When cold weather settles in and the pellet stove becomes the heart of the home, pets are usually the first to claim the warmest spot. But “cozy” shouldn’t come at the expense of safety. With a few simple precautions, you can keep your home toasty and pet-friendly all season long.

1. Create a Safe Distance

Pellet stoves give off steady, radiant heat that can be irresistible—especially to cats, who believe any warm surface is their personal throne. Dogs, on the other hand, tend to investigate anything that glows or hums. To avoid accidents, establish a clear “no-paws zone” around your stove. A fireplace screen, decorative barrier or small safety gate helps keep curious noses and wagging tails at a safe distance. Aim for about 3 feet of space around the unit to reduce the risk of accidental burns or bumped controls. Bonus: These barriers work well for little ones, too.

2. Store Pellets the Right Way

Keeping pellets nearby for easy refilling is convenient, but fuel should be stored properly. Because pellet bags are not pet-proof. Dogs may treat them like oversized chew toys, and cats might see them as the perfect burrowing spot. When storing, try to keep pellets in airtight containers. This keeps fuel dry and protected from moisture, plus it prevents spills and keeps curious pets from turning your heating supply into a play area.

3. Offer a Better Cozy Spot

If pets are crowding the stove, it’s usually because they’re seeking warmth. Give them a safe alternative they’ll love even more. Place a plush bed or folded blanket near (but not touching) the warm area. Heated pet mats designed specifically for animals are another great option. For cats, consider cushioning a window perch or elevated shelf that is a safe distance from the stove. Older pets especially appreciate gentle warmth for joints and muscles, so giving them a designated comfort zone can keep them content and safely away from hot surfaces.

4. Watch the Small Details

A few small habits can make a big difference:

-Tuck away electrical cords.

-Keep toys, collars and tags from dangling near hot surfaces.

-Avoid loose blankets that could drift too close to the stove.

-Check that controls and settings are out of reach from curious paws.

-Routine maintenance matters, too. Make sure your stove is clean, functioning properly, and venting correctly—good airflow keeps the entire household safer.

With just a few thoughtful adjustments, your pellet stove can remain the warm heart of your home without putting curious paws at risk. A little prevention goes a long way toward keeping every member of the family—two-legged and four-legged—safe and comfortable all winter long.

Your pellet stove does more than keep you warm and add a nice ambience to your home. Depending on the fuel you choose, it can also support forest health and reduce environmental impact. At Lignetics, the parent company of woodpellets.com, we make our pellets from responsibly sourced wood fiber and manufacturing byproducts that would otherwise go to waste—turning unused materials into an efficient, clean-burning heating solution.

At Lignetics, that commitment starts with how and where we source our materials. Our pellets are made primarily from byproducts of the lumber and wood products industry—materials like sawdust and wood fiber that accumulate during lumber production. We repurpose these materials into high-quality pellets that heat homes efficiently and consistently. In the past, much of this material ended up in waste piles, landfills or was burned on-site, contributing to emissions and air-quality concerns. We lead the industry in transforming that unused material into a clean, energy-dense fuel.

Pellet heating is about more than efficiency—it’s also about responsible forest management. We source our materials from sustainably managed forests and mills that follow established forestry guidelines, including selective harvesting, replanting and protecting wildlife habitats. By creating a productive use for low-value wood fiber and mill residuals, we help support forest health and give landowners stronger incentives to keep forests intact rather than converting them for development.

On a broader scale, pellet heating supports a renewable energy cycle. Trees absorb carbon as they grow, and the carbon released during pellet combustion is part of that same natural process.

Sustainability isn’t just a philosophy for Lignetics—it’s built into how we operate every day. As the largest residential wood pellet manufacturer in the U.S., we produce 100% natural products by upcycling wood waste across 29 mills from coast to coast. Each year, our operations convert more than 5.2 billion pounds of wood residuals into useful products, with an annual pellet production capacity of 2 million tons. That scale allows us to make a meaningful impact while delivering reliable, consistent fuel to homes nationwide.

Choosing pellets through woodpellets.com may seem like a small decision, but it supports a much larger system—one where forest byproducts are used responsibly, forests remain healthy and renewable energy continues to move forward, one warm home at a time. And on a cold winter night, that’s something you can feel good about.