As cats age, they become less flexible and agile, just like we do. Older cats need extra comfort and cushion to protect their joints. A great bed is even more critical once cats begin to age past 8 years old and enter their senior years.
The best cat beds for older cats help support their bodies and enable them to quickly get in and out of their beds. Most cat beds for elderly cats are orthopedic beds, as these will cradle their joints.
There are so many cat beds out there that it can be overwhelming to find the best option for your elderly pet. We have done the heavy lifting for you by developing reviews of the six best cat beds on the current market.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Hepper Nest Cat Bed |
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Budget Buy
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Frisco Round Bolster Cat Bed |
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FurHaven Orthopedic Cat Bed |
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K&H Pet Products Orthopedic Bolster Cat Bed |
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FurHaven Orthopedic Cat Bed |
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The 6 Best Cat Beds for Older Cats
1. Hepper Nest Cat Bed — Best Overall
With a low-profile design and fleece-lined bowl, the Hepper Nest Cat Bed is our pick for the best overall cat bed for older cats. In addition to offering support, comfort, and portability, this bed is easy to clean and looks great in your home. Made from flexible molded foam for extra comfort, the fabric is laminated on both sides for durability.
The high sides offer just enough privacy for a resting cat, and the lip of the bowl acts as a chin rest for cats that enjoy perching from a cozy spot. The Sherpa fleece liner is easy to remove and machine washable. Best of all, it’s low enough to a cat’s center of gravity that won’t challenge your senior cat’s mobility. Once inside the bowl, your cat will sleep safe and sound in peaceful comfort.
Suitable for cats of all sizes and body types, the Nest Bed doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it’s perfectly at home on top of desks, tables, or in the back of a closet. It comes in a range of colors to choose from.
The only downside to this bed is the price, which is slightly higher than the average cookie-cutter cat bed. But given its benefits, we think it’s well worth the investment.
All in all, we think the Hepper Nest Cat Bed is the best cat bed for older cats!
At PetKeen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we can benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. Frisco Round Bolster Cat Bed — Best Value
Frisco is often one of the most trusted pet brands on the market. The company produces all kinds of pet products for cats, dogs, and more. This Frisco Round Bolster Cat Bed comes in three sizes. The medium size has a 28-inch diameter and comes 6 inches high on the bolstered sides.
The negative aspect of this bed for older animals is that there is no lowered entryway for them to use. The sides are bolstered all the way around. Other than that, the bed is the best cat bed for older cats for the money. It gives them an ultra-plush sleeping area that is cozy, using faux suede on the outside and polyfil foam on the inside.
Many felines prefer the round shape of the bed. It gives them a space in which they can curl up and relax. The bolstered sides take the stress off your furry friend’s neck by keeping their head and spine in line. The exterior isn’t removable, but the entire bed is machine washable, so it’s easy to clean.
3. FurHaven Orthopedic Cat Bed — Premium Choice
Another great option from FurHaven is this FurHaven Orthopedic Cat Bed. This bed is made in a “sofa” style. It has a roughly rectangular shape with bolstered sides on three of the four edges. It does have quite a steep price, but many customers argue that the value makes it worth it.
Bolstered sides are a great way to offer more support for aged animals. But without an entry point, they can do more harm than good. Luckily, FurHaven has designed the bed with both to make it extra functional.
Inside the bed is egg-crate, medical-grade orthopedic foam. It is comfortable and breathable and makes a cat feel like they are almost weightless. The exterior is made from suede and is removable for a more effortless wash. All the materials come from at least partially recycled sources. The multiple sizes can accommodate most dogs, so one will easily fit your kitty.
4. K&H Pet Products Orthopedic Bolster Cat Bed
K&H Pet Products Orthopedic Bolster Cat Bed comes in three sizes to accommodate most dogs and cats. It has an excellent design for older cats, with bolstered sides that form a horseshoe. In between the horseshoe’s end is an entry point that makes it easy for your cat to get in and out without causing them any pain.
The materials on this orthopedic cat bed are high quality, part of the reason for its steep price. The exterior cover is made from velvet and fleece. The bolstered sides have soft velvet, making it extremely comfortable for your cat to cuddle up next to or lay their head on as they sleep. Inside the horseshoe is fleece, keeping your cat warm and cozy.
Inside the cushion portion of the bed is 3 inches of memory foam, renowned for its ability to cradle the body and relieve joint pain. The bolstered sides are filled with premium polyfil that the company makes from recycled plastic bottles. You can easily clean the bed by removing the cover and washing it on a gentle, cold cycle. Overall, the bed is meant to be a luxury item that you can spoil your cat with in their old age.
5. FurHaven Orthopedic Cat Bed
The FurHaven NAP Ultra Plush Orthopedic Deluxe Cat Bed is an excellent option for those pet owners with older cats. The orthopedic design enables it to cradle the joints to maximize their comfort and remove any pressure from stressed muscles, joints, and tendons. The foam inside uses an “egg crate” design that enables it to distribute the animal’s weight, so no one spot is targeted.
FurHaven put quite a bit of thought into the materials it uses and how it can maximize the bed’s comfort. The removable cover is made from polyester in a suede gusset and a silky-soft faux fur design that brings the cat back to being a kitten cuddled up with their mom.
