Cat Beds and Cat Caves

Cat Beds UK

Cat beds uk shoppers buy tend to be bought twice, because the first one was the wrong shape. Cat bedding is not one thing: a cat that sleeps curled needs sides to lean on, and a cat that sprawls wants a flat pad with nothing in the way. Warm bedding for cats matters more than softness, which is why a thin fleece in a sunny spot beats a thick bed in a draught. Cat bedding for cats also needs washing, so check the base before you buy.

Cat Cave Beds and Igloos

A cat cave is the answer for a nervous cat or a busy house. Enclosed on five sides with one exit to watch, which is exactly how a cat wants to sleep when there is a lot going on. Our cat cave bed and cat igloo bed options cover both shapes: a fold-over pocket you can flatten out, and a rigid igloo cat bed that holds its dome. The cat bed cave format also traps body heat, so it runs warmer than an open bed of the same material.

Cat Basket Beds

A cat basket suits the cat that sleeps curled with its back against something. Our cat baskets come in cotton rope, which washes better than plush and holds its shape, or a 50cm plush round for a cat that wants softer sides. The cat basket bed shape is the safest bet if you do not know how your cat sleeps, because the raised edge works for a curled cat and the flat centre still works for a sprawler. Round cat bed sizing is about the diameter, not the depth.

Hooded and Enclosed Cat Beds

A hooded cat bed is a cave with a roof and an open front, so a cat gets cover without losing the view. Covered cat beds suit cats that like to watch a room while half asleep. Ours is faux sheepskin, which holds warmth better than cotton or rope, with a dangling toy on the hood. An enclosed cat bed works the same way but closes further round, and a fluffy cat bed in this shape is the warmest thing in the range.

Kitten Beds

There is no separate kitten bed range here, because a kitten does not need one. A kitten bed needs low sides it can climb over, a base it cannot tip, and a price that survives being outgrown. Bed for kitten buyers usually overspend, then buy again at nine months. The rope cuddlers and the £9.99 round work as kitten bedding and still get used by an adult cat. Skip anything with a loose toy or a dangling cord until the kitten is past the chewing stage.

How to Choose a Cat Bed

Measure your cat curled up, not stretched out. The commonest mistake is buying a bed that is too big.

A cat that sleeps curled wants sides to lean against. A cat that sprawls wants a flat pad with nothing in the way.

Cats choose warmth and sightlines over softness. A bed in a draught stays empty no matter how expensive it is.

Enclosed beds suit nervous cats and busy households. One exit a cat can watch beats an open bed in the middle of a room.

Most cats have three or four sleeping spots and rotate between them. Two cheap beds in different rooms beat one expensive bed.

Put the bed where your cat already sleeps. Moving a cat to a bed does not work. Moving a bed to a cat does.

Cotton rope and fleece wash better than plush. Faux sheepskin holds warmth better than either.

Frequently asked questions

What size cat bed do I need?

Measure your cat curled up rather than stretched out, and add a few centimetres. Most people buy too big. A bed that swamps a cat gives it nothing to lean against, which is the whole point of the raised edge. For an average adult cat, 40 to 50cm across is right.

Why won't my cat use its bed?

Usually placement rather than the bed. Cats sleep where it is warm, where they can see the room, and where they already feel safe. A new bed in a quiet corner competes with a sunny windowsill and loses. Put it where your cat already sleeps and give it a fortnight.

Do cats prefer enclosed or open beds?

It depends on the cat and on the house. Nervous cats, and cats in busy households with children or other animals, tend to pick enclosed. Confident cats in quiet homes often prefer an open bed where they can stretch out and still watch the room. Most cats want both at different times of day.

Where should I put a cat bed?

Somewhere warm, off the floor if possible, and with a view of the door. Cats avoid draughts and they avoid anywhere they can be approached from behind. Next to a radiator, on a windowsill, or on a shelf works better than the middle of a room.

How do you wash a cat bed?

Check the label first, because plush and faux sheepskin often cannot go through a machine. Cotton rope baskets and fleece usually can, at 30 degrees. Wash it less often than you think: a bed that smells of your cat is a bed your cat keeps using.

How many beds does a cat need?

More than one. Most cats keep three or four sleeping spots and rotate through them across the day, following the sun and the quiet. Two inexpensive beds in different rooms get more use than one expensive bed in the wrong place. The rest of our cat accessories cover the spots a bed does not.