different space heaters with a bunch of different cats and nothing bad has happened. That includes a huge glowing disk. But I suppose there will always be a stupider cat - though if you knew one of mine, you’d wonder how - and if that’s a concern get a portable radiator. As an alternative, I use an electric blanket - a throw, really - over my legs and feet. (I have extremely cold feet. My wife says they’re subzero.) Why? A blanket warms me up without noise and I can turn it up and down easily. Problem: the cats do like sitting on the blanket so there have been some confrontations. But I’m bigger so I win. Usually.</p>
<p>I have cats but not a space heater at home. I use a blanket at my desk too and I try to get my cat to sit on it to make it even warmer but he won’t cooperate. I don’t think I would be concerned about them sticking their paws in. They’ll sniff it. They might even be scared of it - at first. But at work I use a radiant space heater and much prefer it to a fan. I can’t even imagine why a cat would be interested at all. It just sits there and gets warm. Again, maybe to sniff, but even if they touched it I don’t think it would hurt them. Plus when I’m really cold at work I move it in pretty close to me and it is much warmer than a fan blowing heated air, which tends to make my eyes feel dry.</p>
<p>In my experience, the standard space heater is far more of a danger to humans than to cats. :)</p>
<p>If you’re really concerned, you can get heaters where the heating element itself is not exposed and a fan mechanism blows hot air out of it.</p>
<p>When I have used them around cats the cats usually sit far enough away to enjoy the heat. The fans make noise and blow air both of which would deter a cat. </p>
<p>I’ve had cats my entire life and space heaters for a portion of it. Cats hate hot things. They won’t come near it when it’s on. If you’re still not sure, fill a mug with hot water and hold it out for your cats to sniff. They will back away in a hurry the second they feel the heat.</p>
<p>Had a cat that loved the space heater. He never stuck his paw in it, but he’d lay so close to it that he occasionally singed his fur. I have a couple of infrared heaters (no fan) that are super energy efficient and I use all winter. Love them.</p>
<p>Another cat owner, space heater user here. Cat stays away from heaters of any kind.</p>
<p>Most of the newer space heaters are completely enclosed with a little fan that blows the heated air out of louvers. I’ve got a couple of these and they are no risk to cats at all. No way to reach in to the heating coils and the outside metal stays cool to the touch.</p>
<p>You can get fancier looking versions, but this all metal one that I have next to my desk was $20 at WallyWorld:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.walmart.com/ip/17808701”>http://www.walmart.com/ip/17808701</a></p>
<p>It’s got thermostat control and it shuts off if it gets kicked or falls over.</p>
<p>Candles can be an issue.</p>
<p>LOL I thought the title referred to a space heater with pictures of cats on it. Never mind…</p>
<p>Sorry jym! </p>
<p>And thanks for the advice too about space heaters–I think the last time I had a space heater was before D (who is 22) was born. I am still thinking of the metal ones with the metal grate in front, but clearly things have improved since then.</p>
<p>Once upon a time, back in the hay day of kerosene heaters, I worked for – let’s say the original kerosene heater importer/manufacturer. Hundreds of people sent in photos of their cats basking in the delicious warmth of the kerosene heater. To the uninitiated, it looked like hundreds of dead cats next to kero heaters.</p>
<p>jym, I couldn’t find a cat heater but I did find a very attractive cat fan: <a href=“http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/300730189302?lpid=82”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/300730189302?lpid=82</a> We have various space heaters, both radiant and fan based, and our cat enjoys laying right beside any of them. She also likes laying in the warm exhaust from the portable dehumidifier in the summer.</p>
<p>I have a cat heater! It is a heated cat cozy. I’m not kidding - it can be plugged into an outlet like an electric blanket. :)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00176F9AM?pc_redir=1412498089&robot_redir=1”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00176F9AM?pc_redir=1412498089&robot_redir=1</a></p>
<p>Marilyn, those are adorable! I have a friend who will appreciate such fans as a birthday or holiday gift. :)</p>
<p>We used a small radiator and my cats (who are exceptionally dumb) never seriously injured themselves, though they frequently like to sleep right next to it (with their fur touching) or smush their face in between the bars of the radiator. The worst that can happen is that they singe some fur, and then they’ll never touch it again.</p>