8 best cat beds for 2023, approved by vets

Cats are notorious for sleeping in strange places. If it’s time to invest in a new bed for your cat, look no further than these perfect cat beds! The betterpet team tested these out in-house to see which cat beds are the best and which ones should stay on the shelf. We looked at comfort, price, durability, and the cutest cat beds around.

Keep reading to find the perfect cat bed for you and your pet!

Feedback from testing this soft-sided pet tent

“As far as cat beds go, I think this is a great product. It allows cats to hide, rest comfortably, and be warm (important during cooler months). I don’t know if it’d be great for small dogs, but my cats love it.”

We love this soft tent bed as an enclosed cat bed since it allows pets to feel safe and comfortable but also offers pet owners a chance to easily peek in on their cats as they sleep.

Would we recommend this window cat bed?

One of our editors, Allison, tested this cat bed out with her cat, Zuko. Here’s what she observed:

“After a few cautious sniffs, our tester hopped right in and flopped on the microfleece pad. In early tests, he stuck to the inside, but the top of the townhouse is also meant for dozing. We tested it on a window next to a chest of drawers, which gave our cat a launching pad, but otherwise, it could be a bit of a leap for even the springiest of cats from the floor to window height.“

Some takeaways about the EZ townhouse

When it came to this window cat bed, Allison ultimately recommended it, but this isn’t a standard hanging cat bed. Here are some things to keep in mind as you consider adding the EZ townhouse to your shopping cart.

The EZ townhouse is big. This isn’t a small cat condo, so in addition to the height off the floor, you’ll want to be sure that your cat can make the jump from the floor, or another surface, into or on top of the condo.

It uses six suction cups. Many cat owners, particularly those who have bigger cats, might be apprehensive about this. For our tester, though, the six suction cups were more than sufficient. Still, test it out by applying pressure on it, and don’t leave your cat unattended around it initially.

The instructions could be clearer. When putting the EZ townhouse together, Allison found that it gave two different methods for prepping suction cups to adhere to the window: one involved soaking them in hot water, the other cleaning the cups and windows. For her, the second method worked best.

It’s big enough for two cats. Perhaps pretty evident from the picture, the condo has more than enough room for two cats to enjoy the view and sunshine. You’ll want to be sure that your window and the suction cups can support the extra weight and any strain resulting from playtime.

Feedback from testing this modern plush cat bed

“Petra, who loves fluffy things, seems less interested in it, which surprises me. But several of my other cats—particularly Sherlock—really like this donut-shaped bed. It’s incredibly fluffy, and while I’m not sure how durable it’ll be long-term, it’s a good choice for the price. Also, the overall shape of it seems to be a hit for my cats!”

What we thought about the Tempcore Cat Bed

Beth Ann, one of our wonderful writers, tested this cat bed with her cat, Chester, and found it was a great option! Ideal for medium or small cats, it’s a good choice for smaller homes, such as apartments.

Beth Ann said this was an “extremely comfortable cat bed.”

Feedback from testing the Durkha felt cave bed

“I wasn’t sure if it would be big enough initially, but it’s been a great place for my bigger cat, Midnight, to snooze in. It’s warm on the inside and durable, and my cats seem to like it! As a rule, I try to avoid getting my cats’ beds and blankets dirty, but I feel like hand washing or washing it on a delicate cycle with a gentle detergent will be fine.”

What we thought about the Frisco Tunnel Cat Bed

“This cat bed is great, particularly if you have cats that enjoy tunneling into blankets or hiding in caves. The plush white bottom poses a lick obsession risk, but the fluff doesn’t come loose, so there’s no choking hazard. It fits nicely in the corner of our living room, so it doesn’t take up too much space, and since it’s gray, it blends with our furniture pretty seamlessly.”

What we thought about the Ethical Pet Sleep Zone Bed

“It’s very cozy. I’d love to take a nap in it.”

Beth Ann also tested this comfortable bed with Chester. She didn’t have any negative feedback about this pet bed or any precautions pet owners should take. Chester loved it!

