It’s no secret that cats simply love their sleep. In fact, a healthy adult cat can sleep for up to a whopping 16 hours daily, dozing off for quick catnaps or falling into deep sleep several times throughout the day.
For many cat owners, it can be baffling how those playful little fur balls brimming with energy can sleep so much, but it’s part and parcel of their physiology.
Cats are predators by nature; they sleep during the day to reserve their energy for hunting from dusk until dawn. This may explain why your rambunctious kitty plays and wreaks havoc at ungodly hours and practically hibernates in the morning and afternoon.
Because cats spend around two-thirds of their lives sleeping, it’s important to give them a place where they can snooze in total comfort. Giving your kitty a cat bed ensures she spends most of her time in a cozy spot she can call her own.
If you’re having trouble finding the perfect cat bed, don’t worry. We’ve selected the top 5 best cat beds on the market—all machine-washable for your convenience—that are sure to please your sleepy kitty.
1. Best Friends by Sheri The Original Calming Donut Cat Bed: Offers Plush Comfort & Warmth
Catnaps have never been this luxurious with the Original Calming Donut from Best Friends by Sheri! This calming, self-warming cat bed is made with vegan nylon and finished with soft faux fur that instantly wraps your kitty in a soft, warm embrace.
Lovingly crafted to mimic a mother cat’s coat, it helps ease anxiety in your cat and provides a sense of safety and security—promising a more restful sleep. Your kitty is sure to enjoy curling up in this bed, with its raised rim providing head and neck support with plush comfort. Senior or arthritic cats can also benefit from its ultra-soft filling, which provides relief for painful joints and muscles.
Plus, it’s designed for durability and convenience! Featuring pet-safe fibers that make up its filling, it keeps its shape and fluffiness for up to 3 times longer than other cat beds. This machine-washable product is safe to wash and dry as a whole and has a water- and dirt-resistant bottom. It also comes in a wide array of sizes and colors to suit your tastes and your cat’s needs.
Pros:
- Provides plush, luxurious comfort with faux fur and soft-filling
- Helps ease stress and anxiety in cats
- Offers head and neck support and ensures your cat feels safe and warm
- Supports and offers relief for painful joints and muscles
- Features different colors and sizes
- Made with vegan, pet-safe, machine-washable material
Cons:
- Some cat owners report that it may not hold up well to kneading
2. K&H Pet Thermo-Kitty Mat Heated Cat Bed: Best Heated Bed
There’s nothing like having a soft, warm bed to sink into after a long day—and the K&H Pet Thermo-Kitty Mat Heated Cat Bed gives your kitty that almost-otherworldly experience!
This heated cat bed comes with a 4-watt heating unit that keeps your cat oh-so-warm, and an internal dual thermostat that automatically rises up to meet her body temperature whenever she uses it. It’s also designed to give your kitty the warmth she craves while offering her ultimate comfort, featuring foam walls and a thick, fluffy pillow base that allow her to feel safe and cozy.
If you’re concerned about the safety of using a heated bed, don’t worry. This product meets the electrical safety standards of the U.S. and Canada and has also been certified for safety by MET Labs. Plus, its heater goes into energy-saving mode when not in use and can be removed when you need to machine-wash the cushioned cover.
Pros:
- Helps cats keep warm through every season
- Comes with an internal thermostat that instantly warms to your cat’s body temperature when in use
- Features a removable heater and a machine-washable cover
- Makes cats feel safe and cozy within its soft foam walls
- Tested & certified for safety
Cons:
- Needs an electrical outlet to work
3. Rabbitgoo Cat Bed: High-Quality & Budget-Friendly Option
Looking for a cat bed that won’t break the bank? The Rabbitgoo Cat Bed ensures comfy, restful sleep for your kitty at an affordable, wallet-friendly price. Made with soft polyester fabric that’s gentle on the skin, this ultra-fluffy bed envelopes your cat in plush warmth and allows her to fully relax.
It’s designed with a raised rim that offers head and neck support as well as complete security for your cat, giving her the flexibility she needs to curl up and sleep in different positions. Premium cotton also makes up its filling, promising durability for long-term use and ultimate softness for extra comfort.
As a bonus, it has a skid-proof bottom that secures it in place no matter how much your kitty moves or where you put it. The manufacturer recommends hand washing the bed, but you can machine-wash it on a gentle or delicate cycle.
Pros:
- Plush, comfortable cat bed that ensures restful sleep
- Comes in a round shape that envelopes your cat in warmth and brings about a feeling of safety
- Provides comfortable support for the whole body
- Offers durability and elasticity for long-term comfort
- Retains its shape after machine-washing
- Comes in 2 sizes and 3 colors
Cons:
- Some cat parents report that the material is not incredibly sturdy
4. Furhaven Perfect Comfort Bed with Orthopedic Foam: Ideal for Senior Cats
As cats age, they become more susceptible to health issues characterized by pain and discomfort. Giving your senior kitty a comfortable bed suited to her unique needs like the Furhaven Perfect Comfort Cat Bed can help ensure she enjoys healthy, restful sleep as she enters her golden years.
Crafted with medical-grade orthopedic foam certified by CertiPUR-US, this bed provides soothing relief for pressure points and offers support for aching joints—so your cat can burrow and sleep as cozily as possible. It also features a bolstered sofa design and an interior lined with plush faux fur, providing full-body support while letting your kitty slumber in comfort.
