CatBeds100

How To Choose The Right Cat Bed

Devoted cat owners will go to almost any lengths to ensure the comfort and happiness of their dear feline. As you might imagine, selecting the perfect cat bed for these ultimate creatures of comfort is an important decision. Providing the right bed will not only make for a happier cat, it will also reduce the odds of finding your lovely, long-haired calico napping on your favorite black sweater. What are the variables? The structural design or style of the bed, the materials the bed is made of, and even weighing whether you want to make or buy the bed are all factors worth exploring before a final choice is made. This article will look at each of these elements, preparing you to provide your cat with their own perfect bed.

Cat beds are available in a huge range of designs. They can be anything from something very simple resembling a thin pillow or pad covered in fabric, to a hard sided igloo style structure complete with an electric heating element. While we usually think of discount cat bed as providing cozy warmth, you can even find pad-like beds that can be filled with cool water to help your cat stay comfortable during the heat of summer. Important things to consider when evaluating a design are size, portability, accessibility for your cat's agility level, does it provide the privacy your cat tends to like, compatibility with your decor, ease of assembly (if any), stability, safety and intended placement (floor, on a bed, window sill, outside/weatherproof, inside only). Also, observing your cat's favorite spots to catch some shuteye and noticing what these spots have in common, will help you choose a design. For example, if their current choice for napping is always elevated, you'll probably want to avoid a bed that can only be set up at floor level. If they like to crawl into paper bags to sleep, they might prefer a partially covered dome-style bed that reduces light and offers more privacy than one with an open top.

The materials and textures found in cat beds are almost universally on the cozy, comfy end of the spectrum. One of the main variables in fabric is the length of its pile. One fabric on the short end of the scale is faux suede which is soft and smooth. At the other end of the continuum you'll find faux, and even authentic, shearling material, similar to the plush lining of your favorite slippers. Fleece, which is warm, lightweight and not bulky, is another popular choice that falls somewhere in the middle. Cat beds will also vary in the amount of poly fill or other cushioning material. Thick orthopedic foam can provide the superior cushioning some older or heavier cats need. Besides warmth and comfort, the main thing to take into account is the ease of care. Find out if the whole bed can get tossed into the washer, or if it has removable layers that can. Does it require hand washing? If the bed has an electronic heating element, be sure that it can be removed so the rest of the bed can be thoroughly cleaned. As a side note, be considerate of your cat and wash their bed with unscented soap. A strong chemical fragrance from your laundry detergent can be overwhelming to a cat's delicate sense of smell and they may avoid the bed until it wears off. Now that we have looked at some of the many styles available and the most popular materials used for cat beds, we're going to briefly consider the option of making your own.

Some folks might want to get really industrious and make a professional looking kitty bed. To do so, you'll need a pattern, a sewing machine, various fabrics, material for cushioning and additional related items. The advantage here, beyond the satisfaction of being creative, is this allows you to customize the bed's fabric and color scheme to coordinate nicely with your own furniture. It could be a fun way to make kitty a present if you know your way around a sewing machine. Look in your local fabric shop or online for the appropriate patterns and materials. For the rest of us, there are many ways to repurpose items we have been meaning to toss, and convert them into a much less formal style of cat bed. The general idea is to use clothing or linens that are worn, torn, stained, out of style, don't fit, or are otherwise unusable and turn them into some sort of cozy nest for your cat. Here are a couple ideas: cover a pillow that's past its prime with flannel from a worn out sheet or pillowcase; use that fleece jacket with the stain (or any other soft, appropriate piece of clothing) and cut it into long strips at least a couple of inches wide (fleece is nice because it doesn't fray at the edges) and place a deep layer of these into a small drawer or cardboard box that's a good size for your cat to curl up in; that 12 inch plastic basket you bought for organizing, but never used, might be perfect if you toss in an old wool sweater the moths have munched on. Your cat will love you for your thoughtfulness, and it's good recycling. These beds may or may not replace the big, super plush one you purchased, but they can always work as a second hideaway that will make your cat that much happier.

All cats search for comfortable places to sleep where they won't be disturbed. If you provide one or two perfectly irresistible beds, your cat is far less likely to insist upon napping in places where you don't want them to. To help you zero in on the bed that suits you best, we've looked at an overview of the variety of cat bed options available and the importance of factoring into the selection process your cat's individual preferences. We've also considered a few of the many ways to repurpose worn out household items to create an additional cozy hideaway for kitty. When all is said and done and you finally see your cat blissfully purring as he or she drifts off to dreamland in their new bed, the time and thought you put into your search will have been well worth the effort.