Are LED Lights Bad for Cats? Informative Guide

The duty of caring for our animal family members is considerable. We do all our power to provide them with the most incredible food, toys, and loving environment possible because we wish them to be comfortable and content in our households. Technology makes our lives easier thanks to fantastic online delivery companies and practical tools.

Technology does, though, bring unpredictability. Cats are curious and occasionally naughty animals; as LED lights increase, so do they. Therefore, it makes sense to ask, are led lights bad for cats? This guide will look at LED lighting, its advantages, and how it could be appropriate for cats. 

Quick Summary: Cats are typically secure with LED lights, and there have been no reported negative consequences. However, prolonged exposure to bluish light could interfere with circadian rhythms and sleeping cycles. Laser lights aren’t LEDs—they can permanently harm people’s and cats’ retinas. Therefore, appropriate caution gets urged.

Read more about led lighting and its dangers.

The abbreviation “LED” stands for “light-emitting diode.” The LEDs get illuminated whenever the power gets turned on after passing via a microchip. These times, LED lighting gets widely used because of its durability. They fade over time rather than burning out like our conventional lighting bulbs.

The fact that LED lighting operates far cooler than traditional bulbs is yet another benefit of using them. Heatsinks take in heat to maintain LED lighting bulbs cooler and perform for longer. However, We can assure you that holding LED lighting with your bare hands is not a good idea. The heat still has the potential to burn you. So let’s look at are led lights bad for cats.

Are LED Lights Bad for Cats?

Cats are generally safe using LED lights, and their advantages exceed minor dangers. Listed below are several reasons for and against using LED lights surrounding cats.

Risks of LED Lights to Cats

Here are the potential risks caused to cats by LED lights. 

Intensity of Light

The light’s brightness is one possible concern. Cats accustomed to LEDs for a prolonged time may experience eye fatigue or pain due to how dazzling they could be. Ensure your cat has a place to hide from light and excessive contacts, such as a cat cave or a dark area.

Disturbing the Circadian Rhythm

According to studies on lights and melatonin, cats’ cognitive and physical wellness could get harmed by exposure to blue-enhanced solid LED lights. It’s because cats experience artificial illumination as stressful and confusing since it throws off their circadian cycles, which may lead to tension and confusion in people.

Related: Do LED Strips Damage Walls? Everything Explained

Power Cables

Like other lighting devices, power cables should always get kept out of your cat’s grasp since chewing on them may be deadly for cats and other animals. Put a plastic tubing over the wiring to prevent chewing, or cover it with a deterrent that has a harsh taste.

UV LED

Suppose a cat gets revealed to too many UV rays from a LEDs black lighting. In that scenario, LED lighting could also raise their chance of acquiring skin cancer, although the hazards are minimal. In the darkness, black lighting creates white and neon-colored items that shine.

Still, it also produces UVA, which is known to be harmless for limited exposure. Since the phosphorus encasing on the bluish LED chip from which the gentle white temperature originates inhibits Uv rays.

LED lighting transmits tiny Ultraviolet rays from white light color temperatures. However, blue nevertheless transmits a small portion of Ultraviolet rays, so the exposure for your furry friends underneath this color must be limited.

Benefits of LED Lights for Cats

There are certain benefits as well. Here are some of them. 

Colored Light

LEDs come in all conceivable color combinations, from white and yellowish to greenish and bluish. When muted, LEDs can also get adjusted for intensity. Therefore, with some imagination, you can use LED to produce the ideal lighting ambiance for your cat.

Calming Light

If your cat is occasionally apprehensive, LED lights could provide a sleep-inducing, relaxing environment. Melatonin gets released by the hue of warming whites, defined as 2700K and below. It is advantageous if they can be left alone for an extended time.

Artificial Sunshine

The lighting from LED lights could assist indoor cats in replicating sunlight and, as a result, their regular circadian cycles. It is incredibly beneficial in the winter when the days are smaller, and there is less direct sunshine. Even better, you could build your own inside LED sunshade.

Related: LED Wafer Lights vs Can Lights [Comparison]

Smart LED

Since LED lighting is electronic, it is now possible to remotely control it using an application on your smartphone. To prevent your cat from being left in the darkness while you are gone or returning home late someday.

You could use this to manage the color, brightness, and duration of when the lighting comes on or shuts off when you get returned. When PIR movement detectors and lights get used, the LED lights can switch on when your cat enters a room.

Cool Running Temperatures

When put properly, LED produces minimal heat gain. And it makes it safer for your cat to be around because there is no longer a chance of them getting burned on their epidermis or fur as there is with conventional incandescent lights. Generally, if utilized properly and considering the hazards, LED lighting is excellent and safe for cats.

Low-Cost Efficiency

LEDs outperform conventional lighting in terms of energy efficiency and have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hrs when appropriately utilized. It translates to long-term savings on your power costs, a reduction in your carbon impact, and an advantage to your cat since you’ll have more funds to devote to cat goodies.

Bottom Line

Knowing that our LED lights at the household do not affect our kitties is a relief. It would be ideal to choose high-quality LED lighting as well. And the reason is they can work at the required light temperature, endure longer, and keep their temperatures down.