Shopping for a mattress can be difficult, but as we’ve learned, shopping for a bed for your cat can be even more tricky. As picky as some of us can be, our felines can make us seem very easy-going by comparison. You may think you’ve picked out the absolute purrfect item for your cat, just to have them turn away with an upturned tail, full of attitude and disapproval.
In our search for the ultimate and best cat bed, we tried out many beds, with many cats. Some remained untouched, others became toys instead of sleeping spaces. But in the end, we found 11 that passed the purr test, and we’re going to share them with you in the following reviews.
If you are looking for a cat bed that won’t hold on to cat hair or odors, is self-warming, and looks great next to your floor plant, this is a great option to consider. Combining ease, comfort, and luxury, the Hepper Nest Cat Bed provides cats with a chic yet sturdy place to nap. It also provides owners with a piece of cat furniture that seamlessly blends with most decor.
The unique bowl design offers the right amount of support that can be enjoyed by cats of all ages. Featuring a removable sherpa liner, this best modern cat bed is one of the easiest to keep clean. As a bonus, the outer shell repels cat hair and can be wiped with a damp cloth if need be. This method of cleaning ensures the bed will maintain its structure, making this a long-term bed you can count on for years to come.
What we love most about this bed is that it is that it’s portable. You can place it in any spot around your home, floor, or tabletop, without it looking out of place, so your kitty can be lounging nearby at all times. Once you bring the Nest into your home, you won’t be able to get your cat to leave it!
To conclude, we think this is the best cat bed out there.
At ExcitedCats.com we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Pros
Modern
Machine washable
Ultra-comfortable
Portable
Durable
Supportive design
Self-warming
Cons
Might be priced slightly higher than other cat beds
Entertainment and comfort combined into one, the Frisco Foldable Canopy Cat Bed is one of the best cat beds for the money. It’s not your average pet bed though, lying lifelessly on the floor. Instead, this bed has a pop-up canopy that can offer your cat some privacy, making their sleeping space cozier and more comfortable in the process.
One of the nice features of this bed is a small toy that hangs from the top of the canopy. Our cats seemed to love this little novelty, lying on their backs and pawing it to pass the time. Unfortunately, some of our cats seemed to think that it meant the whole bed was a toy and they used it as such, tossing it around and pulling out the pillow.
This cat canopy bed is very plush, covered in ultra-soft fabric. The pillow is nicely cushioned and can be machine washed to keep it clean. If you want to take your cat anywhere, this cat canopy bed folds flat so it’s easy to bring along, too. We just wish all of our cats knew it was a bed and not just a toy!
Pros
The pull-over canopy provides shade and seclusion
A soft toy hangs from the canopy top
Made from super-soft fabric for ultimate cat comfort
Folds flat for travel
Cons
Many cats think it’s a toy, not a bed
3. The Refined Feline Kitty Ball Cat Bed – Premium Choice
The name says it all; The Refined Feline Kitty Ball Cat Bed. This bed takes feline sleeping arrangements to new heights, literally. As many cats love to perch, this bed provides precisely what they want by elevating the bed up off the floor. Between that and the oversized 17-inch dome that offers plenty of space for your cat, this is a very large bed. Good thing it’s so elegant looking and will add to almost any setting!
This best designer cat bed is crafted from faux rattan that is non-toxic and extremely durable. It won’t break when clawed, so it’s perfect for cats. Included is a machine-washable cushion that’s very plush and comfortable so your furry feline will be cozy and clean in their perch. And thanks to the weighted base, it’s a great fit for cats of any size.
Of course, all of this extravagance works out to be a pretty pricey pet bed. But if you want to provide your cat with the ultimate luxury that will actually improve the look of your home rather than detract from it, then the Refined Feline Kitty Ball Cat Bed is a great, albeit expensive choice.
