How can I encourage my cat to use their bed?

If you buy a great bed, that doesn’t guarantee your cat will use it. Your pillow might look much more inviting. One trick is to put the new bed wherever your cat likes to sleep. Try placing it on the edge of the couch or the foot of your bed, for example. If the bed is where they usually nap, there’s a good chance they’ll try it out.

Do cats prefer soft or firm beds?

Just like people, cats have different preferences about where they sleep. If your cat prefers making a nest in your sheets and blankets, they’ll probably prefer a softer bed. But if your cat sleeps on the floor or the kitchen counter, they might like a firmer bed, or none at all.

The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Beds of 2023

Cat lying in cat bed — Aleksandr Zubkov / Getty

Cats sleep a lot. When they’re not dreaming about snagging some really great food, they might be contemplating the next place they’re going to take a cozy nap.

Maybe your cat sleeps in your bed, on the arm of the couch, or whatever soft spot they can find—even on you. But cats are also creatures of habit, so setting aside intentional spaces that belong only to them can be a great way to provide them with stability and comfort. A dedicated cat bed may seem unnecessary, but you might be surprised how much your cats love having a spot to return to for naps and snoozes.

There are more great cat bed options than ever, including cat beds that use natural fibers, sustainable materials and other eco-conscious manufacturing processes.

Here are the best eco-friendly cat beds, so your feline friend can curl up, sprawl, doze, perch, and dream.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Haussimple Wool Cat Cave at Walmart

Jump to Review

Best Sleeping Bag:

Purrfect Play Medium Natural Sleeping Bag at Etsy

Jump to Review

Best Splurge:

NaturoPet Cotton & Virgin Wool Dog Bed at Wayfair

Jump to Review

Best Repurposed Materials:

Marvelous Melissa Wool Pet Bed at Etsy

Jump to Review

Best Elevated Bed:

Mau Lifestyle Cat Tree Tower at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Handmade:

Woolly Cloud Chunky Knit Pet Bed at Etsy

Jump to Review

Best Soothing:

Molly Mutt Dog Bed Cover at Amazon

Jump to Review

Amazon

View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Haussimplewool.com

This wool bed offers a two-in-one sleeping experience. It can be used as a snuggly cave on cold days or flattened down and used as a padded mat on warmer days. The beds are crafted from 100% natural, cruelty-free New Zealand merino wool. The beds are handmade in Nepal and available in a range of different designs and two shapes (round or oval). Although wool isn't vegan, this bed is our top choice because it's a natural materials that's durable and natural.

The dyes use in the Haussimple Wool Cat Cave are animal-safe and the bed is easy to clean. You can wash it by hand, spot clean, or vacuum it to get it fresh again. It should soften and mold to your cat’s body the more they use it.

Price at time of publish: $60

Materials: New Zealand merino wool | Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 22 inches

Purrfect Play Medium Natural Sleeping Bag

Etsy

View On Etsy

Cats don't even need to go camping to use sleeping bags. The Purrfect Play Medium Natural Sleeping Bag is a reversible sac made with cotton fleece on one side and fuzzy sherpa on the other. Both are certified organic cotton materials. Unlike more structured cat beds, the Purrfect cat sleeping bag can be used almost anywhere, with your cat choosing how to interact. Cats can either hide inside the open bag, or curl up on top of it like a warm blanket. Or you can opt to make the Purrfect more like a standard cat bed by stuffing it with a pillow.

The Purrfect Natural Sleeping Bag doesn't use any dye and is washing machine and dryer safe (though expect some shrinkage after its first wash), so you can easily wash it with your normal laundry loads.

Price at time of publish: $80

Materials: Organic cotton | Dimensions: 24 x 26 x 5 inches

Amazon

View On Wayfair View On Mynaturopet.com

This bed combines virgin wool filling and an organic cotton cover, making it both warm and breathable enough for year-round use. The wool is humanely and sustainably harvested from American farms and the beds are manufactured in the United States.

NaturoPet's Natural Pet Bed comes in three different sizes to accommodate even large dogs, but the small size is a perfect fit for a cat. Designed to be orthopedically supportive, NaturoPet's bed is a particularly good pick for older cats who suffer from arthritis or muscle pain. NaturoPet also donates their orthopedic bed to rescues and shelters.

The outer cotton bed cover is machine washable.

Price at time of publish: $130

Materials: Wool and organic cotton | Dimensions: 26 x 20 x 4 inches (small)

Marvelous Melissa Sustainable Wool Pet Bed

Etsy

View On Etsy

There’s so much to like about these pet beds. They’re made from leftover upholstery fabric remnants and stuffed with felted wool sweater scraps, so none of those fabrics go to waste (maker Marvelous Melissa promise “no gaudy colors or frou-frou patterns”). The beds are all one-of-a-kind and interesting looking. They’re sturdy, soft, and warm offering a comfortable (if a bit lumpy) spot for your kitty to nap.

