Spec me... Cat stuff

Hades

Hades

Hades

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I've just inherited an elderly cat which the whole family adores. She has also settled in fairly well. We've never owned a cat before. Food and litter tray, etc, seems simple as we are just continuing her previous routine. But she seems to love finding small places to sleep at the top of the house, presumably to feel safe. Her favourite seems to be my wife's clothes wardrobe on a pile of her clothes.

My wife isn't too keen on that. So are there any recommendations on cat beds? E.g. Any experience of a good hooded bed? Are they just a gimmick or do many cats like them? Any specific ones to look out for?

Also any good toy suggestions for her?

Thanks.
 
Cat beds are a waste of time. If she wants to sleep in the wardrobe, just put a towel on the clothes or something. My 1 year old does the same. Likes sleeping in my pants / socks box. :D
 
We've got two of these:

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-jumbo-cord-grey-hooded-cat-bed

One is on the living room window sill and one on the top of a book case in the loft - the highest point of the house. They like being high up, especially in an unfamiliar environment. It's so they don't feel vulnerable and are able to see any threats. It took a few days for the cat to use them but she's now generally in one or the other.
 
My two have this
https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats..._rr&slot=2&exprienceid=7832&strategyid=103075

Which they occasionally use and one of them loves to sit on top of this
https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/scratch_barrels/575484

The thing they love most though is anywhere with a fluffy blanket. They like to suckle it.

I'd suggest putting a blanket where the cat currently sits and then if you do get a cat basket you can pop the blanket on top of it. That way it will have its scent on so would hopefully take to it more easily
 
Mine adores sleeping on anything knitted. You can get knitted quilts and stuff from most charity shops. New, I mean. Lots of people knit for charity shops to sell.

So we've picked up several nice knitted quilts and wherever we put them, Bella can be found kneading them and sleeping on them :)

She also loves her radiator bed and cat trees (any cat tree is a sound investment - as you've seen they like high up perches).
 
Get something high up with sides and preferably near a window, depending on how old the cat is of course.. I have a couple of things like this scattered around the house, my cats see them as their area and are always on whichever "tree house" is closest to where we are in the house.



I've also got one which has a woolly hammock on it and daisy loves her hammock, if you can't find daisy or she doesn't come for food she will be sleeping in her hammock.

Toys wise of all the probably 50 toys I have for the cats their favourite thing in the world is when I get a take away burrito and make a ball out of the silver foil. They pick it up in their mouths run around and chase each other and generally have the time of their lives with it, Ghandi my boy will even play fetch, our record is about 40 times bringing it back before he gets bored so hes not up to dog standards yet. They show little to no interest in other toys unless they are ikea toy mice which I sometimes buy and remove all the fluff and stuff it full of cat nip. They love that. Oh and laser pointers get yourself one of them they love chasing that dot.
 
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Cats sleep, anywhere,
Any table, any chair
Top of piano, window-ledge,
In the middle, on the edge,
Open drawer, empty shoe,
Anybody's lap will do,
Fitted in a cardboard box,
In the cupboard, with your frocks-
Anywhere! They don't care!
Cats sleep anywhere.

Eleanor Farjeon
Click to expand...
 
Thanks all. She does love her folded up quilt too. I was surprised just how well she's managed to shape it to make it into a little cave.
 
In my experience if you order it online, the cat will play with the box that it came in for about 1000 hours more than the actual bed.

:)
 
In general i find open top cat beds seem to be preferred, the hooded/alcove type they dont like because it doesnt offer an escape route if they're cornered.

Thing is some cats are bed cats, some are laundry cats, some are perch cats, some are wherever they want on a random rotation cats. You just gotta find out which.
 
If you buy a cat a cat bed, especially an expensive one, it will sleep in the box it came in.
 
Cats will sleep where they will, in a day mibe can go from the top of a chest of drawers, to a bed, a settee, armchair and bot6om of a wardrobe but she has many other places.
Any bed I have bought has for the most part been ignored.
These have proved effective though nd they can be washed easily and she seems to like them.
https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_beds_baskets/dog_blankets/vetbed/298731
 
My cat ignores the cat beds x3, cat electric blanket (really), and would rather sleep on an old dressing gown on top of the chest of drawers.
Try something like an old towel or dressing gown that you won't miss, and they'll make it their own.
 
I think @Vince touches upon something. It's not just about buying a cat bed, you need a few. My cats only want to hang about in the room my partner and I are in. So having cat trees / beds in rooms you don't frequent are a waste of cash.

I have a few chest of drawers that I have vet bedding on in my office which they both love
 
We have had our cat 7 years now. Sleeps where it wants, eats the dog's food and just does what it wants. Had a litter bin when it was a kitten but now goes outdoors so don't even bother with that.

He is basically like a 20 year old slob that lives rent free in our house.
 
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We have these in most rooms. Warm, comfy, easily moveable, cheap and the cat can always sleep in the same room as us if he wants.
 
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