How often do you wash your cat's bedding?

[AutumnalLeaves38]

I've always thought putting her fleeces/ blankets on a hot wash, every fortnight, was enough (unless "bodily fluids" from either end are involved, in which case it's put through the machine immediately).

She also sleeps on the bed: my duvet cover etc. is changed every weekend.

However, a friend looked slightly horrified on hearing this: apparently I'm even risking my cat's health by not doing hers at least weekly too, preferably twice.

I now feel terrible: obviously my cat's wellbeing is a priority. So please be honest if I need to improve my ways...

Honestly there are more important things in life to worry about. My cats sleep in the bed, on the carpets, on the sofa, in the garden and or rare occasion on their own beds. The cat beds get washed when I notice they are looking a little grim or when I deep clean the house (where anything not nailed down get chucked in the wash).

What harm is going to come to the cats if their bed is not washed on a regular basis mine spend many hours licking their arses which is far more grim than an unwashed pet bed they sleep on?

Um, you're meant to wash the cats bedding twice weekly? I have been too slack...

Kitten sleeps on my bed now anyway and that only gets washed every 2 weeks.

Cat's bedding? Oh you mean my duvet, the cushions, the sofa, the (fitted) upstairs carpets, the rugs, the throws, and my T shirts (up on a 4 ft high shelf without a door). If you mean the posh soft proper cat bed, they both treat that like it's a dangerous trap & won't go near it.

Though they DO sometimes use the igloo.

How on earth does your friend think cats survive outdoors?

Oh, thank God I'm among the rational here!

Friend does have form for being obsessive about general, pet-unrelated hygiene (actually owns a hand-held vacuum just for cleaning her Dyson, I kid you not ).

Thought I'd better check with you lot whether she did in fact have it right re cat bedding, though.

And mine loves spending time sleeping behind a cobwebbed, filthy gap between garden fences/ up on her suntrap, dusty, shed roof etc. etc., which to me is natural cat behaviour...so God only knows what she ingests on grooming... won't mention to friend

My cats beds have been washed/changed twice since October. I change my duvet fortnightly.

Well I change my sheets every week. Does she have another bed I should know about?