How to choose a cat bed: what most people get wrong

When we got Zuko, we were only supposed to be looking after him for two months. We were told he didn't need a bed at all. He'd just sleep on ours. Which he did, without hesitation.

After those two months, it turned out his owner couldn't take him back, and we were more than happy to keep him. Once he was officially ours, we wanted to actually set him up properly. A bed was one of the first things on the list. We were new pet parents with genuinely no idea where to start, so we did what most people probably do: searched "cat bed," picked something, and ordered it without much consideration.

You know that smell. The one you sometimes get when something cheap arrives from online. That chemical, synthetic, how-does-it-even-smell-like-this smell. I wouldn't want to sleep on something that smelt like that, and I can't blame Zuko for not giving it a care in the world either.

That was when I started paying a lot more attention to what I was actually buying him.

Every cat is different, so this is really just a few of my takes after living with at times four cats (yes, it was hectic). But if you're starting from scratch, here are a few things that might be worth thinking about before you buy.

Something I never even thought to consider before choosing a bed for Zuko was how he sleeps. I just picked one without really thinking about it, but it's worth having a think about how your cat actually likes to rest before you choose one.

Does yours curl up? Stretch out? Do they like tucking themselves into corners and small spaces, or do they prefer somewhere they can see the whole room? Do they tend to sleep low to the ground or are they always up on the couch?

If they tend to curl up more, they'll probably feel comfortable in something with higher sides, something that feels a bit enclosed. If they tend to stretch out, maybe a larger bed or one with no sides at all. It's a small thing to consider, but it can make a real difference.

And then there's the question of where you'll actually put it. It's worth having a spot in mind before you buy anything. Cats can be a bit particular about where they like to be. Somewhere busy, near something loud, or in a cold draught is usually a no. Somewhere quiet with a bit of warmth, even a spot they already hang out in, is a much better starting point.

After Zuko's bed situation, the thing I started thinking about the most was what the bed was actually made of. I'm not an expert on materials, but I do know that when something smells that strongly of chemicals, it's probably not something I want my cat sleeping in every day. Cats are nonstop grooming themselves, pressing their face into things, kneading with their paws. Whatever's in that fabric, they're really up in it all day.

From what I've found, natural materials like wool and cotton tend to be a much better option all round, not just for us but for our cats too. They don't carry that synthetic smell, they breathe better, and they're just a better choice for the environment as well. Merino is also a softer type of wool, so it doesn't have that scratchy quality you might imagine.

One last thing worth thinking about before you commit to anything: if and when the time comes, can it actually be washed? Cats are pretty clean animals. They do a lot of that work themselves, so a cat bed in general isn't going to get as dirty as you might think. It wasn't something I thought about too much before buying that first bed. But you just never know, and a bed that can be washed is always going to be a safer call. The beds I make go in the machine on a cold wool cycle with a wool detergent, reshaped while damp to dry.

At the end of the day, you can do all the research, pick the right spot, find something made well, and your cat will still make their own call. That's just how it goes. We are very much living in their world.

But hopefully you got a few ideas out of it.