Cats are notorious for lying in the worst spots, like on top of the computer or right on the keyboard. Whether it’s because these devices produce heat or cats just want our attention, anyone who has spent any time on the internet knows that these are sought-after sleeping places by our purring friends.

If you’re tired of trying to work only to stare at your snoozing cat for 30 minutes, you may want to try offering them an alternative sleeping spot. However, most cat beds are a bit too big for the average desk, especially considering all the stuff that’s likely already on it.

Luckily, there are quite a few suitable cat beds that can be put on a desk. We provided reviews of the best options here so you can choose the right one for your feline.

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The 10 Best Cat Beds to Put on a Desk

1. Hepper Nest Bed — Best Overall

The Hepper Nest Bed is easily the top choice for the best cat bed to put on a desk. It has a simple yet unique design that sets it apart from other cat beds. The Nest is shaped like a bowl, mimicking a box, something cats seem to be so drawn to. Its flat base and compact design make it the ideal option for a desktop since it won’t move around while your cat climbs in and out and only takes up a small portion of your workspace.

In addition to being cozy and inviting, the Sherpa liner is removable and machine washable. For cats that like to snuggle, this fleece is a great option.

The bed is made with flexible molded foam for optimum comfort, which is laminated with fabric for easy wipe-away cleaning and durability. Surprisingly, the foam does an excellent job of maintaining its shape yet has a slight give to conform with the movement of your cat. A wide lip provides the perfect place for your cat to rest their head. Unlike a regular bowl, there is no sharp, tiny edge on the top.

While it’s only marketed for cats up to 17 pounds, there isn’t an official max weight, and many cat owners found that their larger cats found comfort in this bed too.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

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2. Frisco Slipper Cat Covered Bed — Budget Buy

The Frisco Slipper Cat Covered Bed may not be the absolute cheapest bed out there, but it is the best cat bed to put on a desk for the money. It’s perfect for cats that like to go under things and snuggle (so, kitties that don’t like those things probably won’t enjoy this cat bed).

It is made with a polyester outer cover for durability. The inside is covered in a soft Sherpa fleece to encourage snuggling. The whole thing is also machine washable, so you won’t have to dedicate much time to cleaning.

It isn’t that large, so it should fit on most desks easily. Plus, the slipper style enables your cat to escape the harsh lights of your office if necessary. For those who work into the night, your cat will thank you for this feature.

Many cats love covered beds, but some may find this bed off-putting and refuse to go in.

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3. Ethical Pet Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave – Premium Choice

The Ethical Pet Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave has a faux fur interior, micro-suede exterior, and poly-fill stuffing. The interior’s deep-pocketed design provides extra comfort and enables your cat to snuggle and bury itself into the comfortable bedding while the design of the filling prevents the cushion from bunching up and preventing comfortable movement.

The bed is available in a choice of three colors and the whole thing can be put in the washing machine to help keep it looking its best.

Some cats love to burrow and bury themselves inside their chosen bed. It gives them a sense of security, as well as safety, while also promoting warmth and comfort. The Ethical Pet Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave is a good choice for these cats because the filling doesn’t clump and the cave design offers a secluded, comfortable retreat. It also makes a good desktop cat bed because it has a relatively small footprint, is comfortable, and will keep your cat warm even when you’re not around.

However, it is a little on the expensive side compared to some of the basic alternatives, and some cats will naturally prefer to sleep on top of the cave, rather than inside it.

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4. Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed

For those just looking for a normal cat bed, the Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed may seem like a great option. It is designed to radiate your cat’s body heat back at them, making it basically self-warming. However, it isn’t that much more self-warming than the average cat bed.

This cat bed is oval, though it looks quite round in the pictures. It is a great fit for a desk because you can set it longways. Circular beds don’t always fit on desks that well. The available colors are quite neutral, so they should fit with most home décors. Also, the whole thing can be thrown in a washing machine for quick cleaning.

