Beds & Snoozing

Deep, well-made beds and blankets for the hours between walks. Built for proper rest, not just show.

Most dogs and cats sleep for the majority of the day, so the bed is not a soft furnishing — it is where the animal spends most of its life. The two things that decide whether a bed gets used are shape and size, and they matter far more than price.

Match the bed to how they sleep

• Curlers want a raised rim to press against. Look at donut and bolster beds, or a cave or igloo for cats.
• Sprawlers want a flat, open surface with room to hang their legs over the edge. A sofa-style or mattress bed suits them; a donut leaves them half on the floor.
• Burrowers want something they can get underneath — a deep duvet, a snuggle sack, or a bed with a fold-out blanket.

Sizing, briefly

Measure nose to base of tail while the pet is lying in their usual position, then add a few inches. A bed that is slightly too small gets ignored; one that is much too big loses the security that makes it feel safe.

Worth knowing

Cold hard floors are the reason a lot of older pets stop settling — padding depth matters more with age. Our guide to choosing a dog bed by size, shape and sleep style works through it properly. Beds and bedding can only be returned unused, for hygiene reasons, so it is worth measuring first.