A Cat Bed, Cat Mat or Thermal Cushion

Considering that there are millions of cats that sleep, with no trouble at all, in a wide variety of places other than in a cat bed the answer is possibly not.

But if you want to give your cat the opportunity of her or his own special place to sleep or you are fed up with your pet sleeping on your furniture, and leaving the obligatory cat hairs, then there is a wide variety of beds, cat cushions, and sleeping perches available.

Most are not too costly so if your cat decides that she is just not going to use it, and to persuade her to do so may take a little patience, then you should not be too much out of pocket.

Size is obviously an important consideration. Cats need a little room to stretch and turn; a bed that is too cramped will not be comfortable. On the other hand your pet is not likely to feel secure in a bed that is too big for her.

Measure your cat from the head to the base of the tail and add just a few inches. Cats generally sleep curled, but remember that if your cat is heavy, or large boned, she won’t curl as tightly as a slimmer cat. If in doubt go for a larger rather than smaller size.

If possible choose one that is washable, many pet beds come with removable covers. An easily cleaned bed will help prevent odors, parasites and allergens.

A quality cat bed, cat mat or thermal cushion will give your pet a warm and comfortable place to snooze.

Comfort is of importance, if you want your cat to use her bed choose one that she will enjoy sleeping on. Some beds for cats have cozy synthetic fleece linings, others have cushioned, foam filled bases, and some are designed to keep your cat cool in the summer and toasty warm in the winter. Orthopedic beds are available, a boon for some senior cats.

A kitty bed with high sides can provide a draught free sleeping environment, and give your cat a sense of sleeping in her own space, but do make sure that your cat can climb in and out easily. A senior cat or a kitten may need one with one lower side to use as an entrance.

Heated Kitty Mats and Cushions There are two types of cat bed that give off heat. There are those that use a safe power supply (the voltage is low enough to eliminate any danger of shock.) And thermal mats or cushions that reflect the cat’s own body heat back to the animal. Both are welcomed by kittens, cats recovering from sickness and senior cats.

As mentioned above not all cats take to using a bed, at least not straight away. Here are a few tips that may help:

• Location, location, location! Try putting the bed where your cat already chooses to sleep.
• Try a sunny spot (for daytime naps) or near a radiator, when asleep a cat’s body temperature will decrease a little which is why they pick a warm spot to snooze.
• Some cats prefer to sleep up higher than floor level. If your feline does, try the bed on a suitable shelf or stand. Radiator perches and window perches suitable for sleeping cats are available.
• Place a favorite toy, blanket or cushion in the bed to encourage your cat to try it out.
• Remember that praise works wonders with cats. Praise and make a fuss of your cat when she starts to use her cat bed and the chances are she will keep using it.
• A little catnip scattered in or around the bed can be an effective persuader for many cats.

A nice selection of quality Cat Beds from Amazon.com

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