Would we recommend the MSBC cardboard lounger?

“As a disposable cat bed, I think it’s a great choice. It has a unique shape while also providing a surface that cats love (and there are memes to prove it!) I wouldn’t get it with any anticipation of longevity; it’s not durable because it isn’t designed to be durable. But, as a scratching post and lounger, it’s perfect.”

While we try to select cat beds that will be a hit, there’s always one or two that don’t quite measure up. Here are two popular cat beds we tried out but didn’t love. We believe that you should be informed as you shop for your kitty in 2023, so here are the beds that we recommend you reconsider.

K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Mat

Taylor, one of our betterpet writers, tested out this mat. While she did like that it was smaller and could easily be tucked away, she didn’t recommend this cat bed. From Taylor:

“This product is not worth the cost and may be more trouble than it’s worth. Cats will chew on the plug, and it’s made of a plush-like material that attracts hair. It does not heat up at all, and so it does not work as advertised.”

VIPACE Cat Hammock

We tested out this wall-mounted cat hammock and it just didn’t live up to expectations. While the bed portion is removable and very soft, the wood didn’t have any type of finish on it whatsoever, providing no protection against stains or scratches. The wood was also  incredibly soft and easily dented and damaged in our attempts to install the hammock.

Additionally, the package didn’t come with the necessary hardware for putting it up, so this cat bed fell apart with the first jump. Nothing on it was standard either, so improvising was mostly out of the question. Overall not recommended.

Cats are known for being finicky. We often think that there is no rhyme or reason to why a cat will like one thing over another but, just like us, cats have preferences. Understanding cat body language can help you decipher what they like and make informed decisions!

👉 Cats have powerful noses, so if your cat is mean-mugging their new bed, swap it out for one made of natural materials. 

Here are our tips to keep in mind when shopping for a cat bed:

Your cat’s comfort

To begin with, you’ll want to know how your cat sleeps. Like their people, not all cats sleep in the same position. While cats might get comfortable in any position anywhere, they do tend to have their preferences, so observe your cat to learn about their favorite position and place.

You’ll want to select a bed that fits their size and isn’t too big, or too small. For cats that like to curl up, beds with a thick side wall can provide the comfort that they like, while mat-like beds might be a great choice for those that like to spread out.

Additionally, consider your pet’s needs. For cats dealing with joint issues, consider one with a smaller lip and an orthopedic mattress rather than an elevated cat bed.

Cleaning and longevity

Unless your cat bed isn’t designed to last (like the cardboard lounger we tested), it’s important to consider how washable and durable it is. Look at past reviews from shoppers, or explore the best list to see how our tested items held up, and choose one that meets your expectations.

👉 Pet beds with removable covers are a great way to ensure that moisture from washing doesn’t get trapped in the padding of your pet’s favorite lounge spot.

The writers, editors, and staff of betterpet are pet parents, and we know the value of accurate, trustworthy information. We tested these cat beds in-house, so you can trust that when we say these are the best cat beds out there, it’s true.

How we test our cat beds

Regardless of who does the testing or what kind of pet they have, the same standards apply. Here are the four points we test our cat beds against:

• Features. We look at the features of each cat bed, like if it’s durable or easily attracts hair. Our testers evaluate how well the cat bed performed with those features in mind.
• Durability. For cat beds, we also pay attention to how durable each bed is. After all, you don’t purchase a cat bed with the expectation that you’ll have to replace it quickly! We want to be able to tell you how durable a cat bed is so you can make an informed decision when buying the best cat bed out there.
• Cleanliness. Our testers also considered how easy it was to clean each cat bed. Is it a simple matter of taking off a cover or using a hand-vac, or will cleaning the bed mean you’ll have to take it apart completely?
• Comfort. Our testers also looked at how comfortable the cat bed was for both pets and their people. We considered the design of the beds and how it fits in with home décor, like the stylish elevated cat bed.