Which cat bed to get?

[RamblingRosa]

Hello,
We have a relatively new cat (posted on here a few times a month ago when we first got her). 1yr old, lovely semi-long haired tabby.

I want to get her a bed but I'm a bit dazzled by all the choice.

Radiator beds look good but radiators won't be back on until autumn and I imagine cats only like them when the radiator's on.

The igloo ones look nice but our kitty seems to be a sprawler rather than a curler. She likes to stretch right out on her back. Maybe she'll curl up more in the winter.

And then there are the plain fleecy cushiony beds.

Any tips? I don't want to fork out for something and find she won't use it.

[DontCallMeBaby]

Ew at first eBay bed - 'hardly used' but looks filthy! We have that bed (er, slightly cleaner, but only slightly). Cat1 used to love it, particularly liked hanging out in it and watching Harry Potter DVDs with us. Hasn't been in it since the winter before last - we'll keep it another winter and then it'll go. The cats also have a bed each, used to snuggle up in one as kittens (aw) then had a few months of sleeping in their beds (also aw). Haven't for months ... Cat1 prefers DD's bed, flowerbeds, other people's gardens, Cat2 prefers the office chair, conservatory windowsill, also DD's bed, our bed, suitcases, and random locations on the floor. We also had a particularly tatty cardboard box in the living room for two months because Cat1 retreated to it every time someone pissed him off (most of the time then). Weirdos.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Yes the one Wednesday has linked to on eBay is the one I have. It is indestructible! And my cats are huge porkers.

[wednesday13]

The one we have was from PAH too with a curved frame. There are a couple on ebay - if you can bear to buy secondhand (you can always hotwash the cover) it seems indestructible and it's great the way it curves up to support the cat/s.

here

and here

I would really recommend it, don't know why only rubbish ones seem to be on sale now.

[msrisotto]

Thanks as well, I know it got some bad reviews but it seems that if i'm careful putting it together, it'll be better than my shite one now where the fleece falls down the frame.

[RamblingRosa]

Thanks. I was about to ask what PAH is but followed the link and worked it out

[ClaireDeLoon]

The one I have was from PAH a few years ago and is similar to this one but not identical. It is 2 in 1 so can sit on the floor or hang on the radiator but it is very slightly different in design. The one I have is very sturdy although getting the cover on and off to wash can be a pain as it is very tight. I do note though that the one PAH are doing now that I linked to has poor reviews!

[RamblingRosa]

Thanks everyone. Yes our cat seems to like awkward spots too. Generally places where she's liable to trip people up and cause maximum mayhem. She also seems to be very tufty/moulty/fluffy. Big tumbleweeds of cat fur in every room...even rooms she doesn't go in .

I might give a radiator bed a go. Seems like that's the only kind getting any recommendations. Any tips for good ones or are they all much of a muchness?

[msrisotto]

While we're on the subject - can anyone recommend a radiator bed where the fleece doesn't fall down the frame all the bloody time?

[seeker]

For example - let's just say for the sake of argument a pale blue Ghost dress and a black cat? A dusty black cat? Andusty moulting black cat?

I'm not bitter.

[seeker]

The other thing to do is pack a suitcase with delicate clothes the opposite colour to a moulting cat and leave it open somewhere.

[PowderMum]

Our cat adopted in February likes to sleep in awkward places, at night either in the space I need for my feet or on DDs pillow, during the day on DDs desk, particularly on the keyboard.

We bought her a bed, a mat and a blanket and she avoids them all. Loves kids dressing gowns though so we now try having one on the landing to try to encourage her to sleep there too.

I wish we had not bought the bedding we did or the scratching post which she will not use.

[wednesday13]

Radiator sling if heating is on (one on the bottom one on the top)

Rest of year, on our bed. We have given up and put a woolly blanket across the foot of the bed, they are normally to be found on or under that.

Even when they are shut in the lounge they just sleep on sofas/cushions rather than the bought kitty bed.

[TigerseyeMum]

Mine has never slept on any of the beds I have ever bought for him. The thing he likes best is an old mohair cardie donated by my mother. We used to put it at the bottom of our bed and say 'on your cardie' and he would dutifully get up and lie on it.

The cardie got binned as it got old and smelly, but we still say 'on your cardie' and he gets off us and onto the bottom of the bed where it used to be :)

He also likes to sprawl along the top of the fishtank as the light makes it hot.

[ShimmeryPixie]

my cats sleep on:

1. the sofa
   
2. my bed
   
3. the chair
   
4. (one only) in a cardboard box filled with shredded (by the cat) paper.
   

Won't go near the catbed.

[JohnStuartMills]

Thank you C de L. Ooh, I'd better get back on duty. She has got up and is expecting food tout suite. Shall be more sensitive to her immediate and demanding needs. Now you mention it, she does look peaky having only slept for 18 out of the last 24 hours.

[msrisotto]

Yeah my cat likes her radiator bed.

She also has a warm pyramid house that she uses in the winter too - you have to leave it out to be ignored for like, a year, first mind.

Favourite spot = sofa.

Best toy ever = any box.

[ClaireDeLoon]

That was to JSM btw!

[ClaireDeLoon]

Cats can't work as then they wouldn't have sufficient sleeping time.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

see if you can get a cat owner to give you a spare that their cat has spurned.
i did once have a cat who loved her bed, and slept their until 7ish when she would get into ours to wake us up

current cat sleeps either in the middle of our bed, or on dd1's pillow.

[TooManyBlossoms]

My cat absolutely loves her radiator bed, winter or summer. And cos it's basically just a fleecy blanket, it can be chucked in the washing machine every couple of weeks and dries really quickly.

[JohnStuartMills]

My ds has insisted we comment as we are sitting at the kitchen table with our cat asleep on the only chair with a cushion! This is because the door to my son's bedroom is shut. The door to the sofas are also closed.

She won't catch mice or do any work. Help us.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Oh and they use the radiator bed in the summer as well as winter. It's a good sturdy one though, some of them look a bit flimsy and my cats are on the large side.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Going against the grain to say mine use the radiator bed lots and also they seem to like a cheapie doughnut style one too.

[RoyalWelsh]

[RamblingRosa]

Thanks all. Sounds like I just need to accept that the hallway carpet (her favourite spot) will forever be covered in great tufts of cat fur and I'm going to have to hoover it every day.