A catalyst heating system includes a monitoring module, a mode selection module and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module. The monitoring module monitors at least one of (i) a first temperature of a non-EHC of a catalyst assembly in an exhaust system of an engine and (ii) an active catalyst volume of the catalyst assembly. The mode selection module is configured to select an EHC heating mode and generate a mode signal based on the at least one of the first temperature and the active catalyst volume. The EHC control module controls current to an EHC of the catalyst assembly based on the mode signal.