Cats are desert-origin animals with specific thermal needs that are often unmet in temperate climate households, causing chronic discomfort in winter months.
The thermal comfort of indoor cats is often overlooked by owners who find normal room temperatures comfortable. Cats lying in contorted positions to maximize contact with warm surfaces or seeking out heat vents are signaling that the ambient temperature is below their comfort zone. Providing heated beds, warm perch locations, and access to sunlit areas provides simple welfare improvements that cost little but significantly improve cat comfort.