Cat Beds

About Cat Beds

There's not a cat on the planet who doesn't savor a good nap now and then. What better place to take one than in cat beds that are designed to provide felines with exactly the type of comfort they crave.

Cats love to knead their chosen resting spot until they have everything arranged just so. In keeping with this natural instinct, most cat beds are made with materials that provide an appealing texture that Kitty can't resist pawing and clawing.

Once a cat realizes how great its new bed is, owners get their furniture back. Everyone benefits.

Styles

There's a style and price range of cat beds to meet every pet owner's needs.

Mats

Mat-style beds are basically just plush rectangular mats that can be placed on floors and furniture. They are one of the least expensive ways to provide bedding for your cat, but they do offer a minimal amount of comfort and cats seem to like them well enough.

Mats are also the easiest style to machine wash.

Cuddlers

Cats absolutely love cuddlers. These beds are circular in shape, with soft walls that stand about six to twelve inches high with an open top.

Modified cuddlers look a bit like an igloo, with a side opening and a roof overhead.

Some cuddlers are considered machine washable, but check the label and be sure to turn them inside-out before washing.

Sill Perches

For many cats, a sunny window sill is the best seat in the house. They can soak up the sunshine and watch the birds and squirrels to their heart's content.

Sill perches can make wonderful cat beds. Many models attach with velcro fasteners, so there's no need for permanent hardware. This allows you to easily change locations and give your cat some location variety to stave off boredom.

Thermo Beds

Thermo cat beds have hidden heating units that can be set to provide intermittent warming, creating an incredibly enticing napping experience for your pet.

Thermo units are available in most cat bed styles, including mats, and window sill perches.

Cat Condos

More than mere cat beds, cat condos are a combination of elements including climbers, scratching posts and sleeping areas.

Many of the beds built into condos are hide-aways, offering your cat a space to crawl into for ultimate privacy. Others utilize an open bed. The style you choose should be based on your pet's personality.

Luxury Cat Beds

Want to treat your cat to the ultimate indulgence? Opt for a luxury pet bed. These items actually look more like miniature furniture. Some models resemble tiny wooden sleigh beds, others look like over-stuffed couches on a small scale.

Luxury cat beds are nearly as much fun for owners as they are for the pets who will sleep in them. You can choose a style that will compliment whatever furniture you already have in the room. Feel free to unleash your inner designer!

Must Have Features

Any cat bed worth its salt should have the following features.

• It has to be comfortable, or the cat will ignore it.

Look for bedding that is fluffy and will hold some warmth. Fleece material is a favorite for many cats.

• It has to be washable.

Purchase bedding that can be run through a washing machine, or at least has a removable cover that can be machine washed. This will extend the life of the bed and save you some money on a replacement.

• It has to be durable.

Cats love to knead and scratch objects to mark them as their own. Cotton percale will not necessarily stand up to this type of treatment, but heavier materials such as corduroy and canvas will have a longer life.

Wicker baskets, although once very popular, are also subject to chewing so they don't offer the longevity provided by the other materials previously mentioned.

Conclusion

Providing your cat with its very own bed not only makes him/her happy, it also offers an alternative napping spot to your own furniture and bedding.

Consider your cat's personality, and the spot where you plan to locate the bed before you decide on a purchase. This will help assure you choose the right cat bed, one your pet will enjoy for years to come.

External Links

• Beds for Your Pet, great beds for cats and dogs.
• CatsPlay.com, an assortment of luxury cat bedding.