Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Get Your Cat to Sleep in a New Bed: Tips & Tricks

Cute ginger cat lying on pet bed at home

Saying that cats love to sleep is a bit of an understatement. Cats sleep between 15 and 20 hours each day. They’re pros at finding comfortable spots to cuddle up in, but these aren’t always the most convenient for their human counterparts.

This inconvenience becomes even more true if they seem totally uninterested in the cozy cat bed that you have tried to make as inviting as possible.

How do you get your cat to sleep in their new bed? Here are several tips and tricks that you can use to get your cat to sleep where you want them to, day and night.

divider 1 paws

How to Get Your Cat to Sleep in a New Bed

1. Buy a Great Bed

Cats can be picky. Not only will different cats prefer different styles and materials for their bed, but they’ll also want different things at varying times of the day.

Pay attention to the kinds of places that your cat prefers to sleep. Many cats have a “type” when it comes to their sleeping spots. Some don’t like to feel vulnerable while they sleep, so they find spaces under furniture or in dark rooms. You will want to get these cats a hooded bed.

Other cats like the cushy lifestyle and will sleep on pillows, blankets, beds, your lap, or anything else soft to satisfy their need for a nap. If you have an older kitty, then a heated cat bed will often be a great match.

You might have to be willing to try out a couple of different products before finding the right one for your cat, or if you can’t find anything your cat likes, you can create your own.

cat sleeping comfortably on a bed
Image Credit: Александар Цветановић, Pexels

2. Find the Perfect Location

You have heard it before: “location, location, location.” This doesn’t only apply to business but also your cat’s naptime preferences. Follow them around for part of a day. Try to make it seem nonchalant, so they don’t feel like they need to change their daily pattern. Figure out which spots are their favorite, and choose one of those to be where you put their bed.

Cats often lie around in certain areas to control their body temperature. If they consistently feel cool, they will appreciate curling up in the sun or near a heat vent. When they want to cool off, they will spread themselves out over a cool surface, like a table or laminated floor.

Also, pay attention to where other people and animals in the household interact. If there is an area that your cat goes to get away, that might be the perfect spot for their bed. Some cats prefer to know what is going on at all times. You might need to find an elevated spot on a cat tree or a shelf.


3. Lure Them In

Once you find the perfect place, it is time to attract them to it. Cats can be mischievous, but so can you. Sometimes, all it takes to get your cat to sleep in their bed is showing them how comfortable it is.

There are plenty of ways to do this, but the fastest is not always the best. You want your cat to associate the bed as a location where they can feel comfortable and safe. You don’t want to force them to go there. Don’t pick them up from where they had been comfortable and plunk them into the bed. No cat will receive this well and will be likelier to get up, walk away, and never look at it again.

Instead, lure them in so they associate the area with happiness and rewards. Get them to come over by luring them with their favorite treats or a toy. A great way to do this is to dust the bed with catnip. When they come into the bed, reward them with praise and a treat.

You want your cat to be relaxed in the bed. Give them attention, petting them until they relax. If your cat leaves the bed, leave treats there so they are consistently tempted to come back to that space.

cat in bed
Image Credit: Eric Han, Unsplash

divider 1 paws

Make Previous Sleep Spots Undesirable

The final piece of this puzzle is to make as many of their previous spots unfavorable. If they previously liked to sleep on top of the table or in your laundry, make them less comfortable or take away their access. You might need to close the doors to your bedroom or laundry room.

Obviously, you still need furniture like tables in your home. To make them less favorable for your cat, cover the spots with aluminum foil. They won’t be able to sleep because of the texture and irritating noise that it makes. You can also use citrus oil. Mix the essential oil with water and spray it in areas that you would rather your cat avoided. Cats don’t like the smell.

In the end, it might come down to being more stubborn than your cat. Before beginning the process, decide how important it is to you to stay motivated or know when to quit. It might take weeks before you find the right bed location, and make everywhere else seem less sleep-ready, but eventually, you will convince them.

Also, keep in mind that it is uncommon for cats to choose a single place to sleep. With all the time they commit to it, they like to switch things up. Don’t expect them to sleep in the bed continuously, but you can aim for the majority of the time.

divider 1 paws

Conclusion

There are a few ways that you can get your cat used to a new bed, but the important part is never to force them to use the bed. Instead, you can make the new bed more enticing or the old sleeping spots less desirable. It’s also important to choose the right bed for your cat’s needs and preferences.


Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

15 Vet-Verified Reasons Your Cat Sleeps Under the Bed: With Tips to Manage Anxiety

Do you ever wonder why your cat likes to sleep under the bed? There are actually several reasons why cats like to do...

Cat Sleeping

Cat Logic: I’ll Sleep Anywhere But There (with Video)

Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and...

Me and Cyril in my pet bed

Where Do Cats Like to Sleep? 5 Typical Places

If you are a cat owner, you know how much cats love to sleep. Most cats sleep up to 16 hours a day,...

grey cat sleeping in bed beside a person's foot

How to Get Your Cat to Cuddle: 5 Vet-Approved Tips for Better Bonding

It’s most cat owners’ dreams to have a cute and cuddly cat that sits on their laps and curls up with them in...

cat enjoying cuddle

More related

grey and white cat under the blanket

Will My Cat Suffocate if They Sleep Under a Blanket? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Once you bring a cat home, it won’t take long for them to find a blanket, a comforter, a scarf, or another type...

Sleeping,Domestic,Gray,Fluffy,Cat,On,Bed,,Against,Blurred,Background

Will Your Cat Protect You When You Sleep? Interesting Facts

Dogs are known for protecting their owners from danger, but do cats do the same? Ask cat owners that question, and you’ll find...

grey tabby cat sleeping on warm radiator

Why Is My Cat Suddenly Sleeping in Odd Places: 7 Vet-Verified Reasons

Did you know cats can sleep between 12 and 18 hours daily? It’s true, and studies suggest that almost 40% of cats1 will...

Catster_Wednesday Cats_v1-2_Oct 9 2024 (1)

Masters of Sleeping: Where & How the Wednesday Cats of Catster Snooze

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every month, we ask our cat-loving Catsters to weigh in on a new topic. This week,...

Keep reading

Cat Ear Communication: Ear Positions & Vet-Verified Meanings

Sometimes, you really want to know what your cat is thinking and feeling. Unfortunately, our favorite felines can’t speak to us to tell us what’s going on in their heads. However, they can still communicate with us; they just mostly...

Bengal cat like a leopard sneaks Indoor

My Cat Has Fleas! How Do I Clean My House? Vet-Approved Advice & Best Practices

No matter how much you may try to prevent it, sometimes cats get fleas. This can even occur if your cat doesn’t go outside. Fleas can get in through open windows, so if your cat likes to lounge in the...

vet holding magnifying glass searching cat fleas over a grey and orange cat

Can Cats Eat Honeydew? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

When you think of cat treats, fruit might not be at the top of your list. Cats are obligate carnivores; they get pretty much all their nutrition from meat. But cats are known to be curious about plant foods, and...

Can Cats Eat Honeydew

Why Are Cats So Much Sassier Than Dogs? Vet-Verified Personality Traits Differences

Before attempting to answer whether cats are sassier than dogs, it’s important to ensure we’re all on the same page, as the term sassy is a bit imprecise. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sassy has three meanings—impudent, lively, and stylish...

dog and cat on floor

Does Dawn Kill Fleas on Cats? Vet-Reviewed Effectiveness Explained

Dawn is a dish soap that has several uses beyond washing dishes. One of the claims is that it can kill fleas on cats as a surfactant, but it’s not the most effective way of getting rid of them. This...

dishwashing detergent dispenser on a womans hand

Guide to Dry Skin on Cats: 9 Vet-Reviewed Causes & Treatments

Cats can suffer from dry skin just like we do. Dry skin can be uncomfortable, itchy, and irritating, so it’s best to figure out the root cause to get this problem solved. In most cases, dry skin is not the...

cat scratching skin

Can I Get a Prescription for My Cat Online? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Have you ever had a sick kitty and wondered if you could simply get a prescription for your feline friend online? The answer is no, but you can get a prescription from your normal vet and fill that online. Most...

man-with-cat-using-laptop

What Is a Cat’s Third Eyelid & What if It’s Showing? Vet Approved Advice

Cats have a unique anatomy. For instance, did you know that cats have not one or two eyelids, but three? It’s true! A cat’s third eyelid is technically called the nictitating membrane, located in the inner corner creases of your...

Cat with third eyelid