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Which Bed Suits Your Dog or Cat?

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Before you shop, watch where and how your pet falls asleep tonight. A dog that stretches out flat on the kitchen tile is telling you something different from one that wedges itself into the corner of the couch, and a cat that naps on top of the fridge is not going to use a flat cushion on the floor. Many adult dogs sleep 12 to 14 hours a day and cats roughly 12 to 16, so the bed gets a lot of use. Matching it to the sleeping habit you already see is the simplest way to avoid buying a bed that sits empty.

  • If your pet sprawls on its side or back with legs stretched out, choose a flat rectangular mattress or pad with no raised sides, or one with a bolster on one edge only. Round beds force a sprawler to hang off the edge, and the bed ends up as a pillow for the head while the body lies on the floor.
  • If your pet curls into a tight ball, a round or oval bolster bed (sometimes sold as a donut bed) gives a raised rim to lean against. Curling conserves body heat and protects the belly, and the rim supports that position.
  • If your pet is a senior or has arthritis, look for an orthopedic bed made from a solid slab of supportive foam, ideally at least three or four inches thick for medium and large dogs, with a low edge to step over. Egg crate foam and loose fiberfill flatten under a heavy dog, and the hips and elbows end up on the floor. A pet that is stiff when it gets up, or hesitates before lying down, is worth a vet visit too, because pain medication and weight management help more than any bed.
  • If your pet chews, skip stuffed beds entirely and try an elevated cot with a metal frame and a tough woven fabric, or a thin pad made from heavy canvas or ballistic nylon. No bed is truly chewproof, whatever the label says. Swallowed foam or stuffing can block the intestines, so call your vet if your dog has eaten a chunk and starts vomiting or stops eating.
  • If your pet runs hot, as many thick-coated or large breeds do, an elevated mesh cot lets air move under the body, and it stays cooler than any cushion on the floor. Gel cooling mats can add comfort in a warm room, but check that the gel is sealed well, since a dog that chews through one has swallowed something it should not.
  • If your pet gets cold, which is common in small, short-coated, thin or elderly animals, choose a fleece-lined bolster bed or a self-warming pad with a reflective insulating layer that bounces body heat back. Heated beds made for pets can help, but pick one with a low, thermostat-controlled setting and a chew-resistant cord, and make sure the pet can move off the warm area if it gets too hot.
  • If your pet is a cat that likes height, think about a window-mounted perch, a cat tree with a padded top platform or a shelf bed. Cats often feel safer where they can watch the room from above, and a floor bed may be ignored no matter how soft it is.
  • If your cat prefers enclosure, a hooded cave bed or a covered cube gives the hidden spot it would otherwise find at the back of a closet. A sturdy cardboard box with a folded towel is a fair test before you spend money.
  • If your dog sleeps in a crate, buy a pad sized to the crate's inside dimensions so it lies flat without bunching, and choose one that is thin and machine-washable. If your dog shreds bedding while crated, take the pad out until the habit stops, since loose stuffing in a closed crate is a swallowing risk.

Measuring and washing

For a dog, measure while it is lying stretched out asleep: from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, then add 6 to 12 inches. Use the smaller addition for a curler and the larger one for a sprawler or a dog that changes position a lot. For a cat or a dog that curls, measure the diameter of the circle it makes when curled and buy a round bed a few inches wider. Check weight limits on elevated cots and orthopedic beds; a frame or foam rated for a 40 lb dog will sag under a 90 lb one.

Washability decides how long a bed stays pleasant. Look for a removable zip-off cover that fits in your washing machine drum, because a large bed cover that only fits a laundromat machine tends not to get washed. Most foam cores should not go in the washer, so a waterproof inner liner between the foam and the cover is worth paying for, especially for puppies, seniors and dogs that drool. Wash the cover every week or two, more often during flea treatment or after an accident, and let it dry completely before it goes back on so the foam does not pick up a musty smell. A second cover means the bed stays usable on laundry day; buy it at the same time as the bed, since replacement covers for a specific size are often discontinued within a year or two.