Having furry friends in the house is fun and all, but when it comes to using a heater around them, things can get serious. What if it overheats or tips over on top of the poor thing? Just the thought of it is horrifying enough.
So it’s essential to invest in a safe space heater for pets in the house, which is reliable and consistent in its performance. This post reviews the best pet-friendly space heaters, and we’ve also included a quick buying guide and some additional details on such heaters. Keep reading to know more!
Top 5 Safest Space Heaters for Pets
1. Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Heater – Best Overall
Lasko is known for its reliable and satisfactory performance, and the Lasko 755320 ceramic tower heater proves that these claims are right on the money.
Right out of the box, it looks like a super-modern, futuristic device with a large digital display. Standing 23 inches tall, this ceramic heater has an oscillating fan that circulates the heat in the entire room evenly.
It also has a digital thermostat that you can use to set your desired temperature with remote control, or you can switch to auto mode to let the device set it itself.
But what makes this one of the best choices for pets is that it’s heavier than other heaters on this list, making it hard to tip over. And while we’re on the topic of safety, the Lasko 755320 has all the standard built-in safety features that make it safe to use around pets.
Pros:
- Digital thermostat
- Remote control
- Overheat protection and cool-touch exterior
- Attractive design
Cons:
- No safety-shut off when tipped over
2. PELONIS NTH15-17BRA Portable Space Heater – Most Feature-Packed
We chose the Pelonis NTH15-17BRA as the most feature-rich because of its unique ability to be used horizontally and vertically both, ridding you of any worries related to pets tipping it off.
Apart from that, it has everything you could ever want in a heater. Powerful performance? Check. Digital thermostat? Check. Remote control? Check. It even has an eco mode that helps you conserve energy while keeping the room comfortably warm.
Moreover, it’s a ceramic radiant heater with closed grills that will ensure that no pets get too warm or burn their paws while poking the device.
The handle at the back also makes it easy to move around, despite its tower-like shape and heavier weight. Overall, we think it’s totally worth the slightly high price.
Pros:
- 24-hour timer
- Horizontal and vertical usage
- Heavier weight
- Easy to disassemble and clean
Cons:
- No safety tip-off
3. Honeywell HCE200W – Most Cost-Effective Ceramic Heater
So far, we’ve looked at some expensive models, but the Honeywell HCE200W can make your pocket happy. And having an affordable price tag doesn’t mean you’ll compromise on safety – Honeywell always ensures that.
This compact, portable heater has a 360-degree safety shut-off, so no matter which way your pet manages to push it, it’ll turn off. It also has a cool-touch exterior and rubber feet to prevent accidental slipping.
But don’t judge it by its small size – it can give off an impressive amount of heat since its 1500 watts. Hence, it’s one of the best cost-effective heaters for houses with pets.
Pros:
- Powerful heat
- 360-degrees safety shut-off
- Portable
- Affordable
Cons:
- No oscillation
- Too lightweight for pets
4. Amazon Ceramic Heater – Most Compact
If that Honeywell heater wasn’t tiny enough for you, we’ve chosen the Amazon Oscillating Ceramic Heater as the smallest, most affordable, yet effective device.
It’s the perfect pick for people who have birds, rodents, chicks, and similar small pets. Standing only ten inches tall, this ceramic heater has three heat settings (Low, High, and Fan-Only) and an adjustable thermostat. So you can adjust between powerful and low heat, depending on who’s around the heater.
And despite its small size and lighter weight, it’s one of the safest space heaters to use around pets. This Amazon heater includes auto shut-off when it tips over and overheat protection, so the lower price doesn’t compromise on safety.
Also, the tiny grill holes will prevent even small animals from getting too near the ceramic element inside.
Pros:
- Compact and portable
- Has a handle
- Small grill holes
- Quiet, eco mode
Cons:
- Limited scope
- Not for use in high humidity areas such as bathrooms
5. Cozy Pet Warmer Safe Pet Space Heater – Best for Gentle Heating
Suppose you’re not comfortable with the idea of blowing hot air or having a red-hot ceramic element near your pet. In that case, you can invest in the Cozy Products Pet Warmer.
Think of this heater as a gentle giant that’s tall and wide enough to warm up a large dog but gentle enough to let them rest in close proximity. This is possible because its surface only heats up to 170-degrees Fahrenheit, making it comfortably warm enough for spot heating.
With an easy-mount, sleek design, you can place this heater just about anywhere – even near young pets. And although it’s a tad bit expensive, it’s definitely the best choice for gentle heating.
Pros:
- Provides comfortably warm heat
- Safe to use around any pet
- Large surface
- on/off sign at the display (to let you know of its status)
Cons:
- Spot heating for very small areas
Which Space Heaters are Safe for Pets?
Ideally, you shouldn’t let your pet near anything hot, whether it’s flames or an innocent heater. But when it gets chilly inside the house, it’s often necessary to get the heat going.
When that’s the case, you should stay away from certain kinds of heaters. These include propane, kerosene, or natural gas heaters.
Read Also: Is Propane or Kerosene Heater Safer?
While they’re inexpensive and safe to use in general, it’s the carbon monoxide you need to be wary of. If you leave these heaters on without proper venting, you could be causing carbon monoxide poisoning in your pets and even yourself.
Also, any heater with exposed heating elements is not safe to use around pets. This is because your pet could somehow squeeze its paw, feet, or beak into the grill and burn itself. And even if it has tiny holes in the grill, the exposed heating element could make the grill dangerously hot.
So, this leaves you with two options: ceramic heaters with no exposed heated elements and electric heaters that include all the safety features for overheat protection. Even so, you’ll have to look for other safety features that are necessary for pet-friendly heaters.
What to Look for in a Safe Space Heater for Pet
The ideal safe space heater for pets should have:
Safety Features
Make a beeline for the safety-feature list when checking out a heater’s specs. Safe space heaters should have overheating protection and cool-touch surfaces so that your pets don’t burn themselves if they accidentally touch them.
Additionally, if you’re going to use the device around curious cats and excited dogs, it should have tip-off safety, which turns off the heater in case it falls down.
Closed Grills
Also, part of a heater’s safety precautions is closed grills. If there are very wide spaces in the grill, your pet might touch the heated elements inside. So look for thick, sturdy, small-holed grills in heaters.
Certification
Any heater that is not certified by a recognized organization is not safe to use around pets. You need to ensure that all the cords, plugs, and internal wires have been tested for being fire-proof and safe to use inside households. Hence, UL and ETL certified products are a must.
Heavy Weight
This isn’t something absolutely necessary, but it’s better to own a heavy space heater if you’re going to use it around pets. So no matter how chubby your cat is, it won’t accidentally tip it over. If your heater isn’t heavy, then look for a safety tip-off feature.
Adjustable Thermostat
A pet-safe heater should have an adjustable thermostat, preferably a digital one so that you can adjust the heat according to what you think is the safest setting. Otherwise, fixed settings can prove dangerous – there’s no guarantee your pet won’t get too close to the heater when left unattended.
Timer
Do you tend to be forgetful? Or do you think you’re going to fall asleep in front of the heater, curled up with your furry friend? If yes, then you might want to buy a heater that has at least an eight-hour timer.
