How to get your cat used to the bed
You just bought a beautiful, super soft bed for your cat and can't wait to give it to your furry friend! But when you look at the new bed, your cat stretches out on the back of the sofa or chooses the box of the bed instead of the bed itself and falls asleep. Do you think you've wasted your money? But wait! With a little help from us, your cat will soon be slumbering happily in his new bed.
Cats sleep up to 20 hours a day, so they need a comfortable, quiet, and calm place (and possibly more than one) to do this. If your cat sleeps anywhere but their bed, there are a few things you can examine to determine if you have the right bed and have placed it in the most attractive location for them.
How to Determine Your Cat's Sleeping Habits
When choosing the right bed for your cat, you should pay attention to where and how your cat likes to sleep to find out what type of bed he or she prefers.
If your cat likes to stretch out while sleeping, you should choose a bed that is large enough for him to stretch out as much as he wants. Consider a rectangular bed for this purpose.
If your cat prefers to sleep in "safer," more protected places, such as under the bed or in a closet, choose a cave-like bed with a hood, a bed with high sides, or a soft house.
Cats and tomcats who like to sleep curled up may prefer a rounder, softer bed with raised sides for your pet to snuggle up in.
Why it is important to create a comfortable sleeping environment
Cats have polyphasic sleep, meaning they take naps several times a day. Healthy adult cats typically sleep 12 to 16 hours a day, while kittens and older cats tend to sleep even more, sometimes up to 20 hours a day. Sleep allows the cat to recover and helps strengthen the immune system, so if a cat doesn't get enough sleep, it's at risk of developing health problems. That's why a cozy bed is so important. But that's not all.
A cat bed provides a comfortable, safe place to rest and is a preventative measure to avoid stress. Additionally, a cat bed can help prevent damage to your furniture as your cat will not scratch it to mark their sleeping spot.
What is your cat's favorite sleeping place?
Observe where your cat prefers to sleep. Paying attention to this can help you find a good place for a bed.
Most cats like to sleep in warm places that offer them security and privacy, but from which they can also easily see what is going on around them.
If you find that your cat prefers to sleep in a particular location, try placing the bed in or near that location first.
How to choose the right cat bed for your cat
There are many reasons why your cat prefers other cozy places to the luxurious new bed you just bought for them. When choosing the perfect place to sleep, cats pay attention to
- comfort
- Security and
- Warmth and coziness.
And if we consider beds according to certain parameters, cat owners should pay attention to the following
- Size;
- material
- Design.
size of the cat bed
Cats can be picky: they want a bed that's big enough for them to turn around and stretch out, but also small enough to make them feel safe.
Measure the space your cat needs to sleep and use that as a basis for the size of your cat bed. Cats only need a few inches of space to move around, which is enough to make them feel comfortable and safe.
Which bed is best for your cat?
The best cat beds are comfortable and suit the cat's personality.
How does your cat sleep? Stretched out? Curled up in a ball? Under the bed? Choose a bed that suits your fur baby's sleeping habits: it can be a simple pillow or pouf (such as those from Harley and Cho's Island or Tomas series), a round bed (such as the Bagel Bed), a cave bed (Cover or Cover Plush Bed), a full-size convertible transforming house, or a Dreamer Bed that allows for stretching out on the sides or taking a nap.
materials and design
Choose a soft bed made of hypoallergenic materials. At Harley and Cho, for example, we offer beds made of upholstery velour, fur or corduroy. All of these materials are environmentally friendly, soft, but at the same time very durable, easy to clean and wash - a real combination for cat owners.
Recommendation: For cats, we recommend choosing velour and corduroy beds, as these fabrics are scratch-resistant and do not leave claws.
Preparing a sleeping place for your cat
If your cat sleeps anywhere but where you want him to, there are a few tips you can use to make sure his bed is where he needs it and that it is attractive enough for a comfortable night's sleep.
Choosing the best place for the bed
If your cat is not interested in a new bed, the first thing you should do is change the location of the bed. A better location for the bed is usually an effective way to get your cat to use it.
Place the bed in a place where your cat already likes to sleep so he or she will be more likely to use it.
For pets that like to sleep on a higher level, consider placing the bed on a piece of furniture, such as a bookshelf or windowsill, or on a set of cat scratching posts. Placing the cat bed at a certain height will also keep the cat safe from small children and other pets while sleeping.
Choose a quiet island that is as far away from noise and crowds as possible, otherwise the cat will feel like it is always visible to everyone and will not want to rest in such a place. At the same time, cats like to see without being seen, so provide a good vantage point for your cat. Most cats like to sleep in warm, sunny places, so you should place the bed so that it gets plenty of sun throughout the day. Placing the bed near a sunny window will not only allow your cat to soak up warmth, but also allow them to watch birds and other wildlife.
Tip : If your cat likes to sleep on the windowsill, we recommend the Tomas mobile cushion.
Partially hiding the bed with curtains that reach to the floor can also encourage your cat to use it.
You may need to set up several beds in different locations around your home and let your cat choose which one he or she wants.
How to make the bed attractive and comfortable
Make sure the bed is clean. Cats are very clean and do not like dirty environments or strange smells, so you should make sure the bed is clean before giving it to your cat.
Tip : You can spray the bed with catnip to attract your cat and help her overcome her insecurity about the smell of the new bed.
