How to Choose the Right Bed for Your Dog or Cat: Comfort, Support, and Style

Šapice Pet Wellness
2026-04-05T05:53:31-04:00

A good pet bed supports joint health, reduces anxiety, and gives your pet a space of their own. Here's how to choose the right one based on sleeping style, size, and your pet's specific needs.
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A good pet bed does more than give your dog or cat somewhere to sleep. It supports joint health, reduces anxiety, protects your furniture, and gives your pet a defined space that's entirely their own. Yet most pet owners underinvest in this area — buying whatever is cheapest or most convenient, rather than what actually suits their pet's size, age, and sleeping style.

Here's how to think about choosing the right bed, and what we carry at Šapice Pet Wellness that's worth considering.

Match the Bed to Your Pet's Sleeping Style

Before anything else, observe how your pet actually sleeps:

Curlers — pets that curl into a tight ball prefer enclosed or semi-enclosed beds with raised sides that they can tuck against. The sense of containment is calming and mimics the security of a den.

Sprawlers — pets that stretch out fully need a flat, generously sized surface with no obstructions. A bed that's too small forces uncomfortable positions and disrupts sleep quality.

Burrowers — pets that dig and burrow before settling prefer beds with soft, manipulable materials they can rearrange.

Perchers — cats in particular often prefer elevated positions. A bed placed on a cat tree or window ledge will be used far more than one on the floor.

Size Matters More Than You Think

The most common mistake is buying a bed that's too small. Your pet should be able to stretch out fully in their natural sleeping position without any part of them hanging off the edge. For dogs, measure from nose to tail when fully stretched and add at least 20–30cm. For cats, err on the side of larger — they'll use the extra space.

For Cats: Warmth, Enclosure, and Elevation

Cats prioritize warmth and security above almost everything else when choosing where to sleep. A semi-enclosed bed that retains body heat and provides a sense of shelter will almost always be preferred over an open flat cushion.

Our Crystal Velvet Round Cat Bed with Half-Enclosure is designed around exactly these preferences — the semi-enclosed structure provides shelter and security, the crystal velvet interior retains warmth and feels luxurious against sensitive paws, and the Oxford base keeps it stable on any floor surface. Available in multiple sizes to suit cats of all builds.

For cats that prefer a more portable option or need a bed that works across multiple rooms, the Splice Portable Pet Nest is a practical semi-enclosed option in a soft striped plush — lightweight enough to move easily and suitable for cats and small dogs.

For Dogs: Support, Durability, and Washability

Dogs need beds that can handle more wear than cats — heavier use, more movement, and the inevitable dirt and odour that comes with an active dog. The two most important practical considerations are joint support and ease of cleaning.

Joint support becomes critical as dogs age. Hard floors and thin, unsupportive beds contribute to joint pain in senior dogs and can accelerate the progression of arthritis. A bed with adequate padding — thick enough that your dog doesn't bottom out and feel the floor beneath — makes a genuine difference to comfort and mobility over time.

Our Washable Pet Sleeping Cushion addresses both priorities: generous PP cotton fill that cradles joints and supports deep rest, a removable machine-washable cover for easy cleaning, and four sizes (L through 3XL) to accommodate every breed. The low-profile bolster design suits sprawlers and curlers alike.

For households where aesthetics matter as much as function, the Doggielounge by Fatboy is in a category of its own. Made from 100% Olefin — a colourfast, water and dirt-repellent fabric that's filled in Canada — it's designed to sit in the middle of a room rather than be hidden in a corner. It wipes clean with a damp cloth, the cover is machine washable, and it's available in small and large sizes to suit most breeds. A premium option, but for design-conscious households, it's the bed that actually gets used because it belongs in the room.

Travel and the Car

Dogs that travel regularly benefit enormously from a dedicated car bed. Beyond comfort, a car bed reduces anxiety during travel by providing a familiar scent and surface, protects upholstery from fur and dirt, and keeps your dog more stable during movement.

Our Car Back Seat Pet Bed is a soft cotton travel bed designed to fit securely across the back seat, suitable for both cats and dogs. The neutral khaki tone works with most vehicle interiors, and the cushioned surface reduces the anxiety that many pets experience during car travel.

Placement Is Half the Battle

The best bed in the world won't be used if it's in the wrong location. Place your pet's bed where they already choose to rest — not where you want them to sleep. For dogs, this is usually somewhere with a view of the main living area. For cats, elevated positions near windows are almost always preferred over floor-level placement.

For cats specifically, integrating a bed into their existing vertical territory — on a cat tree, wall-mounted shelf, or window perch — dramatically increases adoption. See our guide on cat trees and vertical space: How to Choose the Right Cat Tree for Your Space.

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