How to Make Your Cat Sleep in Its Own Bed

Cats sleep between 15 and 20 hours a day and need a comfy, safe spot to sleep during that time. But you might be wondering how to make your cat sleep in its own bed. If your kitty has been sleeping everywhere but where you want her to sleep, there are a few things you can investigate to make sure that her bed is as comfortable and inviting for her as you can make it.

Meowingtons suggests luring him to his bed through something that gets him excited and happy. Get your cat to sit in the bed by luring him there with his favorite treats, a favorite toy, or catnip. Once your cat steps into the bed, hold a treat over his head until he sits down. Praise him and give him the treat when he does.

Pet him and make sure that he knows he gets good attention when he's in the bed. Leave some treats in your cat's bed so he is tempted to come back to it. If your cat is sleeping somewhere else, try picking him up and moving him to the bed. Then be sure to give him gentle pets to keep him in that spot.

You can also try sprinkling catnip in the bed to get your kitty interested in it. Many cats are comforted by the scents of their owners, so leave an old T-shirt that you've worn in the bed, especially if your cat likes to snuggle with you. Keep him away from any spots that are off-limits by using harmless deterrents.

Make sure your cat has a cozy bed suited to his personality. Hiders might like Meowfia Premium Cat Cave, made of soft wool felt. On warm days, you can collapse it to be an open-air mat. Simple Sleeper Self Warming Cute Calming Cat Bed reflects your pets own body heat for snuggly comfort and has a catnip pouch sure to entice.

Making your cat sleep in its own bed may be as simple as placing your kitty's bed in a spot where he already likes to sleep so he'll be more likely to use it. That said, there are many reasons why a cat chooses a different surface to sleep on, according to Animal Wised. For instance, if they are hot and. trying to cool off, they may choose the smooth, cool surface of a table to sleep on. Slip a Coleman Pressure Activated Comfort Cooling Gel Pet Pad Mat into your kitty's sleeping space. It stays 5 to 10 degrees warmer than room temp.

Likewise, if they are trying to get warm, they may want to curl up in the laundry room where warm air accumulates. Or use a K&H Pet Products Extreme Weather Kitty Pad & Fleece Cover to chase away the chill. The rugged ABS plastic is waterproof and stands up to kneading.

Choose a quiet spot away from noise and other pets so he won't be disturbed while he slumbers. Many kitties like sleeping in warm, sunny spots, so place the bed in an area of your home that gets a lot of sun during the day. For kitties who like to sleep in elevated spots, place the bed on a piece of furniture or on the shelf of a cat tree, suggests Cat Behavior Associates.

Most cats want hiding places and feel more comfortable when they can choose whether to be seen, even ones that aren't scared or fearful. There are some times when a cat wants to hide and some times when a cat is comfortable being out in the open. For sleeping, your cat may prefer to hide where they feel the safest, especially if there are other animals or people in the house that may make noise or cause other disruptions.

It can be hard to know which type of bed your cat would prefer, and the truth may be that they may prefer different types of beds and different times. Animal Wised suggests examining the surfaces your cat sleeps on and how she positions her body when she sleeps to determine the type of bed she may prefer to sleep in.

Choose a large, soft bed for your kitty to stretch out on if she likes to sleep on your bed. If your cat hides under your bed or other furniture, choose a hooded bed like a cave, or one with high sides for her to sleep within for comfort and safety. Cats who sleep curled in a ball may like a round, soft bed to snuggle in. Older kitties like to sleep in warm spots, so a heated cat bed may appeal to your senior cat, suggests Cat Behavior Associates.

If your kitty is sleeping on your laundry, bed, or other furniture and you don't want him to do this, make those spots undesirable for him using harmless deterrents so he'll be more likely to prefer sleeping in his own bed.

Cover the spots with aluminum foil or upside-down plastic carpet runners, suggests the Humane Society. Spray the areas you don't want your cat to sleep in with citrus oils, which cats don't like. You can also block your cat's access to forbidden sleeping spots with physical barriers like pet gates, or close the door to any rooms you don't want your cat to access.