The front of the bed is low enough for your senior kitty to access easily. Plus, its removable cover is machine-washable, allowing you to keep it clean and fresh even when your senior kitty has an accident. It also comes in 10 different colors and 5 sizes: go for the jumbo bed if you have multiple cats!
Pros:
- Provides relief for pressure points and support for joints and muscles
- Helps senior cats or cats with bone & joint problems sleep more comfortably
- Features a bolstered sofa design that offers a sense of security
- Lined with faux fur and smooth velvet with insulated filling: perfect for snuggly kitties
- Has a removable, machine-washable cover
- Comes in different sizes & colors
Cons:
- A few buyers experienced problems with the zipper
5. Armakat Cave-Shaped Cat Bed: Helps Cats Feel Safe & Secure
Cats are notoriously private creatures, and your kitty may prefer a covered cat bed that helps her feel safely tucked away. The Armakat Cave-Shaped Cat Bed does just that. With an enclosed tent design that promises maximum privacy and a complete sense of security, this bed helps cats let their guard down and enjoy deep, heavy slumber.
Soft, high-quality velvet covers the entirety of this bed’s exterior, while extra-thick polyfill makes up its stuffing—ensuring plush softness that your cat is sure to love. Its removable interior cushion is machine-washable, helping you keep your kitty’s sleeping nook clean with ease.
This bed also features a waterproof, dirt-resistant, and skid-free base, preventing it from sliding on tiles or hardwood floors and allowing it to stay in pristine condition even with long-term use. Plus, its neutral brown hue goes with any color palette or style and blends seamlessly into your home.
Pros:
- Gives your cat her own private sleeping nook
- Offers your cat a sense of total safety and security with its enclosed design
- Comes with extra-thick polyfill stuffing for maximum comfort
- Features a water- and dirt-resistant base that prevents slipping
- Made with plush, high-quality material
- Goes with different styles and colors
Cons:
- May not be suitable for larger cats
FAQs About Cat Beds
Do Cats Need Beds?
While cats can fall asleep practically anywhere—your bed, your bathroom, kitchen counters, tables, the floor, on top of fresh, clean laundry—it’s best to get your kitty a bed of her own.
This will work wonders in improving their sleep quality by offering them comfort and giving them a sense of security. Additionally, it will also help them spend less time sleeping in other areas of your home that you may want to designate as (mostly) cat-free zones.
If you’re hesitant to buy a cat bed because your kitty enjoys napping with you, take note that some experts also discourage cat parents from letting their kitties sleep on the bed because it poses certain health risks.
How Do I Choose the Right Cat Bed?
Because cats spend most of their time sleeping, it’s best to ensure that you get a cat bed of the highest quality possible. Here are a few factors you need to consider:
Material
Your first priority in looking for a cat bed is to find one made with pet-safe material. Some beds may have synthetic fibers that have undergone a significant amount of chemical processing; exposure to this type of material may be unsafe and unhealthy for your feline friend.
While rare, there are fabrics that can trigger allergies in cats, such as nylon or wool. Watch out for symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and fur loss when you buy your cat a new bed.
Make sure that the material is warm, comfortable, and durable as well. Soft, fluffy lining usually agrees most with cats. If you’re buying a heated cat bed for extra warmth, choose a product that’s been tested and certified by reputable organizations to ensure safety.
Machine-washable beds also make cleaning up after an accident or after weeks-long use much easier. See to it that you follow the instructions carefully to prevent the bed from shrinking or falling apart.
Shape & Style
Determining whether to buy your kitty a flat mat or a raised bed can be tricky, so it’s important to take her sleeping habits and unique needs into consideration. Young cats who like sleeping on the floor may enjoy flat mats more, while senior cats may need the support and elevation of a raised bed.
The same goes for deciding between an open or covered cat bed. If your kitty tends to sleep in hidden spots, she may enjoy more privacy
Most cat beds come in either a round or rectangular shape; again, this is ultimately up to your cat’s preference. Cats who enjoy curling up and getting snuggly while napping tend to like round beds more. On the other hand, rectangular beds may be best for kitties who like to sleep outstretched.
Size
It’s crucial to check the size of the bed and make sure it can comfortably fit your cat before you make your purchase. If you have multiple cats at home who like to snuggle up with each other, you can get them a large bed to share!
How Do I Get My Cat to Use Her Bed?
Can’t get your cat to use that pricy, luxurious bed you splurged on? Here are a few ways to encourage her to actually sleep on it:
- Place the bed in a quiet, relatively hidden area where she can get more privacy.
- Put it in an elevated area or in a sunny spot, depending on your cat’s sleeping preferences.
- Sprinkle the bed with catnip.
- Give your cat treats when she approaches or sits on the bed.
- Leave her favorite items on the bed, such as her blanket, toys, or a shirt of yours.
- Keep the bed clean.
- Use citrus oils or aluminum foil to keep your cat off of other places where she sleeps.
In Closing
Cats spend a huge chunk of their lives sleeping the day away. Making sure your kitty has a warm, comfy spot where she can doze off into dreamland in total luxury is important to her health and well-being—not to mention it’ll help keep her off your couch.
It can be tricky to find the right cat bed suited to your cat’s needs and preferences, so feel free to use our guide above to help you make the right choice. Any one of the options we’ve laid out above can make great beds for your kitty—and might even become her new favorite sleeping spot!