FAQ: Beds & Bedding for cats

Many cats like beds with high sides or enclosed houses where they feel safe and warm. Every cat is different, though: some choose open loungers up high, others soft caves, so it helps to watch where your cat sleeps now.

Yes, a removable cover or washable bed is much easier to keep clean: hair, odours and flea eggs do not build up. Before buying, check the label to see whether the bed is machine washable.

An adult cat usually sleeps or dozes for about 12–16 hours a day, and kittens and older cats even more. That is why a comfortable, warm and quiet sleeping place matters so much to a cat.

Up high a cat feels safer, because it can see its surroundings and is further from other animals and noise. That is why a bed on a shelf, cat tree or windowsill is often more popular than one on the floor.

A box surrounds the cat on all sides, so it feels cosy, warm and safe. A cat that chooses boxes will probably like a high-sided bed or enclosed house, and you can even put the favourite box inside the bed.

Cats choose a spot by temperature, sunshine, noise and mood, so they often have several favourites. This is normal, which is why having more than one bed in different places helps.

Clothes smell of the owner, so they remind the cat of safety and closeness. You can use this: put an old T-shirt or blanket that smells of you into a new bed and the cat will take to it sooner.

It is the owner's choice: many cats love sleeping next to people, and for a healthy cat with regular parasite prevention it usually does no harm. If you have allergies or sleep restlessly, a comfortable bed beside yours is a better option.

Kneading is a behaviour left over from kittenhood and nursing, and shows the cat feels calm and content. Glands in the paws also leave scent, so the cat is marking its bed as its own.

If a cat suddenly sleeps much more or less than usual, hides, avoids jumping into its favourite bed or seems lethargic, it may be a sign of illness or pain. In such cases talk to a vet.

Curled into a ball, a cat conserves heat and protects its belly, so it sleeps that way in cooler spots. Stretched out or on its back it sleeps when it is warm and feels safe, so the bed shape should allow both.

Cat beds include open beds with sides, round donut beds, caves and houses, radiator or window hammocks, windowsill loungers, heated and self-warming beds, cooling mats and cat sofas. The choice depends on how your cat likes to sleep.

An open bed with raised sides suits cats that like to rest their head or back against something while still seeing around them. It is easy to step into, so it suits older cats too, and the sides give a feeling of security.

It is a round, soft bed with thick, plump sides that a cat curls into like a nest. It suits cats that sleep curled up and often appeals to anxious cats because of its enveloping shape.

A cave bed is a soft, covered bed with an entrance in which the cat can hide completely. It suits shy, cold-sensitive and hairless cats, as well as those that like to burrow under blankets.

A house has stiffer walls and a roof, so it keeps its shape and some cats also lie on top of it. A cave is soft and flexible and wraps around the cat more, but it can collapse if the walls are thin.

Felt caves are sturdy, keep warmth well and breathe, so many cats love sleeping in them. They need care according to the manufacturer's instructions, as felt washed the wrong way can shrink or lose its shape.

It is a frame with fabric that hangs on a radiator, letting the cat lie warm during the heating season. It must fit your radiator type and be firmly attached, and the cat should be able to move away easily if it gets too hot.

It is a lounger fixed to the window glass with suction cups, from which the cat can watch outside. It takes no windowsill space, but it only works on smooth, clean glass and must suit the cat's weight.

It is a lounger or shelf fixed to or under the windowsill to widen a narrow sill. It suits cats that love watching outside when the sill is too narrow to lie on comfortably.