Why not give your cat a great place to sleep with a comfortable cat bed? Your cat is an important member of the family.
Cat beds come in all shapes and sizes, and in all price ranges. You can spend from as little as $8 to $150 and more, and they can be heated, enclosed, covered with all types of fabrics and in just about any color.
Your cat's age will affect some of your choices. A kitten will not want or need a bed that fits an adult cat. An older cat will appreciate a heated bed more. Some beds may be too tall for your cat to climb in to easily. The right size for a cat bed is one that allows your cat to fit without lots of leftover space.
Cheap cat beds often are a simple fabric cover over some padding or foam. The covers do not come off so they are difficult to wash. These cat beds may use a thin fabric that will not stand up to the cat's natural behavior to knead the bed before settling in to sleep. It will easily tear or fray with use. You do not want a cover fabric that the cat will be attracted to for scratching behavior so rug-like materials are a poor choice.
The quality of the cat bed will improve with the price. A good cat bed uses soft materials, the cover is removable and machine washable and the cover is made of a fabric that is sturdy enough to tolerate normal cat behaviors. The padding will last under both kneading behavior and the sleeping weight of the cat without collapsing or becoming a valley in the cat bed.
Cats normally enjoy a certain amount of enclosure when they sleep. A cat bed with sides as high as the width of your cat's torso will allow the cat to sleep with the feeling of support against its back. Some cats, though not all, like to be fully enclosed. There are a number of types of such beds ranging from a tent-like design to "cat houses" and wicker huts that the cat can find sleep in.
Wicker cat beds are decorative and many are very comfortable for your cat. Some cats will find them irresistible for chewing or digging behaviors, however, because they remind the cat of twigs or sticks.
Heated cat beds are a big draw for sleeping cats in the winter. The house temperature may be cooler than they like, so the cat will look for a warm spot to sleep. For your cat's safety and your own safety, select a cat bed that is Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed. That ensures that it has been built to certain electrical safety standards. The heating pad is usually removable and the bed will come with instructions on the proper care and handling of the heating pad and electrical cord.
Fancy cat beds are wonderful for both your cat and for the decor of your home. There are lots of choices and many look like tiny versions of your furniture, such as a chaise or a sofa. The covers will be made of more expensive fabrics, faux fur or real fur such as mink. Look for removable slipcovers because even fancy cat beds will need laundering.
Your cat will spend eighteen to twenty hours a day sleeping. Giving your cat a great place to sleep with a comfortable cat bed makes sense. Take time to choose a safe, washable, size appropriate bed and your cat will sleep very well.