Heat is the lifeblood of a good nap. This primer introduces the principles of thermal mass, which is the ability of a material to absorb heat, store it and release it slowly, usually onto a cat.
What is thermal mass
Thermal mass is the warmth that remains in an object after the source has gone. A brick holds heat. A stone floor holds heat. A cup of tea holds heat, until a cat knocks it over.
Good materials
- Brick, which absorbs heat in the day and releases it at night
- Stone, which does the same but looks more serious
- Water, which is warm until it is not
- Another cat, who is the best material of all
Poor materials
- Glass, which is warm in the sun and cold at once
- Plastic, which has no soul
- Metal, which pretends to be warm and is a liar
Positioning
The best nap spot sits at the junction of two heat sources. A radiator and a sunny window is ideal. A radiator and a sleeping dog is acceptable, though the dog will not be happy. A radiator and a sofa is the foundation of a good life.
The role of the rug
A rug is a thermal blanket for the floor. A thick rug slows the loss of warmth from below, and gives the cat a soft, secure place to arrange herself. We recommend a woollen rug with a deep pile, in a colour that hides hair.
Safety note
Never place a cat, real or imaginary, against anything dangerously hot. Check that radiators, heaters and fireplaces are guarded. If your cat is lying near a heat source for long periods, make sure she can move away when she wishes. For real advice, please speak to a real vet.
“Warmth is not a luxury. It is the architecture of contentment.” Principal Architect Marmaduke Loaf
Exercises
Find the warmest spot in your home. Place your palm on it for a minute. Notice the feeling. This is the feeling we design for.
Next month’s primer will cover curtains, which are a kind of weather.
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