Best Cat Beds: Top Cozy Caves, Window Perches and Heated Beds
Contents of Article
British veterinary surgeon and writer James Herriot famously said that “cats are connoisseurs of comfort”.
Perhaps because cats spend about two-thirds of their lives sleeping, they have developed an exceptional appreciation of cozy napping spots. Although it’s not unlikely that you’ll find your cat sleeping in the most unfathomably awkward position on a bookshelf, cats ultimately crave the same things that most of us do when choosing a place to sleep: warmth, softness, and a comforting sense of safety.
Besides all of those qualities, a great cat bed offers a sleeping spot that belongs to no one but your cat. This can give your cat the security and satisfaction of their own personal space, which is especially useful in multiple cat homes where cats may constantly feud for dominance over shared favorite locations. Giving your cat a place of their own is also helpful if you don’t like to share a bed with your cat or aren’t fond of the hair they deposit on it. When traveling, bringing your cat’s bed along provides a familiar place to rest.
Cat beds come in a range of styles and can incorporate interesting functionalities to make them useful for specific needs. We can choose from basic pillow-style beds, covered beds, heated beds, and window perch beds. All of these kitty sleeping centers are available at a variety of different price points. It can be difficult to differentiate between which beds are an extravagance your cat will never use, which beds are low-quality products that don’t satisfy your cat’s needs, and which ones are just right for your home.
To help make sense of the array of beds available today, this article will identify which qualities make a bed great, discuss some of the different features and styles available, and then share our choices for the top 5 best cat beds available today.
What is the Best Cat Bed?
What to Look for in a Cat Bed
Let’s go over the different characteristics found in cat beds and identify which qualities set excellent beds apart from the rest. Obviously, your cat is unique – maybe they prefer sleeping on a warm keyboard to using a traditional bed of any sort. Taking that into consideration, we’ll also take a look at special features that make cat beds particularly appealing to different feline personalities and lifestyles.
The Principles of Coziness
It should go without saying: comfort is important. Let’s break down the ways that a great cat bed delivers extreme comfort.
Comfortable materials
Look for soft, plushy materials and beds that feature substantial padding. If you’re concerned about allergies, you may look for hypoallergenic synthetic materials or natural materials.
Shape and Size
It’s important that your cat’s new bed fits them well. Your cat will probably want to both stretch out and curl up in their bed, so make sure that there’s enough room for them to do both. Measure your cat and compare their size to the dimensions of the cat bed.
Depending on your cat’s preferences, a great cat bed either surrounds your cat like a cozy cave or lets them sprawl out and experience the world from an open nest, or lies somewhere in between these two extremes. Most cats like a bed with some support on the sides; having something that they can press against is comforting. If you’re not sure what bed shape your cat prefers, take a look at their napping behaviors. Do they seek dark, confined spaces or do they prefer to sprawl out on the floor?
Figure out how your cat prefers to relax and choose a shape and size accordingly.
Height and Placement
Most cat beds sit on the floor, which is great for cats who like to nap in low places. For cats who enjoy heights, however, a bed that sits above the ground is preferable. Again, it’s important to watch your cat’s behaviors. If you notice that they love hanging out in a window or napping on top of the refrigerator, an elevated bed might be a great choice for your cat.
Temperature Regulation
Some cat beds are heated, either with a thermostat or self-heating materials. If you live somewhere with cool or cold weather, a heated bed is a feature your warmth-loving cat will appreciate. Heated beds are also a good choice for sick or aging cats who benefit from therapeutic warmth. Good heated beds don’t get too hot for your cat; those that heat up to their body temperature are just right.
Quality Construction
Some cat beds are made from thin, cheap materials that won’t hold up under your cat’s claws or are incapable of properly supporting their weight. Other beds have weak sides that may collapse inward over time. It’s important that your cat bed is made from quality materials, is designed to last, and does its job well.
Convenience
Good cat beds are both ultra-cozy for your cat and easy for you to take care of. The best cat beds are machine washable for easy maintenance. Of course, it’s understandable that some parts won’t be machine washable. In that case, you should at least be able to wipe them down without damaging the materials. Look for cat beds that feature removable pads and detachable covers.
Aesthetics
If you’re of the persuasion that all pieces of furniture should coordinate with your home decor, your cat’s bed should be no exception to the rule. It’s great when a cat bed incorporates elegant design and colors that easily complement the home.
Top 5 Best Cat Beds
Bearing in mind the things we just mentioned above, here’s our list of the top 5 best cat beds available today. These beds were chosen based on consistently high ratings from real customers, quality construction, home-friendly design, and shapes, sizes, and materials that appeal to cats. Each bed appeals to a slightly different set of needs, meaning that there’s a bed here for almost every cat.