Pros
Raised bed is preferable for cats who like to perch
Looks elegant — like just another piece of furniture
Popular with most of our felines, the Meowfia Premium Felt Cat Cave Bed isn’t a lay-on-top pet bed like most. Instead, this is more of a cave, as the name suggests. But it’s made from premium 100% Merino wool, which has some very interesting properties.
This bed will keep your cat cool in the summer and warm in the winter when it gets cold. Furthermore, it’s naturally antibacterial. Because of this, it will repel odor, dirt, and stains, minimizing the work you have to do to keep it clean and fresh. This is especially useful because the Meowfia Cat Cave bed can only be hand-washed, so you won’t want to wash it too often.
As a cave, this best cat pod bed has an eight-inch opening that can fit cats up to 20 pounds. If your cat doesn’t like to use it as intended, it can always be flattened out and laid on instead of in. You can easily pop it back out and return it to its proper shape.
It’s a great bed overall and most of our cats were fond of it, but our wallets weren’t. Despite their approval, we think this bed is overpriced for what you get.
Pros
It’s made from one piece of fabric, no seams or stitching
Similar to the Meowfia Cat Cave but even more expensive, the Earthtone Solutions Cozy Wool Cat Cave Bed is a great product that’s just too pricey for what you get. Still, our cats seemed to gravitate towards this bed, with only a sparse few rejecting it. Of course, that may have something to do with the catnip we sprinkled inside, which is included free with the purchase of this cave bed.
If your cat prefers to lay on it instead of in it, then the Earhtone Solutions bed can easily be flattened to use it as a lounging mat. It will return to its original shape if desired so that it can once again be used as a cave. This makes it perfect for traveling since it can be folded up or rolled to save space.
The felted wool used to craft this best cat bed for anxiety will help keep your cat warm when it’s cold out and cool when it’s hot. They’ll get plenty of ventilation while still getting the privacy that most cats desire. But you can only hand wash it, so keep that in mind. Were it machine washable and affordable, this cave bed would likely be a top-three contender.
We all know that cats are very picky in every way, but most of our cats found something to like about the Aspen Pet Bolster Cat Bed. Between the plush top and the covering made from fleece and suede, it’s a very comfortable bed that our cats kept returning to. It’s also filled with 100% recycled fiber, helping it to be not just comfortable, but environmentally conscious as well.
But it wasn’t just our cats who liked this bed, we found plenty to like about it too. To start, it’s machine washable, so it’s easy to keep this bed clean and smelling fresh, keeping your house from developing any foul odors.
Priced affordably, we were happy with the cost of the product but weren’t so happy that we didn’t get to choose what color we got. It comes in several different colors, but you’ll receive one at random. Still, it’s attractive in any color, so it’s not a major complaint. Overall, the low cost and high-comfort level of this bed are the reasons it made our list.
Pros
Machine washable
Ultra-comfortable plush top covered in fleece and suede
If you love to sleep cozy in a sleeping bag and want to give your cat the same feeling, then the Armarkat Burrow Cat Bed is the bed for you…er, your cat. Not all cats like to burrow though, so to speak. Many cats prefer to perch instead. But for the cats that are constantly wedging themselves into tight spaces and forcing themselves under your covers, the burrow bed may be just the thing to get them purring in pleasure. Luckily, you’ll know right away whether your cat likes it or not!
To make sure your furry friend is completely comfortable, this bed features faux suede and fur that’s extremely soft and pleasing to the touch. Plus, it’s filled with Poly-fil that makes it even plusher. It’s almost surprising that more of our cats weren’t interested in sleeping in this bed. If it were full-sized, we might try it ourselves!
The base of this bed is anti-skid to keep it in place. It’s also waterproof to help keep any messes to a minimum. For easy cleaning, the whole thing is machine washable, making it easy to keep clean and fresh, and one of the best washable cat beds available. We just wish more of our cats were interested!
The K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cat Bed is an interesting and unique pet bed. It features a built-in heating unit that keeps the surface of the bed 10-15 degrees warmer than the ambient air temperature in the room. At first, we thought this is something our cats would really love. When it was cold, several of them did. However, very few showed much interest in it the rest of the time, especially if the heat was on.
