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When our elderly tabby cat began sleeping stretched out on the couch, we were puzzled. She had cozy, cushy cat beds. Why wasn’t she using them anymore? It was only when someone gave us a big rectangular dog bed that we realized what was going on—and why dog beds are such great beds for senior cats.
Zoe took to the dog bed immediately. We found her stretched out in it or using the firm bolsters on the sides to support her arthritic back when she lay down. She was consistently choosing a larger bed with firmer surfaces over a soft, squishy cat bed. And as we talked with our friends, we discovered that she wasn’t alone.
Her experience prompted us to dig into why older cats need special beds—and what a dog bed can offer that a traditional cat bed can’t.
Why Arthritic Cats Need Soft Surfaces—Not Squishy Ones
According to the folks at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, cats begin to show physical signs of aging between seven and ten years of age. By the time a cat is 12, they’re considered old. Degenerative joint disease, what we call arthritis, is pretty common by this time.
Arthritis affects mobility, which means older cats like Zoe may try to avoid climbing stairs. They’re less likely to use cat trees or perches. They may even have trouble climbing into a litter box with high sides.
They might also start choosing different sleeping spots. For example, you’re more likely to find them napping on soft but supportive surfaces, such as couch cushions or a pile of rumpled blankets (especially when bolstered by a friendly human’s leg).
Older cats may also have a tendency to sleep stretched out on their sides. For Zoe, that means taking up well over 20 inches of space—significantly more room than most cat beds accommodate. No wonder she gave up her beds and headed for the couch!
Zoe stretches out in her PetFusion dog bed.
The Solution? Dog Beds for Senior Cats
Medium-sized dog beds offer a unique answer to a senior kitty’s need for a roomier nest and a firmer, more supportive surface.
Their cushions have to be firm to support a 30- or 40-pound pup, and they’re often topped with a layer of supportive “orthopedic foam” or “memory foam,” a very dense, elastic foam that doesn’t squish down too much. Memory foam is designed to adapt to the body in response to pressure, which means it can distribute bodyweight evenly. (Memory foam also tends to warm up slightly from body heat, which can be very appealing to older cats.)
Dog beds are often equipped with removable covers for easy cleaning and supportive bolsters, two features especially important for older cats like Zoe and Matilda—another senior Rover cat who has discovered the joy of a dog bed.
Zoe loves the PetFusion Calming Cuddler, a small-size dog bed measuring a spacious 25 x 21 x 8 inches. The mattress is two-inch-thick memory foam in a waterproof cover, and that’s wrapped in loose fleece. When it comes to cleaning, it’s pretty wonderful—you can take off the fleece mattress cover to wash, then also remove the velvet bed cover (it unzips). Both are machine washable and can be tumbled dry.
Matilda rests old (but graceful!) bones in comfort.
For Matilda, it’s all about the PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed (in size small). Matilda’s human, Gwen, found it had a lot of the features she was having trouble getting in a cat bed—namely a removable waterproof cover, supportive bolsters (since Matilda likes sleeping with her head raised), and an orthopedic foam base for Matilda’s arthritis.
Of the bed, Gwen says, “I was pleased with the quality—the foam itself goes into a waterproof zippable liner, which you then zip into the bed cover. If you’ve ever had a stinky, stained pet bed without a removable cover, you’ll know this is an especially practical feature that will keep the bed cushion stain and smell-free for years (and save you a costly replacement somewhere down the line). The bolsters are very supportive (unlike the floppy walls of the cheap donut bed I got rid of), covered with a waterproof lining, and removable when you want to wash the bed cover.”
She does wish that they made it in a round style. But for her cats, that hasn’t made a difference yet—they were testing the bed before it had even finished decompressing, and they welcomed the addition to their expanding bed empire. Gwen, however, is thinking it’s likely to outlive and replace some tattered traditional cat beds around the house.
Ramona also appreciates bolstered sides.
What To Look for in a Dog Bed for a Senior Cat
If you think a dog bed might help your older kitty, there are a few features you’ll want to keep in mind when shopping.
- Size. Unless your senior cat is truly tiny, you’ll probably want to look for dimensions that exceed 20 x 20 inches in width and depth. Look for sturdy, rounded bolsters four or more inches high. Zoe’s dog bed is 25 x 21 x 8 inches, and it works fine for a 10-pound cat. Since these are dog beds, “small” will probably get the job done—though it’s always a good idea to check their measurements against your stretched-out cat’s.
- Comfort. The rough twill surfaces of some dog beds (designed to withstand canine chewing) may not appeal to fluff-loving cats. Look for dog beds done in plush or suede-type fabrics. If it’s in the budget, we suggest a bed with a good memory foam base.
- Maintenance. If you are used to tossing the kitty bed in the washer and dryer, keep in mind that dog beds are much heavier when wet. For that reason, they are often designed so you can remove and wash the mattress cover (after setting the memory foam). It’s not that complicated, but be sure to check the cleaning instructions of the bed before you buy.
Here are a few of our favorite dog beds for senior cats:
Zoe’s Bed: The PetFusion Calming Cuddler (Small)
Matilda’s Bed: The PetFusion Ultimate Dog Bed (Small)
More Options: Friends Forever Orthopedic Dog Bed
This bed has a beautiful suede-type surface and looks great in a living room (particularly because it comes in four neutral colors). It measures 25 x 20 x 5 inches and has thick, supportive bolsters. The bed cover zips off and is machine washable, while the memory foam mattress inside is protected by a water-resistant liner.
Find on AmazonFurHaven Orthopedic Cat & Dog Bed
If the prices of dog beds for senior cats seem a bit much for your budget, this is an inexpensive bed with most of the great features older cats need. The FurHaven bed measures 20 x 15 x 3.5 inches, has bolsters, and provides a washable cover. The foam in this bed isn’t quite as impressive as memory foam, but a pretty good thickness of “egg-crate” foam will still provide lots of support.
Find on ChewyFrisco Plush Orthopedic Bolster Cat & Dog Bed
Here’s a full-featured dog bed for senior cats at a reasonable price. The Frisco Plush bed has one inch of memory foam atop a 3-inch slab of regular foam. The size you’ll probably want is the medium, which measures 25 x 21 x 7 inches. The high-quality cover is available in either gray or beige and is removable for machine washing.
Find on Chewy
