Cat and Dog Beds

If you want to treat your pets like royalty, then you should get them a throne—a dog or cat bed that’s comfortable, beautiful, and (for your own benefit) perfectly color coordinated with the rest of your home.

Buying your pet a good bed isn’t just a sign of affection and love. If they’re sickly, plagued with arthritis, or generally uncomfortable from the effects of age, it can actually contribute to their health. A bed is warmer than the kitchen floor, protecting them from chills and colds, and the soft, gentle material can help ease the pain of stiff joints.

With the wide variety of cat and dog beds available in the market today, you can certainly find one that suits your pet’s breed, needs, your own design preferences, and your budget. However, the sheer number of options can be confusing. To help you pick the best cat and dog bed, here are a few considerations that can help you make the best choi

Buying a Bed for your Dog

• What is the health, size and weight of your dog? Your pet should be able to stretch comfortably inside the bed, with enough room to shift positions. Also ask yourself if the bed will tip over or crumple under his weight.
• What bed would your dog prefer? Asking him is out of the question, but you can gauge his preferences by examining the areas of the house that he tends to gravitate to (like your favourite chair). You can choose from a number of styles: pillows, mats, rugs, and cuddlers. A cuddler is basically a pillow with low, soft walls that “cuddlie” the pet on all sides. You can also get your dog a dog sofa, though this is usually more expensive.
• What kind of filling do you want? Some beds use foam, which is soft and warm. Special (and more expensive) fillings like cedar keep the fleas away.
• Do you need a heated dog bed? If you live in a cold climate, or experience particularly chilly winters, you can get a dog bed with a heating mechanism.

Buying a Bed for your Cat

• What size do you need? To have a good gauge of how large a cat bed you really need, measure your pet’s length when she goes to sleep, and then add a foot more. It should be more or less the right size for your cat.
• What fabric do you want? One of the most popular choices of cloth is fleece, which is comfortable and soft.
• What kind of filling do you need? As with dog beds, there are different kinds of fillings for cat beds, from the basic foam to specialized fillings like cedar which ward away insects.
• Do you need a heated cat bed? Cats love sunning themselves for warmth, and will only ignore the cat bed if it proves to be less cosy as the kitchen window. If you live in a cold climate, or experience particularly chilly winters, you can get a cat bed with a heating mechanism.