Put some of your cat's toys in the bed. The toys will smell good to your cat and help her get to know her new sleeping place and relax.
Leave the toys in the bed for at least a day, but don't take your cat into the bed yourself: give her time to figure out what the bed is for.
Do not try to force the cat to get on the bed. Do your best to prevent your cat from having a negative association with the bed. Rather than keeping your cat in it, yelling at it, or otherwise forcing it to use the bed, change the location of the bed and make it more attractive, as this is not humane treatment.
If your cat associates the bed with being held or yelled at, he will not approach it.
If the previous recommendations don't work, try covering the bed with clothes or fabrics that smell like you. While cats prefer a nice, clean bed, they also like familiar smells. Sometimes a t-shirt or sweater can work wonders. Once your cat gets used to the new bed, you can remove your clothes.
You can also provide your cat with multiple beds, as they instinctively sleep in different places during the day. To encourage the cat to use the bed, consider placing several versions of the bed in your home in each of their preferred sleeping spots.
Training methods to encourage your cat to use a bed
It is a myth that cats are untrainable. You just need to find the right approach and be patient, loving and affectionate.
positive reinforcement strategies
Positive reinforcement strategies are used to encourage your cat's desired behavior.
Offer treats and praise when your cat sleeps in the new bed. Pay attention to your cat when you watch her use her bed - this will help her form a positive association with the new bed. Praise her, pet her and offer her a small treat.
Only give treats and praise when you first see your cat lying on the bed. Cats don't like to be disturbed when they're sleeping. If you pet or praise your cat while she's sleeping, she might have a negative perception of the bed in the future.
Create a bedtime routine
Your cat may need more active time during the day to be tired enough to sleep in the new bed. To help your cat spend his time actively, you can:
- playing with your cat
- Buy an interactive toy;
- take her for a walk (yes, some cats can go for a walk after vaccination!)
- Find a playmate for your pet.
Tip : It is important not to overfeed your cat before bedtime! A heavy dinner will disrupt healthy sleep, so if your cat is awake at night, you may have fed him too much.
Solving the most common problems when training with cat beds
The problems that cat owners face when trying to get their pets used to the bed are so relevant that we have not overlooked them. Let's look at the most common problems and offer our solutions!
How to overcome the first doubts or disinterest
You can try luring your cat into the new bed with treats. Put some treats in the litter box for your cat to come and eat. When she enters the bed, give her another treat and pet her. This way she will start to associate her new bed with the treats and your attention, making it a more attractive place to stay.
Once your cat is coming to her bed on her own, you can reduce the number of treats to one or two at a time. You will probably have more success if you limit the "valuable" treats your cat gets to special occasions.
Catnip is also a powerful attractant for some cats. When pets smell catnip, feel-good receptors are triggered in their brains.
You can spray the bed with catnip spray or sprinkle dried catnip on it. Your cat can come to the bed and rub his body and head on it. This will make the new bed his new favorite place to relax. Alternatively, you can also put catnip scented toys on or in the bed.
The smell of the new bed may be unpleasant or unfamiliar to your cat. It may smell unusual, for example, like the store you bought it from. Cats are attracted to familiar smells that make them feel safe. It may take a few days for the litter box to smell like home. An easy way to achieve this is to put a shirt on the bed that you have worn but not yet washed. Your smell will transfer to the fabric and make the bed more attractive.
Make sure your cat's bed smells like home.
The transition from the old bed to the new cat bed
Cats are stubborn by nature and will keep returning to their favorite sleeping spots, even if you have a new bed at home that you spent a lot of money on. To change this, you can make their previous sleeping spots less attractive.
Cats don't like certain scents, such as orange and lavender scents. Spray the areas you don't want your cat to sleep in with a natural citrus spray made from orange or lemon peels and water, or apple cider vinegar and water, scents that cats don't like and try to avoid. They are natural and non-toxic to cats and humans.
Caution : Do not use essential oils and never spray the sprays directly on the cat!
You may need to entice your kitten to sleep in the new bed. Place the bed in his favorite sleeping spot and sprinkle catnip on it or give him a treat.
Of course, there are no guarantees in life (especially with cats), but our tips should help your cat get used to their new bed and have sweet dreams.
Care of the cat bed
To ensure that your cat's new bed lasts as long as possible and does not lose its original appearance, it is important to take good care of the product.
Tips for cleaning and care
Taking care of your bed is really not complicated. All you have to do is do it regularly.
All of our bed covers are washable, which makes them much easier to care for. To find out whether the filling is machine washable, please refer to the product card in the "Care" section, as not all pillows with filling are machine washable.
Dry cleaning with a roller or brush is always an option. This way you can quickly remove any remaining hair.
If necessary, you can also use a stain remover, but it must not contain chlorine.
Regularly replacing bedding for consistent comfort
One of the peculiarities of the Harley and Cho beds is the possibility of changing the covers, of which you will find a wide variety on our website. This way, in addition to keeping the bed clean and hygienic, you can vary its appearance, since the covers are available in different colors. You can also buy all the accessories, covers and inner cushions separately if you need them. And if you have chosen the Dreamer beds by Harley and Cho, you will benefit from a bed that is easy to remove and wash.
A final word
It can be difficult to figure out how to show your cat love and affection when you're not around. With a new bed, it's definitely worth a try because the right warm and cozy bed will strengthen the bond between you and your cat because when you come back, she'll be rested and ready for new adventures together.