9 Best Budget Cat Beds in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get your cat a nice bed. In fact, there are many budget beds available that are more than suitable — you just have to know where to look.

In many cases, expensive beds often come with features that you don’t need, or they may have specific aesthetic factors that don’t appeal to you.

In this article, we created reviews of 10 of the best budget cat beds on the market. These are perfect for those on a budget or those who just aren’t sure if their cat will actually use a bed.

 

A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024

The 9 Best Budget Cat Beds

If you’re on the market for a cheap cat bed, we highly recommend the Frisco Reversible Square Cat Pad. This pad is perfect for picky cats because it is reversible — if your cat doesn’t like one side, they may like the other! One side is made from a breathable twill that is perfect in the summer, while the other side has plush for extra warmth and comfort. You can also swap out sides depending on the season.

This bed has a polyfiber blend for comfort and support. Since it is small, it tends to fit just about anywhere. Its shape means that you can place it inside things too, such as that box your cat likes so much.

For storage, you can roll it up. It is also easy to travel with. You can even place it in the machine for quick cleanup. For this reason, we consider it the best overall budget cat bed.

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The Frisco Self-Warming Pillow Rectangular Pet Bed is particularly inexpensive even for a budget bed. But it is high-quality and worth the purchase. Therefore, this is easily the best budget cat bed for the money.

It is made out of a material that reflects your cat’s body heat. Therefore, it is “self-warming.” Once your cat lies on it, it will begin to heat up. It doesn’t require any electricity or anything of that sort.

This bed is completely flat. Therefore, it is easy to place in kennels and boxes. It is also perfect for cats that don’t like bolsters or enclosed spaces.

It is machine-washable, so it is extremely easy to keep clean.

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For those who aren’t on a super strict budget, you may want to consider the Armarkat Cave Shape Covered Cat & Dog Bed. This bed is covered, so it is best for cats that like cover beds. It has velvet fabric and faux fur on the inside and plenty of padding to keep your cat comfortable. The bottom is anti-skid to prevent slipping when your cat jumps in or out of bed.

It is also completely machine-washable, making it extremely easy to keep clean. Simply throw it all into the machine, and you’re good to go!

This bed is large enough for most cats. It can even fit some small dogs.

However, it is a little pricey, so it isn’t as much of a budget option as some other options on the market.

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The Downtown Pet Supply Thermal Cat Mat is a perfect option for those cats that need a heated blanket. Many felines love heated blankets, and this mat is one of the cheapest options on the market. It isn’t electronically heated, though. Instead, it simply reflects your cat’s body heat, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it in.

This mat is machine washable, which makes it easy to keep clean. However, there are reports of this mat breaking when washed, so it may be best to avoid it if possible.

The mat is covered in faux fur to provide extra comfort. Some cats don’t like this faux fur, though, as it can get quite hot.

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If your feline likes bolsters and headrests, you may want to consider the Aspen Pet Self-Warming Bolster Cat & Dog Bed. It has a polyester construction with a bolster that goes all the way around. One side is slightly dented to give your cat easier access, though many fit and young cats won’t find this necessary.

The inner layer reflects your cat’s heat, which makes this bed get warm quite fast. There is no electricity necessary. It uses the same technology as space blankets. Therefore, this bed is a good option in the winter and for cats that like warm things. Some may find the Sherpa combined with the heat reflector to be a bit too warm, though.

The bottom is non-slip to prevent the bed from sliding around when your cat enters and exits.

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For cats that like to hide while they rest, the Frisco Foldable Canopy Cat Bed is an excellent choice. It has a removable pillow that provides extra cushioning. You can also remove this pillow and throw it into the washer if it gets dirty.

The outside of the cat bed is spring-loaded and creates a canopy over the bed. However, you can also flatten it down for easy storage (or if your feline decides that they don’t like the canopy). The outside is also made from soft fabric, providing plenty of comfort while your feline naps.

A small toy hangs from the entrance. While most cats don’t play while they relax, the inclusion of the toy does make the bed somewhat multi-purpose.

The dome portion is not that sturdy, however. Since it is spring-loaded, the back will give if a cat leans on it. This may freak them out. Furthermore, when cats attempt to play with the toy, the bed sometimes collapses. This bed isn’t best for active and playful cats.

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In many ways, the FurHaven Calming Fleece Covered Dog & Cat Bed is a great bed for cats that like to be enclosed. It is covered with only a small entrance, making it great for felines that also like to hide. It is made from polar fleece fabric, which is completely polyester. The base pad inside the tent is removable and washable, though the rest of the best is not.

When you want to put the bed in storage, it folds up. This feature also makes it easy to travel with.

That said, the outside part of the tent is lightweight and flimsy. It doesn’t take much force to push it down. It can flip over quite easily too, which can be a problem when there is only one way out.

The interior is made from plastic and is not that comfortable. The padded bottom isn’t comfortable or big, either. There isn’t much padding there at all.

