Heart to Tail Cat Warming Mat

Last Updated on October 9, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE 1: Aldi sold this again in October of 2023 for a slightly lower price of $7.99. It’s one of many times we’ve seen Aldi lower prices on certain Aldi Finds in 2023. 

EDITOR’S NOTE 2: Updated 11/10/2020 with more information. 

It seems every few weeks Aldi rolls out new limited-time products for cat and dog lovers. If you’re in need of pet beds, dog sweaters, cat playhouses, specialty pet treats, cat shark tunnels, pet gates, or other products to pamper Fido or Fluffy, just wait a couple of months, or even just a few weeks, and you’ll probably be able to find what you need at Aldi.

One of the most recent pet items to hit Aldi shelves was a cat warming mat.

The Heart to Tail Cat Warming Mat (product code 702194) cost $9.99 at the time of publication. Looking at cat warming mats on Amazon, I found a few for under $10, with most selling in the teens or into the $20s. Some of the under-$10 mats look suspiciously similar to the Aldi Heart to Tail mat.

The Heart to Tail mat is an Aldi Find (Special Buy), which means it’s only in stores for a short time. You can’t order Aldi Finds online in the U.S., so once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Here’s some more information about the cat warming mat:

• Measures 15″ x 24″
• Available in Gray, Taupe, or Red and Black Buffalo Check
• Machine washable
• Requires no electricity, instead using an internal thermal layer to reflect your cat’s body heat back for warmth
• Features a cozy, plush top and a nonskid base
• Face, back, and filling are 100% polyester
• Comes with three small balls with bells

The box states this mat can be machine washed on the gentle cycle. Do not bleach. Dry the mat flat or line dry it. Do not machine dry, and do not iron.

The mat is made in China by Ningbo Junwang Craft, which is a company that manufactures pet products that are sold in Japan, the U.S., and Europe.

The cat warming mat and balls.

I purchased the gray mat for my cat. The mat is thin and foldable, with a very small amount of stuffing or cushioning inside it. It’s definitely a mat and not a cushy, squishy pet bed. That doesn’t mean your cat won’t like sleeping on it, but be aware that it’s not a traditional pet bed.

It also makes soft crinkly noises when stepped on or folded because the interior thermal layer most likely is made of Mylar.

When I initially brought this pet mat home, my kids were eager to get the cat to lie on it, and of course you can rarely get a cat to do what you want. If you attempt to do so, you usually end up with a peeved cat who definitely will not do what you want it to do.

I put the mat on the foot of my bed where the cat often naps, and when she eventually settled on the bed for an afternoon snooze, I gently slid her onto the mat and petted her to settle her back down, and she slept there for a couple of hours.

She hasn’t used the mat since then, though, so I’m not sure what the future holds for this mat. I’m uncertain whether she dislikes it because of the slight crinkly noises it makes when walked on, or if she just hasn’t fully discovered how comfortable it is yet.

Also, one of the plastic toy balls that came with the mat broke in half when my elementary-aged child accidentally stepped on it when it was on the floor, so they may not be the sturdiest balls.

I’ll update later after we’ve had some more time with the mat.

UPDATE (11/10/2020): We’ve had this mat for several weeks now, and I haven’t seen my cat use it other than for that one nap where I slid her onto it to encourage her to use it. I’ve tried putting it in several locations around the house — on my bed, in the sun room, in the family room — and she shows no interest. Maybe other cat owners have had more luck, but this mat hasn’t been the greatest purchase for my cat. I eventually gave it to another family member in hopes that their cat will use it.

The Verdict:

The Heart to Tail Cat Warming Mat is an inexpensive spot for your cat to nap and feel cozy. It doesn’t use electricity, and it’s machine washable. It feels soft and comfy to us, but it’s on the thin side and makes some quiet crinkly noises, and so far our cat is not very interested in using it.