# Sharing an apartment with a cat **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288 "2006-08-26T03:52:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/1 "2006-08-26T03:52:41Z")
Some of you may have seen my recent [emergency thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=385058) about nearly losing the cat I’m babysitting. Despite that ordeal, I’m enjoying having kitty around and am starting to think about getting one for myself. But I’m a little worried about winter temperatures. My main concern is that I live in a condo with expensive electric heat. I usually turn the heat off during the day when I’m at work. But I think that might not sit well with a cat. Can you buy little electric rocks for them like you would for a reptile? Or should I resign myself to keeping at least one room heated? Note: Space heaters aren’t permitted here, and I’m not sure how to go about putting a timer on my thermostat. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/2 "2006-08-26T04:02:18Z")
The cat won’t care if you have the heat off during the day. Seriously (unless you get one of those furless cats). Get it a warm kitty bed to hang out in if you’re worried, but kitties come with a nice warm fur coat. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/3 "2006-08-26T04:30:26Z")
Or get an electric blanket, and leave it on for kitty. They like that. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/4 "2006-08-26T04:44:47Z")
And if you have a window ledge, they will probably seek it out. Cats love sunbeams and warm surfaces! ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/5 "2006-08-26T04:50:02Z")
Kitty (or two) don’t mind cold! As long as kitty has a place where s/he can curl up and be warm, cooler temps are fine. You must, of course, post pictures of your new feline overlord as soon as it makes its presence known! ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/6 "2006-08-26T05:54:24Z")
If it’s warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing, a cat will be fine, as long as it’s not frail or elderly. As an added bonus, it will love you to pieces because it will associate you with the place getting warmer. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/7 "2006-08-26T12:29:55Z")
but do buy a cute kitty bed with a “roof”, not just an open basket with a pillow on the bottom. There are different types: kitty teepees, kitty igloos, and even kitty “Victorian-4-poster” beds–the important thing being that they provide a top over the sleeping cat. The top covering holds in body heat, and your little kitty will love it in there. and your title is wrong–you will not be “sharing” an apartment with a cat. You will be a guest in the cat’s apartment. and, remember, you owe us all some pics now… ---
**Author:** ![xbuckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9e8a1a/32.png) [@xbuckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xbuckeye)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/8 "2006-08-26T13:29:07Z")
My cat likes things a little chilly because she can cuddle under my down comforter. The cat has good taste, she can actually velcro herself to a flannel duvet covered down comforter and gain 50 pounds so she is too heavy to move. If you are leaving for several days, you’ll have to leave the heat on (but can turn it down) but if it is just while you’re at work, go ahead and do the normal. I would recommend to avoid extremes, like 60 when you’re gone and 85 when you’re there, but if you are trying to squeeze mileage out of your heating expenses, you probably don’t do that anyway. Chilly kitties are the best type, they really like to cuddle! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/9 "2006-08-26T14:18:37Z")
Sharing and apartment with a cat? Don’t let the cat put the toilet paper on the holder. They always get it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/10 "2006-08-26T14:25:33Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > but do buy a cute kitty bed with a “roof”, not just an open basket with a pillow on the bottom. > There are different types: kitty teepees, kitty igloos, and even kitty “Victorian-4-poster” beds–the important thing being that they provide a top over the sleeping cat. > The top covering holds in body heat, and your little kitty will love it in there. I’m not sure if my cat will use it, since it hasn’t been cold in the house since, well, forever (stupid lousy swamp cooler) but when winter does show up he’s got one of [these convertible beds](http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_11/602-8955608-1578211?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00062B99I) waiting. Opening it up gives a cube with holes in two sides and a fairly tight fit, so insulation should occur. This, of course, if he actually decides to get into it. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/11 "2006-08-26T15:28:29Z")
Simple: Get [two cats that like to snuggle together.](http://community.webshots.com/photo/549922534/2520101200000735275HdCiox) [Or even three!](http://community.webshots.com/photo/549922534/2269697800000735275kGUNto) ---
**Author:** ![Carlyjay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Carlyjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlyjay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-an-apartment-with-a-cat/370288/12 "2006-08-26T15:48:38Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Or get an electric blanket, and leave it on for kitty. They like that. But if you do this, please ensure you have tenant insurance, because that has “Fire Hazard” written all over it.