In the end, however, this is a fairly average cat bed. It isn’t fancy, but it is inexpensive and provides your cat somewhere to sleep that isn’t your keyboard. Plus, the warming feature may make it just as sought-after as your computer.

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5. Frisco Modern Round Elevated Cat Bed

The Frisco Modern Round Elevated Cat Bed is a round cat bed that is raised slightly and has a modern design, which makes it look more aesthetically pleasing. If you’re concerned with how your desk looks with the cat bed on top of it, this elevated bed may be a suitable option.

The inner lining of the bed is made out of faux fur and is a great option for cats that like to cuddle. The wooden legs will elevate the bed slightly off of your desk, providing a contemporary look for your home office.

The pillow on the inside is removable and machine washable. The rounded sides make a good bolster for your feline, though it isn’t necessarily as soft as some other options on the market.

That said, this bed is quite expensive, and you might feel that you’re not getting much for the price. If you like how this bed looks, though, you may decide that the price is worth it.

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6. Armarkat Cave Shape Covered Cat & Dog Bed

The Armarkat Cave Shape Covered Cat & Dog Bed is a domed cat bed. It isn’t exactly as snuggly as other cat beds, since the top is quite high. However, it is suitable for cats that prefer a bit of privacy when resting.

The bottom is waterproof and has an anti-skid base. When you’re setting it on top of your desk, both of these features are essential. The last thing that you need is for the bed to fall off!

The cushions on the inside are extra-thick and made with velvet fabric. It is extremely soft and luxurious, perfect for any cat that likes to cuddle. The bed is made with 100% polyfill for extra comfort and durability. The cushion is machine washable for easy and fast cleaning.

On the downside, this bed isn’t as durable as some other options. If your cat likes to knead, this bed may not stand up to them for that long. Furthermore, the pillow tends to shrink after washing, which makes it unable to fit back into the dome correctly.

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7. K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pad

If your cat prefers to lie on your computer because it is warm, you may want to consider investing in the K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pad. As the name suggests, this bed is heated. You plug it in and it warms up (just like a computer).

The inner foam is orthopedic and wrapped in water-resistant PCV. Therefore, it dries up quickly and can resist spills. In fact, it is advertised for outdoor use. The bed automatically warms to your pet’s normal body temperature. Therefore, it is never too hot or too cold.

The fleece cover is removable and washable. It is quite soft, though not necessarily as soft as some other options on the market. The main benefit of this bed is that it’s heated, not that it is super soft.

Do note that this bed is quite pricey, mostly because it is heated. The electronics involved raise the price above other beds.

If your cat doesn’t prefer heated beds, it may be a bit of a waste to purchase this one for them. It is also relatively small, which might make it unusable for cats that like to spread out while they sleep.

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8. TRIXIE Minou Cuddly Cave Dog & Cat Bed

The TRIXIE Minou Cuddly Cave Dog & Cat Bed is as long as most beds, but it is much less wide. Therefore, it is a good option for those who have less space to work with. However, it can’t fit large cats and may not be suitable for cats that like to stretch out when they sleep.

The soft fleece of this bed provides your cat with a cozy sleep surface. Many cats like the enclosed space, as it makes them feel safer. However, other cats can’t stand to be enclosed. For the latter, we recommend looking elsewhere.

The plushy fur is well-loved by some cats, but not by others. It is soft but extremely long. Cats that like to snuggle may enjoy it.

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9. MidWest QuietTime Defender Orthopedic Bolster Cat Bed

Compared to some other beds, the MidWest QuietTime Defender Orthopedic Bolster Cat Bed is quite small. For little cats and tight spaces, this can be a serious benefit. However, it is not suitable for large cats. Cats that like to stretch out also won’t find this bed that suitable.

The foam used in this bed is quite high quality. It is orthopedic and comes in the stereotypical egg-carton shape. This helps take pressure off of your cat’s joints, which may be particularly helpful for older felines.