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One of the best things about the Frisco Hooded Zipper Cat & Dog Covered Bed is that it has orthopedic foam. If your feline is older or has joint issues, this can be extremely helpful. It may help prevent a few of their symptoms and keep them comfortable while they are sleeping.

This bed does have a hood, which is perfect for felines that like to feel safe and enclosed. However, the hood can be removed via a zipper if your cat doesn’t like the closed top.

That said, the hood on the bed is small. Therefore, it doesn’t cover much. If your cat really likes to hide, this might not be the bed for them.

The outside fabric does have an aesthetic design that is much more enjoyable than most beds on the market. If you care about how the bed looks, this may be a boon.

The inside cover is removable and machine-washable. If it gets dirty, simply throw it into the washer. However, the hood is not machine-washable because it has a metal bar inside.

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While the Best Friends By Sheri Cuddle Cup Cuddler Bolster Cat & Dog Bed isn’t covered, it does have high sides that make it a decent option for cats that like to snuggle. The round shape is great for cats that curl up to sleep, though the small size may not be suitable for cats that like to stretch out. Be sure to look at the dimensions when purchasing the product, as it is quite small compared to some other cat beds.

The inner part of the bed is lined with Sherpa, providing plenty of comfort for your feline.

The outside is water-resistant (though not waterproof). It can withstand dirt, though that doesn’t mean that you should use it outside. The whole bed can be tossed into the washer as necessary.

There are a few reports of cats getting their nails caught in the Sherpa “fur” on the inside of the bed. Why this only seems to be happening to some cats is unknown. It may be related to whether the cat “kneads” before going to sleep.

The sides are also extremely high and “bolstery.” Therefore, the bed may flip over occasionally if your cat leans too hard against the bolster. Cats that flop down roughly can flip the bed.

 

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Budget Cat Beds

Choosing a cat bed is never an easy task. When you’re on a budget, it can be even harder to find a cat bed that fits your needs. You also have to take into account your cat’s specific needs and preferences. After all, cats tend to be quite picky when it comes to their beds.

In this section, we go over everything that you need to know about picking a cat bed on a budget.

Types of Cat Beds

There are several types of cat beds out there, and some cats will prefer one kind over another. The key to choosing the best cat bed is to take your cat’s preferences into account.

Comfort

Most cats won’t use a cat bed unless it is comfortable. Typically, the most obvious way to make a bed comfortable is for it to have plenty of padding. Most beds do a pretty good job of this. For instance, many beds have a pillow of some sort at the bottom that may or may not be removable. This pillow cushions the cat from your floor and provides extra comfort.

That said, some beds have hardly any padding at all. These may be fine in some situations, but they are often less comfortable overall.

Another way that beds attract cats is with a soft lining. This lining provides a place for your cat to snuggle. However, a thick lining can be quite hot, which can be a problem for some cats. While many do love a hot place to sleep, others prefer to remain cool.

Size

Size is extremely important when you’re buying a cat bed. For instance, many felines love to curl up and remain nice and snug while they sleep. In this situation, you probably need a small cat bed that your feline can just fit in.

Other cats like to stretch out. These felines will get the biggest benefit out of a pillow bed because it won’t have sides to contain them. However, they may also like a large bolster or covered bed.

Be sure to always check the bed’s dimensions before purchasing it and ensure that it can fit your cat.

Price

Since you’re looking for a budget bed, price is probably high up there on your priority list. While all the beds in these reviews are on the cheaper side, some are less expensive than others.  But don’t assume that a higher price means a better bed. You’ll quickly find that this isn’t true. Therefore, you can get a high-quality bed for a low price.

Finding the perfect cat bed begins with understanding what your feline needs regarding support, design, and comfort. Hepper has combined these essential features and created the Nest, a cat bed that most felines truly enjoy and continue to choose. The intriguing bowl-shape draws them in and the warm sherpa insert and supportive foam base are what keep them coming back.  Explore the Hepper Nest here. 

At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Aesthetics

Some people care about what their cat’s bed looks like. Others won’t care at all. It depends on your fashion sense and where you plan on putting the bed. If it is going in a heavily trafficked area, how it looks may be important to you.

Fortunately, there are many quality cat beds that also look good.

 

Conclusion

We hope that our reviews have helped you choose the best budget cat bed for your needs. There are many different types of beds at different price points, so everyone can find something to fit their needs.

Our favorite cat bed is the Frisco Reversible Square Cat Pad. It’s one of the few on the market that can be reversed to suit your cat’s preferences and the current temperature. It even rolls up for quick and easy storage.

If you’re on a budget, you may want to consider the Frisco Self-Warming Pillow Rectangular Pet Bed. This simple bed is self-warming and perfect for cats that like to spread out as they sleep. It is extremely inexpensive, so it should fit into most budgets.

• Related Read: 9 Best Covered and Enclosed Cat Beds – Reviews & Top Picks