We were worried that the built-in heater would hinder washing, but thankfully, the cover can be removed and machine washed. It has a simple but attractive look, with neutral colors that will fit with most decor. But you’ll be stuck near an outlet because the power cord is only five feet.
There are two sizes of this bed available so any cat will find a comfortable fit. But the features that make this bed desirable also mean that it’s only good for indoor use. If you’re looking for a bed that can be used outdoors at any time, this isn’t it. And it’s very expensive. Granted, you’ll get some cool features for the price, but it’s a lot to spend on a cat bed.
Basic and minimal are the two words we’d use to describe the Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed. Unlike other warming beds that feature heaters, this one requires no cords because it’s self-warming. That means it reflects your cat’s body heat back on them so they can enjoy natural warmth. It may be warmer than some other pet beds, but in our testing, it didn’t seem to make a significant difference in warmth for our cats.
This is a very thin bed, in a basic oval shape with a more padded ring to provide support around the outside. Many of our cats were put off by the lack of padding in the main part of the bed, but it is a good kitten bed. It’s very thin and doesn’t offer much support for adult cats. Not to mention the small size of the bed, which was considerably smaller than we expected.
Despite the drawbacks, we still liked the affordable price of the Frisco cat bed. But since our cats weren’t impressed with it, we can’t recommend it.
Available in three different colors for you to choose from, the Catit Style Cuddle Bed is an attractive pet bed. Its main feature is the reversible cover that has a warm and a cool side. We loved the concept and were excited to try it out, but it didn’t seem to do much. We actually weren’t able to notice any difference in temperature with the cover reversed, and our cats seemed indifferent either way.
We love products that offer us convenience, but the Catit Style Cuddle Bed fails in that department. It’s not machine washable and we’re just not fans of being forced to wash something by hand. When you consider that you’re paying much more for this bed than others, only to then be forced to invest time into repeatedly handwashing it, it becomes apparent that it’s not a great value overall.
Pros
Reversible — warm and cool sides for different seasons
A more affordable version of the cat cave bed concept, we had high hopes for the FurHaven Cat Cave Bed. It started off well with a machine washable, removable cover, and a price less than half what the other cave beds cost. Things quickly derailed once we received ours, though.
As soon as we opened the box, we were hit with an intense chemical smell. We left the bed in the garage to air out, but it took several days for the odor to dissipate. Once it did, we brought it in, excited to see how our cats reacted.
After setting up the bed, we were quickly frustrated. It wouldn’t stay standing, repeatedly collapsing into a heap. We had to prop it up against a chair so it would stay somewhat open. But our bigger cats wouldn’t fit inside! We were surprised by how small this unique cat bed was once we were holding it. For us, it wasn’t worth the hassle, which is why it has landed the lowest ranking on our list.
It doesn’t matter how nice any particular cat bed seems to us. If our cats don’t agree, it’s not getting used. For that reason, we enlisted the help of quite a few felines when writing these reviews. We needed their opinions, and as you know, cats don’t even try to hide how they feel.
Together, we picked the Hepper Nest as the top choice. We liked the sleek design and how easy it was to keep clean and odor-free since it’s liner is machine washable and the outer shell is repellant. Our cats enjoyed the support and self-warming aspect, or at least that’s what we think they liked.
For the best value, we recommend the Frisco Foldable Canopy Cat Bed. It provides your cat with privacy and a play toy, keeping them comfortable and occupied. We liked that it folds flat, making it very easy to take with you when you travel.
Finally, the Refined Feline Kitty Ball Cat Bed is our premium choice pick. This elegant pet bed is elevated for cats who love to perch, providing a 17-inch spacious dome for them to relax in. It’s comfortable for them and looks great in any home.
Also, since writing this post we’ve stumbled upon the gorgeous Felt Cave cat bed. Very unique and worth checking out. We’ll consider including it in our next version of this post.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