The bed does have a Teflon fabric protector, which helps protect it from accidents. This is often an essential feature for older pets. You can spot-treat for smaller accidents or wash the zipper cover in a washing machine as needed.

That said, this bed is obviously made for dogs, not cats. It doesn’t stand up well to cat claws and can quickly be torn up with kneading. Also, if you have a bigger cat, you’ll likely need to upgrade.

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10. Meowfia Premium Felt Cat Cave Bed

The Meowfia Premium Felt Cat Cave Bed is quite a unique bed. It is made from a single piece of felt. Therefore, it cannot be torn apart and has zero seams. It is also naturally antibacterial, so it won’t stink or hold onto odors.

However, this bed is quite expensive. You’re mostly paying for the fact that this bed is unique, as there aren’t many others like it out there. It can hold cats up to 20 pounds, though they would need to curl up quite tight.

While it being a single piece of felt is interesting, this bed doesn’t provide many benefits beyond that. It can’t be washed, since water will make the fibers shrink. You might be able to spot-wash it, albeit without much success. The fibers will hold onto any dirt and debris due to being wool.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Bed to Put on a Desk

Buying a cat bed to put on your desk is a bit more complicated than just purchasing one to put on the floor. You have to make sure that your cat will like the bed enough to use it and that it will fit nicely on your desk. If you need it to also match the aesthetics of your office, you can expect to look even harder for something suitable.

In this section, we look at everything that you need to consider when purchasing a cat bed for your feline to put on your desk. Keep these things in mind to ensure that the bed that you purchase is appropriate.

Size

You need a bed that is both big enough for your cat and small enough to fit on your desk. Sometimes, this leaves you with a small range to choose from, making finding the perfect bed extremely difficult.

We highly recommend measuring your desk space to determine how much room you can dedicate to the cat bed. This way, you can compare beds to the size available on your desk.

You also need to consider the size of your cat. Large cats need large beds; there is no way around that. If you have a big cat, you may find yourself unable to fit a bed big enough for them on your desk, or you may have to make extra room before going through with your purchase.

If your cat likes to sprawl out, they may also need a bigger bed. Many beds are advertised as if cats only curl into balls, but we all know that they like to sleep in a range of positions.

Therefore, if a cat bed is advertised to work for cats up to 20 pounds, it probably means if the 20-pound cat is curled up. If your cat sprawls out, they probably won’t fit.

Aesthetic

In many cases, what the cat bed looks like doesn’t matter much. However, beds that are set up on desks are usually a bit more prominent and easier to see. Therefore, you may want to consider purchasing a slightly nicer bed for the top of your desk.

There is a range of modern-looking cat beds, though these are usually more expensive than some others on the market. In the end, we do recommend picking something that you like, but you may want to be careful about going a bit too overboard on the price.

Comfort

A cat bed doesn’t have much purpose if your pet doesn’t like it. Therefore, you should carefully ensure that the bed is soft and comfortable for your feline.

In the same vein, be sure to get a style that your kitty likes. If your cat prefers to be out in the open, don’t buy a domed bed. Conversely, if your feline likes to hide, be sure to buy a bed in which they can do so.

You may have to try out multiple bed styles to find one that your cat actually likes.

Final Verdict

For most desks, we recommend the Hepper Nest Bed. The rounded, bowl-shaped style of this bed works well on top of a desk. Plus, most cats love the plushy inner liner, which is easy for you to take out and wash. However, this bed is a bit expensive. As a cheaper option, you may want to consider the Frisco Slipper Cat Covered Bed. It is perfect for those cats that like to snuggle and hide under things. It’s soft and machine washable.

We hope that these reviews have helped you pick the best cat bed for your desk. While it isn’t easy to find one that fits both your desk and cat, this list and buyer’s guide should give you a great place to start.

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Featured Image Credit: Billion Photos, Shutterstock