You can easily remove the cover to wash it and the foam cushion. There are no sides to this bed, so it is easier for older cats to get on and off. Finally, the bed comes in five sizes, so it is easily large enough to fit any cat and most dogs. The only downside is the high price point.
6. Armarkat Round Cat Bed
The Armarkat Round Shape Pet Cat Bed is an excellent choice for those who want a budget option for cats that are just starting to get older. It comes in multiple colors to help it fit in with the rest of your interior décor. It also comes in five sizes, ranging from a 14-inch diameter to a 28-inch diameter. The height of the sides changes with each size you go up, typically getting lower.
This best senior cat bed’s round shape is great for most cats who prefer to curl up into a ball. The company is not as specific with its materials, however. We do know that the exterior cover of the bed is made from a high-quality plush fabric. The interior is stuffed with cotton, which isn’t the best because it doesn’t hold its shape or provide much joint relief.
The bottom of the bed helps your cat get in, though there is no entry point around the bolstered sides, making it slightly more complicated. The bottom is slip-resistant, so it doesn’t easily slide when your cat tries to enter. The mat of the bed is easy to remove and wash.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Bed for Older Cats
Buying a bed for your cat can feel overwhelming when you first look for one online. There are so many to choose from! Since you are trying to pick the best option for an older cat, though, the search becomes slightly more straightforward.
As your cat gets older, they have more specific needs. Young cats can sleep almost anywhere comfortably, for hours on end. Although older cats still happily sleep most of the day away, they can only do it in particular, comfy places if they want to feel spry when they wake up from their catnap.
It is easiest for them if you provide them with a space suited to their needs. They are still bound to find awkward places to lie down—for example, across your computer keyboard. However, giving them a comfy bed that takes the stress off their old joints for a couple of hours will help keep them happier and healthier for all the years that they still have.
We have a list of five factors that you should consider before investing in a bed specialized for your elderly cat.
Materials
First, consider the materials that the bed uses, both inside and out. Typically, cat beds have two parts: the outer fabric layer and the inner cushion, which is usually foam. The exterior material can be many things. Most cat beds are made from polyester in different textures and patterns.
One of the best textures for exterior material is faux fur or shag of some kind. It is often comforting to cats because it reminds them of the days when they would cuddle up to their mothers. Those times are associated with complete safety and comfort.
As for the interior material, it is often best for it to be foam and not stuffed with puffs of cotton. Foam stays intact for much longer and doesn’t shift out of the way as your cat moves around trying to get comfortable.
“Egg-crate” foam is one of the best options. The indented design of the foam cushion distributes your cat’s weight and relieves joint pressure.
Shape
The cat bed’s shape isn’t the most important characteristic, but it still matters quite a bit for some cats. Some of our furry felines are willing to curl up and go to sleep anytime and anywhere. Others are incredibly picky and will only sleep in certain kinds of areas.
The two primary shapes of cat beds are round and rectangular. If your cat likes to be able to curl up in their bed, a round shape will help them do that more easily.
Style
The style of a bed can change its functionality and the way that your cat can use it. A senior cat needs to be supported in specific ways to offset any health problems that they might have.
If they have arthritis and it is difficult for them to bend their legs or jump, it will be a challenge for them to get in and out of a bed with entirely bolstered sides. You will need to find a sofa-style bed that keeps one side open or to get a completely open bed. Bolstered sides do give your cat a way to rest their head so that it is slightly raised. That can help with all kinds of health issues, but particularly with back and neck alignment issues.
There are also covered styles that some cats might prefer. If you have a cat that likes to sleep under pieces of furniture or hides to take naps, they might want something that they can crawl into and hide.
Durability
Durability in a bed is often more important for dogs than for cats, but it is still a factor to consider. Orthopedic beds made with high-quality foam are often quite a bit more expensive than a classic pet bed. Although it helps make them feel more comfortable, it is still an investment. Get a more durable bed and the investment has more value.
Heating
Heating is an exciting aspect of some beds for cats of any age. However, it helps older cats more. Cats already love seeking out hotspots to cuddle up and lie in, from sunny windows to under a heater. You can plug in some cat beds and turn them on to allow tiny coils or wires inside to heat up through fire-safe foam.
Some owners might not prefer these kinds of beds due to overheating and fire hazards. Fortunately, there are alternatives to electrical units.
Certain beds are self-heating, meaning they use their material and stylistic design to absorb your cat’s natural heat and reflect it to them instead of letting it escape. Although it won’t be warm right away, by the time your kitty falls asleep, they will be nice and cozy.
Final Thoughts
Cats are independent creatures. Many of them give off the vibe that they don’t need anyone to take care of them. As your cat ages and slows down, though, you will probably feel more of a need to care for them and ensure their continued comfort.
A high-quality cat bed is one of the best ways to do just that. Providing them with the best option, like the Hepper Nest Cat Bed, gives you the chance to make them more comfortable. You want a bed that will cradle them and ease any pain that they might have.
Sometimes it is necessary to find the product with the best value. A cat bed like the Frisco Round Bolster Cat Bed is easy on the budget and still keeps your cat comfortable into their golden years.
We understand that finding the perfect cat bed for your furry angel can be a challenge. Sifting through a sea of products can be overwhelming. We hope that these cat bed reviews for older cats have helped you find the best cat bed for your pet and your budget.
Featured Image Credit: Hepper
