Pets spend a remarkable amount of their day asleep or resting — dogs typically sleep for a large portion of each 24 hours, and cats even more — which makes their bed one of the more genuinely important purchases you’ll make for them, even if it doesn’t always feel that way in the pet shop aisle.
Getting the size right
The RSPCA advises that a dog’s bed should be large enough for them to lie comfortably in all their natural sleeping positions — stretched right out, curled up, and lying on their back. A bed that only accommodates a curled-up position restricts a dog’s ability to sleep however is most comfortable for them at any given time, which is worth bearing in mind rather than simply buying the smallest bed that “fits” your dog when curled up.
Where to put the bed
Positioning matters as much as the bed itself. RSPCA guidance recommends a warm, draught-free spot, and suggests offering more than one option where practical: one bed in a quiet part of the house where a dog can rest undisturbed, and another in a room where the family spends time. This reflects how dogs often want both a calm retreat away from household activity and a spot where they can still be near their family during the day.
If you have multiple dogs, the RSPCA recommends at least one bed per dog to avoid competition over a single resource, though dogs that genuinely enjoy sleeping together may do well with an additional larger bed they can comfortably share, offered alongside individual options rather than instead of them.
Materials and bed types
A good bed should be well-padded, made from a comfortable material, and practically speaking, easy to wash — a real consideration given how often pet bedding needs cleaning. For outdoor use, a more robust, hard-wearing material holds up better to the elements, and waterproof or water-resistant options can be particularly helpful for beds kept in porches, utility rooms or outdoor shelters.
Different bed shapes suit different preferences: round or oval beds work well for dogs who like to curl up, flatter mattress-style beds suit dogs who prefer lying stretched out, and box-style beds with raised sides offer more warmth and draught protection — useful in a cooler spot in the house, though a flatter bed may be preferred by a dog seeking a cooler spot in summer.
Beds for older dogs
For senior dogs, or any dog with joint stiffness or arthritis, a supportive, well-cushioned bed becomes more than just a comfort item — adequate padding helps reduce pressure on joints during rest, which can make a genuine difference to comfort and mobility. If you’re choosing a bed for an older or less mobile dog, prioritising thicker, supportive padding over other features is generally worthwhile.
Setting up a good sleep spot for cats
Cats spend the majority of their time asleep, with energy typically coming in short, active bursts between long rest periods. Rather than a single prescribed bed type, the priority for cats tends to be location: a comfortable bed placed in a cat’s already-favourite resting spot generally gets used far more than an equally comfortable bed placed somewhere the cat doesn’t naturally choose to settle. Cats often prefer elevated spots with a view, warm areas away from draughts, and a degree of enclosure or shelter — which is why covered or “cave” style beds are popular with many cats, even though open, flat beds suit others just as well. As with dogs, offering a couple of different resting spots around the home, rather than a single bed, tends to suit most cats’ preference for having options.
A simple buying checklist
- Size the bed to your pet’s largest natural sleeping position, not their curled-up size.
- Choose a warm, draught-free, relatively quiet location as the primary spot.
- Prioritise washable, well-padded materials, especially for older or less mobile pets.
- Offer more than one resting spot where space allows, particularly in multi-pet households.
- For cats, match the bed to their existing favourite spot rather than choosing a location for them.
Replacing an old or worn bed
Bedding doesn’t last forever, and a flattened, worn-out bed gradually loses whatever support and warmth it originally offered, even if it doesn’t look obviously damaged. As a rough guide, most everyday pet beds are worth reassessing every year or two, and sooner for a heavily used bed or one belonging to a larger or older pet who puts more consistent pressure on the padding. Signs it’s time to replace a bed include visible flattening that no longer springs back, a musty smell that persists even after washing, or a pet who seems to be choosing to sleep elsewhere, such as the floor or furniture, rather than their own bed — often a practical, if indirect, signal that the bed itself is no longer comfortable.
Introducing a new bed successfully
Pets, cats especially, don’t always take to a brand-new bed immediately. Placing a new bed alongside the old one for a short transition period, rather than removing the familiar option straight away, tends to work better than an abrupt swap. Adding a worn, familiar-smelling blanket from the old bed can also help ease the transition, since scent plays a bigger role in a pet’s sense of a “safe” resting spot than appearance does.