Cat Bed Ideas

Cats will sleep almost anywhere. They prefer your bed or favorite chair. But the canny pet owner, who would like to sit on his own chair now and then, might wish to construct or acquire alternative arrangements for the household's resident kitty. Comfortable pet beds can be made from inexpensive materials, or you may choose to pamper your furry friend with one of the many commercially designed sleeping beds for cats.

  1. Quick Beds

    • This basket is a little small, but this is the basic idea.

      While some cats are shopped for, planned for and hoped for, some arrive unannounced with few plans made ahead. A cardboard box or laundry basket are good beginnings for an impromptu cat bed.

      Cutting one side of a cardboard box down until it is only 4 or 5 inches high, leaving the other three sides untouched, is a good beginning for a cozy cat space. Drape a towel or old blanket over the sides and across the bottom to pad the bare cardboard. Add a soft cushion of washable material, cover it with an old towel or another piece of blanket, and place it in a warm spot such as near (but not near enough to be a fire hazard) a heater. Add a few cat toys and an adjacent bowl of treats, as well as fresh water, and you have the beginnings of a haven for your new friend.

      A rectangular laundry basket makes a durable, washable alternative. Again, pad the bottom with a soft cushion or even some old clothes. Cats love baskets--especially if they are full of clean, recently dried clothing that has just come from the dryer.

      A word of caution here: However much your new darling may love your clothes dryer, it is not a good place for a kitty to sleep. Far too many families have lost a beloved feline when laundry was hastily tossed into the dryer without checking for snoozing occupants.

      Cats will frequently choose their sleeping spot, spurning the one you have lovingly put together. Some favorite spaces include sinks, round bowls, old cardboard boxes (minus all the lovely padding you added to the chosen one), crinkly paper bags, suitcases, dresser drawers or the bottom of your closet.

    Commercial Cat Beds

    • Cozy kitty

      For the cat lover who has long planned and anticipated having a furry friend, a variety of commercial cat beds are available. Some are rectangles or ovals made of soft, fuzzy material over foam padding. These have the advantage of being easily washed in the event of accidents or smelly cat statements.

      For window-loving cats, there are rectangular frames with a hammock of cloth that can be either attached to the wall or hooked over the windowsill. If cost is no object, most pet stores have a variety of structures intended for a cat's pleasure that will include both sleeping areas and spaces for climbing or playing. The stores also have smaller towers, cubes and tunnels for your darling's pleasure. For young cats, fun things such as crinkly tunnels can double as a play space and a safe haven for napping.

    Heated Cat Beds

    • A sunny window makes a cozy place to sleep.

      Older cats are especially fond of a warm bed. Some cat beds come with their own internal heaters that can be plugged into the wall to make a cozy nest. For home owners needing a little more flexibility in placement of the bed, there is a model that has a microwavable insert that can be warmed up and tucked under the bed's padding.

      Cats also love water beds and human beds that have electric blankets. However, these may create situations that are hazardous to the human investment in furnishings and to kitty's health. Kitty claws and water beds are a recipe for a flooded bedroom; human electric blankets lack the protective insulation found in those made specifically for pets.

      Kitty can still enjoy the cozy sensation of sleeping on an electric blanket, however. Pet suppliers stock a variety of pads and blankets engineered to heat to the perfect temperature for felines. Combine a heated pad or pillow, a soft throw and a sunny window, and you have a recipe for happy cat snoozing.

      Options for the perfect cat bed are endless. The bottom line for the perfect cat bed is one that fits your budget and pleases your favorite feline.