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You only have to watch your kitty luxuriate on a hot patio or sun-baked windowsill to realize that most cats seek heat. If you’re like us, you’ve probably considered giving them access to a heated cat bed but wondered about issues like cost, maintenance, and, of course, safety.
One of the most popular heated cat beds on the market is K&H’s Fashion Splash, a bolstered doughnut-style cuddler with a 5.5-foot cord and an energy-efficient output of just 7 watts. We’ve set out to review the pros and cons, enlisting the help of two heat-seeking senior cats.
What K&H’s Fashion Splash Heated Cat Bed Offers
K&H is a well-established company that makes sturdy products for farm animals as well as an extensive line of products for indoor and outdoor domestic pets. Their heated beds are some of the best regarded in the industry, with energy-efficient footprints and a focus on safety.
The Fashion Splash is one of K&H’s most straightforward heated cat beds. It has modest three-inch Poly-Fil bolsters and an orthopedic faux-fur center, with a thermostatically controlled removable heating pad.
When plugged in, the heating pad will hover just 15º above ambient temperature. But when your pet sits on the bed and pressure is applied, the surface warms to 102º Fahrenheit—a cat’s typical body temperature.
Here are the specs on the Fashion Splash:
- The small bed is an 18-inch round, while the large measures 16 x 22 inches—that’s about right for mid-size cats up to 15 pounds, but it would be a tight fit for a Maine Coon
- The removable heating pad has a 5.5-foot cord and uses 4 watts of power
- The bed comes in dark brown (mocha) or dark blue
- It has a one-year warranty
- Machine-washable exterior; spot clean internal heating pad
- This K&H model is designed for indoor use only
Senior tester Toby gravitates to the bolsters on the Fashion Splash.
Is the K&H Fashion Splash Heated Cat Bed Safe?
In general, yes—we think it’s one of the safest models on the market. All K&H beds are certified safe by MET, one of the leading global regulators of electronic goods. But there are some important precautions to take to make sure a heated cat bed stays that way.
- Give your cat plenty of non-heated space. Almost all plug-in heated cat beds come with an important warning: never enclose a cat in a kennel or shelter where the heated bed is the only place they can sit or lay down. If your cat might have trouble getting up from the bed (think surgery recovery or illness), clear the use of a heating pad with your vet first and consider an adjustable model that lets you control the temperature.
- Check for overheating. Most heated cat beds, the Fashion Splash included, won’t exceed a cat’s normal body temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re ever concerned that the pad in your kitty’s bed is heating above that temperature, remove it and get a replacement. (Don’t use a heating pad designed for human use for a cat—many of those can heat to well above 102 degrees.)
- Don’t add other bedding. Most manufacturers, K&H included, caution against the temptation to make a heated cat bed cushier by adding more padding or blankets to the bed. This can cause the heating pad to overheat.
- Periodically inspect the bed’s cord. If you have dogs or kittens that chew on things, you want to check frequently to make sure that the cord to the heating pad remains in good condition—no cracks or exposed wiring. If you spot damage, replace the heating pad.
Tink takes advantage of the oval shape of the K&H bed to stretch out.
Our Senior Kitties Review the Fashion Splash
To test the Fashion Splash, we enlisted the help of two heat-seeking senior cats: Toby (a black shorthair) and Tinkerbell (a calico Manx).
Toby, who has arthritis, patrols the house looking for the warmest lap, the softest pile of rumpled bedding, and the sunniest spot on the window seat. Tink is all about comfort. I figured they were the perfect candidates for a heated cat bed.
As for me, I wanted a bed that looks sweet, doesn’t take up too much room on my desk, and is easy to clean in case of accidents (Tink has been known to barf up a hairball or two).
The blue version of the bed, with removable heating pad.
What We Like About the Heated K&H Fashion Splash
The bottom line is that there is a lot to love about this particular cat bed.
- Size. It’s spacious enough for most mid-size cats, but low-profile and trim enough that it doesn’t become an awkward blob on your shelf or sofa. The relatively flat shape makes it easy to pack or store.
- Comfort. The oval bed has an exceptionally firm bolster that many cats appreciate. If your cat likes low bolsters, this is the way to go.
- Ease of cleaning. The Fashion Splash can be spot-cleaned and is easily machine washable. If your kitty has accidents, or you just want to keep the bed looking nice, you can remove the heating pad and wash the bed in the machine and dry it in the dryer.
- Replaceable heating pad. Should your heating pad fail (or, say, your puppy chews up the cord) replacement pads for the Fashion Splash Heated Cat Bed are available. However, the pricing I’ve found for replacement pads is such that it is often cheaper to look for a sale on the bed itself and buy that! Fortunately, the heating pads are very sturdy—in two years of use, I’ve never had to replace one.
- Durability. Even after the washing machine accident (see below) our four K&H cat beds still look great after two years of use. The plastic-covered heating pads are extremely durable, as are the bed covers, the bolster stuffing, and the two foam pads in the interior that surround the heating pad.
- Need something even tougher? If you have dogs or other pets that might gnaw on the plastic-coated cord of the heated bed, check out one of K&H’s heated bolster beds designed for outdoor pets—they have well-protected, steel-wrapped cords.
The heating pad slips in between two washable foam pads, and the bed zips closed for a secure fit.
What Could Be Better
Before you buy the Fashion Splash heated cat bed, be aware of two issues.
- Appearance. K&H took the “fashion” part of “Fashion Splash” seriously and made these beds from a fabric that has a shiny crushed-velvet appearance. The colors—dark brown “mocha” and dark blue—are intense. After a few washings, the shine mellows out. But we wouldn’t say no to a few more neutral color options.
- Cleaning. The bed is easy to wash, but the stuffing in the bolster is extremely dense. When it gets wet, it gets heavy—heavy enough that one of the beds I tested ripped open on the washer’s spin cycle. Wow, was there a lot of stuffing material in it! I stuffed it back in and sewed up the rip, but my suggestion would be to use no spin, or gentle spin, and wring out the bolster thoroughly before putting the bed in a dryer.
Note that the manufacturer recommends no-heat machine drying or line drying. My experience indicates that if you have a dryer with a reliable “low-heat” cycle, you can get away with drying these beds on the “low” setting. But dry at your own peril!
Our Recommendation? Bring on the Heat!
Our K&H Fashion Splash review concludes that the bed is a great choice for protecting your kitty from chilly nights. It’s also a great choice for senior cats with arthritis.
We also discovered some surprising benefits. A heated bed your cats like can save on household heating costs (particularly if you are concerned about cats living in a cooler room or in your basement). And access to a safe heated bed helps discourage cats from seeking dangerous proximity to gas fireplace inserts, radiators, heater vents, and portable heaters in an effort to keep warm.
We think you’ll like this bed if:
- You have a mid-size cat
- Your cat likes bolster beds rather than pads
- You want a simple bed that doesn’t take up much room
- Quality and manufacturer reputation are a key consideration
- Durability and ease of cleaning are important
This might not be the bed for you if:
- Your cat is large or likes to stretch out on a pad rather than curl up in a bed
- You have puppies, rabbits, or other pets that might chew on the plastic-coated cord
- You prefer a bed with a designer look or an eye-catching heated cat house
