Watch a dog or cat settle in for a nap and you’ll notice they don’t all sleep the same way. Some curl into a tight circle, some sprawl flat on their side, some want to burrow, and some just want a soft, slightly elevated spot away from foot traffic. The “right” pet bed depends less on what looks nice in your living room and more on how your specific animal actually sleeps, how big they are, and what your household needs (washable? chew-proof? good for shedding?).
This guide walks through the main bed types worth considering, how to size one correctly, what materials hold up over time, and how dog and cat needs actually differ — using real beds from PawNest’s own catalog as concrete examples along the way.
Why the right bed actually matters
A bed that’s too small forces a dog or cat to sleep in an unnatural, cramped position night after night, which can contribute to stiffness, especially in older pets or larger breeds. A bed that’s too soft or unsupportive can be uncomfortable for animals with sore joints. And a bed with no washable cover just becomes a smell and allergen magnet within a few weeks. None of this requires an expensive bed — it requires the right bed for the animal you actually have.
The main types of pet beds
Donut and calming beds
Raised-rim “donut” beds are built for animals that like to curl up tightly and press their back against something while they sleep — a very common, instinctive sleep posture for both dogs and cats, especially anxious or easily startled ones. The raised bolster gives them something to lean into and can help a nervous pet settle faster at bedtime.
The Fluffy Donut Calming Bed for Dogs & Cats is a good example of this style — long plush fill, a washable cover, and sizing that works for both small dogs and cats, which makes it a flexible pick in multi-pet households.
Covered and nest-style beds (cats especially)
Cats in particular are drawn to enclosed, semi-hidden spaces — it’s a security instinct, not a quirk. A covered or “nest” bed with raised walls or a hooded section lets a cat tuck themselves partially or fully out of sight, which many cats treat as their default nap spot over any open cushion in the house.
The Cozy Covered Nest Bed for Cats is built around exactly this instinct, with a soft interior and enclosed shape that gives a cat a den-like space to retreat into.
Standard cushioned beds
A flat or low-walled cushioned bed is the most flexible, no-frills option — good for dogs who like to sprawl out fully, for warmer climates where a pet doesn’t want to be surrounded by bolstered fabric, and for households that want something simple to wash and rotate. The Cozy Khaki Cloth Pet Bed for Cats & Dogs is a straightforward version of this style that suits both species.
Elevated and sofa-style beds
Elevated or framed beds lift a pet off the floor, which matters in homes with cold flooring, drafty rooms, or pets who simply prefer height (many cats and small dogs do — it lets them survey the room). These also tend to look more like a piece of furniture than a pet accessory, which is part of the appeal for a lot of owners.
The Handmade Rattan Woven Pet Bed Sofa is this style done well — a sturdy woven frame with a cushioned insert, sized more for small-to-medium dogs or cats than a large breed.
Puppy-specific beds
Puppies have different needs than adult dogs: they’re still growing, they’re more likely to have an accident on the bed, and they’re far more likely to chew the bed itself. A puppy bed should be easy to fully wash (not just spot-clean), sized to grow into rather than sized exactly for a puppy’s current tiny body, and made of a fabric that can survive some teething.
The Soft Candy-Shape Cotton Pet Bed for Puppies is built with this stage in mind — soft cotton fill in a shape and size appropriate for a growing puppy.
How to size a bed correctly
The single most common mistake is buying a bed sized to a pet’s standing length rather than their sleeping shape. A quick way to size correctly:
- For a curled-up sleeper: measure your dog or cat nose-to-tail while they’re curled in their typical sleep position, then add a few inches. A donut or nest bed should comfortably contain that curled shape without them hanging off the edge.
- For a sprawled-out sleeper: measure your pet lying fully stretched out, from nose to the tip of extended back legs, and size a flat cushioned bed to that length plus a margin.
- For multi-pet households: if two animals regularly pile onto one bed together, size up rather than assuming each needs their own — but also keep a second bed available, since sharing isn’t guaranteed to stick.
- When in doubt, size up: a bed that’s slightly too big is a minor issue; a bed that’s too small gets avoided entirely.
Material and washability
A few practical things to check before buying, regardless of style:
- Removable, washable covers matter more than the fill material itself — pet hair, drool, and outdoor dirt accumulate fast, and a bed you can’t wash becomes a bed you eventually throw out.
- Chew resistance matters for puppies and dogs that are still teething or that chew when anxious — a bed that gets shredded in week one isn’t a bargain no matter how cheap it was.
- Non-slip bottoms keep a bed from sliding across hardwood or tile, especially for older pets that might step onto the edge to get in.
- Breathable fill matters more in warmer climates or for pets with thick coats, who can overheat on a heavily insulated bed.
Dogs vs. cats: different sleep needs
Dogs and cats don’t sleep the same way, and a bed that works well for one doesn’t automatically work for the other:
- Cats generally prefer height and enclosure — a covered nest or an elevated perch-style bed usually beats a flat open cushion.
- Dogs vary more by size and breed: small dogs often like the same curled-up, bolstered comfort a cat does, while larger or short-coated dogs often prefer a flatter, more supportive surface to sprawl on.
- Multi-pet households often do better with a mix of bed styles placed in different rooms rather than one “universal” bed everyone is expected to share.
When to replace a pet bed
A bed is worth replacing when the filling has visibly flattened and no longer springs back (it’s no longer providing support, just fabric on the floor), when it can no longer be fully cleaned of odor or stains even after washing, when the cover or seams have torn open, or when a growing puppy or kitten has clearly outgrown it. As a rough guide, a well-made bed in daily use tends to need replacing every one to two years — sooner for heavy chewers or shedding-prone breeds.
Frequently asked questions
Do dogs and cats need different beds?
Not strictly, but their preferences tend to differ — cats lean toward enclosed or elevated spots, while dogs vary more by size and coat type. A bed marketed for “cats and dogs” usually works for both, but if your specific pet is avoiding a bed entirely, it’s worth trying a different style rather than assuming they just need to get used to it.
How many beds does one pet actually need?
Most households do well with at least one bed per pet, plus a second one in a different room (near a window, in a bedroom, etc.) if space allows. Pets often rotate spots throughout the day based on temperature and light, not just bedtime.
Is a more expensive bed always better?
Not necessarily. Price mostly reflects materials and construction quality, not guaranteed comfort for your specific pet. A mid-range bed in the right style for how your pet actually sleeps will usually outperform an expensive bed in the wrong style.
Bottom line
Start with how your dog or cat actually sleeps — curled, sprawled, hidden, or elevated — and pick a bed style that matches that instinct before worrying about looks or price. From there, prioritize a washable cover and a fill that holds its shape, and size generously rather than exactly.
You can browse the full range of options, including all the beds mentioned above, on PawNest’s Beds & Furniture category page.