Cats sleep anywhere — any table, any chair… And sometimes their sleeping habits can cause inconvenience. So, where should you arrange a cozy nest for your fluffy comrade without having to deal with loose hair, poor hygiene, and shamelessly occupied space?
Sweet Catnap
According to Nora Glover, your pet’s sleeping habits can be erratic. One night you find it sleeping on the washing machine. The next night, your own pillow will become an improvised bed. And a week later, an old printer box gets a new occupant with pointy ears.
This is because cats are opportunistic. They search for a place where they feel best. And their preferences are always different: it depends on the animal’s personality, time of the year, your own sleeping schedule, etc.
About half of all time, your whiskery pal will long to sleep by your side. And while most of the cat owners don’t mind that, here’s a bunch of cons:
- You may have a light form of allergy to the cat’s fur.
- You will have to wash your bedsheets more frequently.
- Their paws transport bacteria from the litter box right to your pillow.
- Cats prefer waking up early, which they instantly celebrate by playing and making noise.
So, getting a separate bed might actually be a good idea.
The Best Bed
Cats will sleep on anything that’s cushiony, warm, and nice. A folded towel, wool blanket, or dirty laundry — all these are solid options.
However, it’s best to stick to a specially designed bed. Why? First, it’s usually made of electrostatically charged materials that magnet fur, dander, whiskers, etc. All this mess won’t be spread throughout your house — simply wash it once in a while.
Second, such a bed artfully mimics the shape of a curled-up feline — their ever favorite sleeping pose. Even though you can find all sorts of cat bed variations — hammocks, tiny couches, soft mattresses — nothing beats the bagel-shaped classics.
And third, such a bed is easily transportable. You can station it in any part of your house or take with you if moving to another residency is around the corner.
Kitty’s Own Bedroom
Once you decide which bed the kitty will sleep on, it’s time to select the place. Simply track down your cat’s sleeping habits and identify where the tabby enjoys seeing dreams the most.
If you don’t mind sharing your bedroom with a four-legged roomie — wonderful! Even appearing as egotistical creatures, cats don’t like to be alone for a long time. And staying close to the owner is important to their psychological well-being.
But if you want the kitty to slumber elsewhere, here’s the solution. Cats easily develop a connection with the thing they sleep on from day to day. Using that knowledge, you can puppeteer it into moving from one sleeping place to another.
And don’t forget about the seasonal factor. In summer, your cat will search for a cooler and shady nook to rest, where it can stretch its body out in any direction. In winter, nesting near a source of warmth is an absolute must.
Cat in the Cradle
Cats really tend to sleep anywhere. But with the right approach, you can provide a permanent bedroom for your grimalkin, staying wise about space, hygiene, and the pet’s convenience.
