Where to Put a Cat Bed So Your Cat Actually Uses It
You buy a cat a new bed, put it in a nice place, and she lies in a box or a chair instead. It's not often that there's a problem in the bed itself, but in that, Where did you put him?.
Cats choose a place to relax according to warmth, calm, vision and what happens around them. If you really want the cat to use the new bed, it's worth watching where she likes to sleep now.
Start where the cat is resting
The simplest clue is given to the cat itself.
If he sleeps regularly on one end of the sofa, on the windowsill or in a specific corner of the bedroom, he probably has a reason for it. The place can be warm, quiet or it suits the view.
So you don't have to place the new bed where you think it looks best. Try putting it near a place the cat has already chosen.
Look for peace, not complete isolation.
The cat usually doesn't want to sleep in the middle of the busiest part of the household. That doesn't mean the bed has to be hidden in a room where hardly anyone goes.
Many cats are comfortable with a place where they can watch, but at the same time, they're not in the way. Well, a calmer corner of the living room, a room next to the sofa or a room in the bedroom can work.
On the contrary, the corridor, the space just next to the door or the place around which someone passes all day may not be very pleasant for longer rest.
The elevated site can be more attractive
Some cats prefer to rest above the ground. From the high ground, they have better insight and are not directly in the center of household movement.
If your cat sleeps regularly on the backrest of a sofa, commodity or shelf, it may also suit it wall bed or resting place for cat.
It may not be located just below the ceiling. What's more important is that the cat gets comfortable on it and has an overview of the room.
For older or less moving cats, you can also count on easier access and smaller height differences.
Take advantage of heat and sun with reason
Sunrise is a popular place for good reason. Cats often look for warm areas, especially during colder months.
Cat bed near the window can therefore work very well. But watch how conditions change during the day and the year. A place that is pleasant in winter can be too hot in the summer in the direct sun.
Similarly, it is not appropriate to insert the bed close to the radiator just because the cat seeks heat. She should be able to easily go to a cooler place.
Watch out for draught and noise
The place may look ideal at first glance, but the cat still ignores it.
The reason can be a draught from a window or door, air conditioning, noisy television or an appliance which is switched on irregularly during the day.
If the cat doesn't use a new bed, try to sit next to it for a while and see the surroundings. You might find it colder or busier than you noticed.
One bed might not be enough for a year.
Cats often change their favorite places by temperature.
In winter they can search for sun, blanket or place near heating. In summer, they move to a cooler floor or into the shade.
That doesn't mean they stopped liking the bed. The conditions have changed.
If you have the chance, offer the cat several different resting places. It doesn't have to be a few classic beds - it could be Dill, blanket in a favorite place and safe raised area.
When the cat ignores the new bed
Do not carry the cat to the bed every time he lies elsewhere. Better to give her a reason to discover it herself.
You can put a familiar blanket in it or another object with its scent. It can also help to move the bed to a place where the cat likes to rest.
If he doesn't use it after that, watch what places he chooses instead. It may prefer a harder surface, a larger view, or a more enclosed space.
The best place for a cat bed is not universal. It's a place that matches how your cat really rests.