Rescue cat refusing all comforts

[Cleanmean]

We've had our rescue 4 months now, he's less jumpy but still quiet and taking his time with us. He comes for head bumps now and let's us stroke him. He sleeps in the floor, I've bought him a radiator bed as he loves heart, I've bought him a cave bed for night-time, I've bought him a donut bed. I'd love to see him lying in comfort and enjoying the softness but he's not interested. He loves lying in my bed when I'm there so he likes soft things. Is there any way I can encourage him to use the expensive and lovely beds I've got him? I've tried putting treats in the bed but he grabs the treat then jumps out. Dh has banned me from buying anything else for him. I'd love to see him curled up in any one of the beautiful comfy beds I've bought him. Hate seeing him on the cold hard floor every day. Any tips?

I take it you're new to cat ownership? It doesn't matter how soft and snuggly the cat bed is, they will always turn their noses up at them!

The more you spend, the less they care.

Cats NEVER sleep in cat beds. It's against the law.

Try a cardboard box, or a basket of clean laundry.

Dcat2 would rather sleep on something very uncomfortable and glare at me every time I walk past because she is very uncomfortable and how very dare I. Also, if I try to move her to somewhere comfortable, she will immediately remove herself from it and go back to somewhere uncomfortable just so she can whinge about it.

Dcat1 will sleep on the floor and when moved to the sofa next to the radiator will do a whole 'wow this SO much better, why didn't you tell me about this' routine and stay there for 16 hours purring in absolute joy. The next day? Back on the floor.

Dcat3 just lives on the bed. Whinges at anyone trying to get in her bed, which is confusing as it's actually my bed.

Yes first time cat owner! I get so jealous seeing other cats snuggled into comfortable beds or sitting in radiator beds enjoying the warmth.

I have bought lovely cuddly cat beds and even crocheted my own for them. One of mine prefers to sleep on the sofa, the other on a plastic shopping bag on the floor.

The fact that he sleeps on your bed when you're out tells me he wants to be close to your scent :)

I've wasted so much money on cat beds. Don't worry about it!

He sounds wonderful and I think he'll turn into something of a cuddle monster in time:)

Those images are doctored to draw you in OP. I love the cactus cat cave I got from TK Maxx. Really thought my cat would love it too. But no, she prefers to sleep in an empty cardboard box under the bed. This is the way of cats....

Also, I have two cats, sisters, and I thought they would be best friends and sleep all snuggled up together but they hate the sight of each other.

As pps have said, cats tend to disdain expensive beds - ditto expensive toys, or anything you buy for them.

You could try using catnip spray on the beds but that would probably only result in a temporary interest.

Do you have the boxes that the expensive beds came in? Give him those 😂

Mine doesn't like squishy beds, she likes a thin cushioned pad/crate liner or a piece of folded vet bed.

This sort of thing:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MU7ZWIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0E7XERPFFYEP1SJCZXPV?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

My cat at first slept on the wooden floor. Then on the rug. Then the couch. Then at the bottom of the stairs. Then the top. Then on the floor in my room. Then on my feet.

He has never looked at any kind of bed/toy/treat. He's hardcore!

Actually that's not true. He had a long and deep relationship with a cardboard box.

@VimFuego101

Do you have the boxes that the expensive beds came in? Give him those 😂

Definitely!

You won't win this one I'm afraid. Here's my boy deciding a paper bag next to his cat bed was far more comfy. My MIL bought him a v.expensive Maine coon size cat post with a plush bed at the top which he ignored for about a year. He did decide he liked sleeping on my dressing gown when I left it on our bed so I bought him a blanket in the same material & put it on the bed for him. Sadly that was met with utter disgust & he refused to go anywhere near the bed for a week to hammer home the error of my ways. Don't buy any more cat beds!

The one thing we've had that's been a hit has been a hammock we picked up in Lidl, one cat loves it. Otherwise, every time we get a delivery the new box goes on the floor. We watch for a few days, sometimes the new cardboard box is preferable to the old one, so the old one goes out. Sometimes the new one is rejected and gets recycled instead. They normally have two or three available at any one time. They will sleep on the bed, curled in a ball on the stairs or landing, on a random bit of rubbish on the wood floor, or wedge themselves behind the blankets that cover the back of the sofa. It's normal 🤣

You can't beat a cardboard box or a paper bag in this house!

Try putting your scent on the beds and/or putting them in higher places. But probably futile...

Put a fleece in a box somewhere secluded.

My cat has a range of beds carefully chosen to give a range of squish, fluff & warmth options and of course, various prime locations around the house.

None of which are used and I've found myself in a timeshare situation where we take opposite shifts in my own bed and office chair.

Ah I’ve found my people!
DH has also banned me from buying any more cat beds.
DCat likes to sleep on one of us, or on a windowsill, but definitely not in the cosy cat beds.
We have had some success with cheap, soft fleece blankets. The cat will sleep on one of those folded up on the sofa or on the floor. You know the kind you can get from Wilko or ASDA for about £5.

I have recently managed to tempt the Dcat to at least step into his lovely, soft cat bed by doing this

I have a photo which I can't find now of my cat sleeping in a hard plastic laundry basket with no laundry in it next to her plush cat bed which had never been slept in. I gave it (the cat bed) to a cat shelter. They probably chucked it out knowing no cat would sleep in it.

Welcome to being a cat owner! They are contrary little beggars. My cat shuns all of the beds/wooden window ledge mat/cat condo/cat tree/mats I have bought her but I do have to risk her displeasure if I wish to sit on my own velvet armchair. Which I don’t because it’s always covered in cat hair. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh unless I have left the wardrobe door open in which case she will happily sleep in there and get the bottom of all my dresses covered in hair too.

It was a(n overpriced from not on the high street) wool window ledge mat not a wooden one!