Designed similarly to a throw pillow, the Marvelous Melissa Sustainable Wool Pet Bed makes for a great addition to existing furniture, so your cat can sleep in their favorite chair without spreading cat hair.

Price at time of publish: $38

Materials: Upholstery fabric remnants | Dimensions: 19 inches diameter (round), or 23 x 17 inches (oval)

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Etsy View On Chewy

Bring a bit of the outdoors inside with the Mau Lifestyle Cat Tree Tower, which uses a single, treated wood branch as the main support for its multi-platform cat tree. Featuring a cushioned open platform, a rope wrap for scratching, and a handwoven basket bed at the top, each cat tree is one-of-a-kind. Each piece is unique, with a design that's subtle enough that it's not too overpowering in a living room.

For every cat tree sold, the manufacturer plant a tree in return. A portion of proceeds (5%) is donated to support animal charities and environmental conservation causes.

Price at time of publish: $279

Materials: Branches, wood, plush | Dimensions: Approximately 23 x 18 x 45 inches

Etsy

View On Etsy View On Woollycloud.com

These smart-looking pet beds are chunky knit from 100% merino wool. They come in five sizes, ranging from 14 to 22 inches in diameter, and nearly three dozen colors. The beds are handmade in New York City, with minor variances between each bed. While the soft wool makes this a comfortable choice for most cats, it may be less suitable for kittens prone to clawing and kneading, since you risk unraveling parts of the weave.

The Woolly Cloud Chunky Knit Pet Bed is hand wash or dry clean only.

Price at time of publish: $69 for 14 inch size

Materials: merino wool | Dimensions: 14-22 inches in diameter

Chewy

View On Amazon View On Chewy

Maybe your cat acts like they could totally live without you, but secretly they rely on your presence to feel safe. The Molly Mutt Dog Bed Cover (the small size is perfect for cats) is a 100% cotton canvas cover designed to be stuffed full of things that smell like you: blankets, clothes, towels, or anything else that might have your scent. This makes it a great option for out-of-town trips, comforting your pet when they will be missing you most.

The Molly Mutt Dog Bed Cover is machine washable.

Price at time of publish: $35

Materials: Cotton canvas | Dimension: 22 x 27 x 5 inches

Final Verdict

The Haussimple Wool Cat Cave is a great overall choice because it’s made from 100% sustainable merino wool and can be used as a cozy cave or flattened to be slept on like a mat. If you're looking for something a little more traditional, or if you have an older cat that may not be as interested in play hiding, then opt for the NaturoPet Natural Pet Bed, which is high quality, durable, and comfortable enough for all-day snoozing.

What to Look for in Eco-Friendly Cat Beds

Size

Choose a bed based on the size of your cat. You don’t want a bed that’s so small that your cat can’t stretch out or move around or too big that it’s not cozy. If you have more than one cat and they cuddle, make sure it’s big enough for all of them.

Shape

Pay attention to where and how your cat sleeps. If your kitty typically snuggles up in clean laundry or in your blanket, then you might want a cave or a sleeping bag. If your cat sprawls out on the floor or couch, you might choose a bigger, more traditional bed.

Materials

There are many choices made of natural materials such as organic cotton, merino wool, and wood. Just consider if what you choose will be easy to spot clean or if you’ll be able to pop it in the washer and dryer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I encourage my cat to use their bed?

If you buy a great bed, that doesn’t guarantee your cat will use it. Your pillow might look much more inviting. One trick is to put the new bed wherever your cat likes to sleep. Try placing it on the edge of the couch or the foot of your bed, for example. If the bed is where they usually nap, there’s a good chance they’ll try it out.
Do cats prefer soft or firm beds?

Just like people, cats have different preferences about where they sleep. If your cat prefers making a nest in your sheets and blankets, they’ll probably prefer a softer bed. But if your cat sleeps on the floor or the kitchen counter, they might like a firmer bed, or none at all.

Why Trust Treehugger?

To make this list, we carefully researched the market. We evaluated the materials, manufacturing practices, and backgrounds to find the most sustainable options.

The proud mom of a rescue dog, Mary Jo DiLonardo has fostered more than three dozen dogs and puppies and takes care of all the neighborhood cats. For more than 25 years, Mary Jo has covered a wide range of topics focused on nature, pets, health, science, and anything that helps make the world a better place. She has spent more than six years with Treehugger, formerly under the Mother Nature Network brand.

The 8 Best Cat Litter Boxes