Where To Buy 
Armarkat Cozy Pet Bed Review
Best Basic Cat Bed
This is a soft basic bed made from faux suede and soft velvet. It’s filled with extra-thick poly fill for maximum comfort. The base of the bed is made from waterproof, skid-resistant vinyl, so the bed will always stay in place. To make it easy for all cats to enter the bed, it features a lowered entry side that your cat can easily step through. The bed measures 20″ x 20″ x 8″, making it a good choice for larger cats. – Buy It
Pros
- Has a removable pillow for easy washing
- Features anti-skid vinyl on the bottom to help the bed stay in place
- Large enough to accommodate larger cats and multiple cats who like to share a bed
- Made from soft, lofty materials
Cons
- Although the manufacturer claims that the bed is machine washable, some reviewers stated that the bed became misshapen after machine washing
- May be too soft for cats who prefer more support
K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cat Bed Review
Best Heated Cat Bed
The Thermo-Kitty cat bed uses hidden heating mechanism to gently warm the bed to 10-15 degrees above room temperature when not in use. When your cat enters the bed, the thermostat adjusts the bed’s temperature to match your cat’s body temperature, making it the perfect warm place for your cat to take a nap. The bed features a super-thick orthopedic foam base that’s both soft and supportive for your cat. It has a comforting round design with high walls that enclose your cat in warmth. The bed is available in two sizes to fit almost any kitty figure. The pad is covered with a machine washable cover for easy maintenance. – Buy It
Pros
- Heated bed is perfect for sick and aging cats who need extra comfort
- Comes in two different sizes to accommodate almost any cat
- Machine washable cover makes it easy to maintain
- Supportive orthopedic foam pad makes this bed a comfortable choice
Cons
- No way to adjust the heat or automatically turn it off
Armarkat Pet Bed Cave Shape Review
Best Covered Cat Bed
For cats who like to hide out in a cozy cave, this covered bed offers a safe space to sleep. The cave is covered in velvet fabric and features a removable pillow stuffed with extra-thick poly fill for comfort. The bed is machine washable for easy maintenance. To ensure that this bed doesn’t scoot across the floor, it has a waterproof vinyl base. – Buy It
Pros
- For cats who like to hide, this bed offers a secure cozy space
- Machine washable for easy maintenance
- Features a soft pillow that cats love
- Covered in durable waterproof fabric
- Skid-free bottom ensures that the bed stays put
Cons
- Cats can’t go on top of the cave without making it collapse
- May be too small for extra-large cats
The Refined Feline Kitty Ball Cat Bed Review
Best Stylish Cat Bed
For those who want a cat bed that also adds beauty and appeal to their home decor, this bed is a great choice. It’s a cross between a bed and a distinctive cat-sized chair. Its 17” dome makes a cozy cover for the plush, machine washable cushion. As the cushion is positioned 11” off of the ground, the chair offers a little bit of elevation for cats who like to nap in higher places. – Buy It
Pros
- Durable hand-woven faux rattan is designed to withstand clawing
- Allows your cat to sit in a high place
- The elegant design adds style to your home decor
- Easy to assemble
- The cushion ties in so that it won’t fall out of the dome
Cons
- Cushion is slightly undersized
- An expensive bed at over $80
K&H Pet Products Kitty Sill Review
Best Window Mounted Cat Bed
If your cat loves sitting in the window and watching the world outside, this product allows you to make the windowsill into a bed. This bed easily mounts onto any windowsill measuring over 2” wide and has a sturdy design that can hold up to 40lbs. The cushion is made with an orthopedic foam pad covered in soft, machine washable fleece. It comes with screws and Velcro for two mounting options. – Buy It
Pros
- Perfect for cats who love hanging out in the window
- The removable and machine washable fleece cover is easy to care for
- Features supportive orthopedic foam for maximum comfort
- Can be installed in two ways to suit different living situations
- Sturdy enough to support up to 40lbs
Cons
- Replacement covers are not available
- The tape-on Velcro is not always reliable
Using Your New Cat Bed
It’s a classic scene: you just received a beautiful new cat bed – a piece of comfy excellence backed up by thousands of rave reviews. You watch in disappointment while, instead of making use of the bed, your cat sits in the box the bed was delivered in.
If your cat doesn’t immediately love their new bed, it’s possible to encourage them to make use of it.
- Place the bed in a warm, comfortable location. Next to a sunny window or in a quiet corner are both great ideas. Obviously, you can also try a well-loved spot where your cat regularly hangs out.
- To help your cat warm up to the new bed, make it an inviting, familiar space by placing a well-loved blanket or old piece of clothing in it.
- You may also attract your cat to the bed by sprinkling catnip in it or treating it with a pheromone spray.
Finally, give it time. Sometimes cats ignore a bed for months before finally deciding to wander in, curl up, and go to sleep in their new favorite napping spot.
