To get a cat to use a new bed, put it where the cat already sleeps, make it smell like the cat before you expect them in it, and leave it alone for at least two weeks. Most cats reject a new bed not because they dislike it but because it's unfamiliar, in the wrong spot, or smells like a warehouse. Rub a worn blanket or T-shirt on it, drop a few treats in, and don't place the cat in it by hand. Patience does most of the work.
We have bought more cat beds than we'd like to admit, and Ai has ignored about half of them for the first month, then claimed each one like it was her idea. Dudu is easier; if it's warm and in a sunbeam, he's in it by dinner. Between the two of them we've learned what speeds the process up and what sets it back. Here's the routine we use now.
Why won't my cat use the new bed?
Almost every rejected bed fails for one of these reasons:
- It smells wrong. New fabric, foam, and packaging all have a smell that cats notice long after we can't. A bed that smells like nothing the cat knows is a stranger's bed.
- It's in the wrong place. A bed in a quiet corner you picked for tidiness competes with the sofa, the sunny window, and the top of the dryer. Cats sleep where they already sleep.
- It's the wrong shape for the cat. A cat who curls tight wants a bowl with high sides. A cat who stretches out flat wants a mat or a low open bed. Buying the shape you like instead of the shape they use is the most common mistake.
- You put the cat in it. Being picked up and placed somewhere is not how a cat chooses a bed. Some will jump straight out and avoid it out of principle.
- It's too soon. Two weeks is a normal wait. Some cats take a month.
Where should you put a new cat bed?
- On top of the current sleeping spot. If your cat sleeps on the left sofa cushion, the bed goes on the left sofa cushion. You can move it a foot a week later.
- In the sun. Warmth wins more arguments than any fabric. A bed in a patch of morning light gets used before one in the shade.
- Off the floor, if your cat prefers height. A windowsill, a shelf, or a chair. A hammock-style bed like the wooden triangle cat hammock suits a cat who already sleeps up high and may get used faster than a floor bed for that cat.
- Near you, but not in the traffic lane. Cats like to be in the room where you are, at the edge of it, not in the doorway.
- Away from the litter box and food. Cats don't like to sleep next to either.
How do you make a new bed smell familiar?
This is the step that matters most and takes the least effort:
- Air it out first. Unpack the bed and leave it in the open for a day so the packaging smell fades.
- Rub it with something the cat has slept on. A blanket from their current spot, or a T-shirt you've worn. Wipe it all over the inside.
- Put the old blanket in the new bed. If the cat has a favorite throw, lay it inside the new bed for the first week. Once they're sleeping in the bed, you can take the blanket out.
- Skip the washing machine. A freshly washed bed smells like detergent, which is a step backward. If you must wash it first, air-dry it near the cat's usual spot.
- Try catnip or silvervine sprinkled inside, if your cat reacts to it. Not every cat does, and it's not necessary.
How do you encourage a cat to try the bed?
Once the bed smells right and sits in the right place, invite the cat rather than placing them:
- Treats in the bed. A few small treats inside, once or twice a day. The cat steps in to get them and finds out the bed is soft.
- Play toward the bed. Drag a wand toy across it so the cat pounces in. A bed with a built-in toy, like the woven pet nest with toy ball, does some of this on its own.
- Pet them next to it. Sit on the floor beside the bed and pet the cat. Many will step in to be closer to your hand.
- Feed a meal near it. A cat who just ate is warm and sleepy and looks for the nearest soft thing.
- Leave it alone. After you've done the above, stop fussing. Ai used a bed for the first time at 3 a.m. after ignoring it for three weeks in daylight.
How do you pick a bed shape a cat will accept?
Watch how the cat sleeps now and match it:
- Curls in a ball: a round nest with high walls. The cozy bear shaped plush pet nest is the shape Ai finally settled on; the walls hold her in a tight curl.
- Sleeps half hidden: a hooded or cave bed. We covered why in covered cat beds and why cats like enclosed spaces.
- Stretches out long: a flat mat or a low, open bed like the question mark shaped plush pet bed, which has a low rim a stretched-out cat can hang a paw over.
- Sleeps up high: a hammock or a bed on a shelf.
- Runs hot: a woven or rattan nest with airflow instead of thick plush.
If you already own a bed the cat ignores, it may still work with a different placement. Try the sunny window before you give up on it.
FAQ
How long does it take a cat to get used to a new bed?
Anywhere from a day to a month. Two weeks is typical. If the bed is in the cat's existing sleep spot and smells like them, it's usually faster. If nothing has happened after a month, change the location or the shape rather than waiting longer.
Should you put a cat's old bed away when you get a new one?
Not right away. Keep both until the cat is using the new bed regularly, then remove the old one. Taking the old bed away first can leave the cat sleeping on the floor and resenting the new one. If the old bed is falling apart, cut a piece of its fabric and put it in the new bed for the smell.
Why does my cat sleep next to the bed instead of in it?
It's a step in the right direction. The cat has accepted the spot but not the bed. Usually the fill is too firm, the walls are too high, or the bed still smells new. Give it another week, add a familiar blanket inside, and press the walls down a little if they're stiff.
Quick recap
To introduce a new bed to a cat, put it where the cat already sleeps, make it smell like them with a worn blanket, add a few treats, and match the shape to how they sleep. Then wait two weeks without placing the cat in it. Browse plush nests, mats, and hammocks in our home and bedding collection. Orders over $75 ship free.
