Do Calming Anti-Anxiety Cat Beds Work?

Anti-anxiety cat beds mimic the contentment and warmth kittens experience when they sleep with their mother and siblings. They are soft, warm, and cuddly.

However, each cat is unique and might have a different way of dealing with stress. You should pay attention to your cat’s habits, preferences, and health needs to determine which bed is the best.

Apart from the bed’s material and shape, consider its location. Cats like private, quiet, warm places away from traffic, where they can rest mentally and physically.

The Material

Anti-anxiety cat beds are soft and nice to the touch, so cats feel content laying in them. Usually, such cat beds have a plush faux fur cover with cotton, wool, or memory foam cushion.

The cushion takes the shape of a cat’s body and is ideal for kneading, which helps cats ease tension. Kneading reminds cats of kittenhood when they knead their mom’s stomach to get more milk.

Plus, a cat’s mental state largely depends on physical comfort, so muscle relaxation promotes better well-being. Shaggy faux fur also reminds cats of their mother or other felines, making them feel as if they were cuddling.

Some cats overgroom themselves when anxious because licking helps them feel calm and happy. Overgrooming can lead to a hairball problem or bald patches.

Fortunately, many anxious cats switch to licking the anti-anxiety cushion because its material is similar to cat fur. Some cats prefer wool beds because they are warmer.

The Shape

Anti-anxiety cat beds come in various shapes to fit each cat’s preference. The basic type is a pad or cushion with soft filling like fleece or memory foam.

However, cushions don’t provide cats such a feeling of comfort like other bed shapes because they don’t have walls and don’t hug a cat’s body.

Donut-shaped anti-anxiety cat beds are very popular because cats like to curl up. The donut-shaped bed hugs the cat from each side, making it feel safe and warm. Plus, the cat can rest its head at every angle.

Donut-shaped cat beds are also perfect for cats with joint problems because they can keep their legs raised at an angle. However, donut-shaped beds may not be a good fit for cats that prefer to hide when anxious.

Introverted cats that like to hide will appreciate a cave or pod-style anti-anxiety bed. Such beds provide a cat with a sense of privacy, hiding it away from the owner’s and other pets’ eyes.

Ideally, a cave cat bed should have soft padding or a removable cushion so that the cat can curl up. Bolster cat beds are similar to donut beds but aren’t as fluffy. They are typically elongated and flat but have high soft borders.

Bolster-type cat beds are ideal for large cats like Maine Coons. Like donut-shaped beds, they allow cats to rest their heads on the border or relieve muscle tension by raising their legs.

Lastly, some cats relieve anxiety by switching their attention to play or hunting. Such cats like perches near the window to watch birds and enjoy the sunlight.

The Warmth

Cats prefer temperatures exceeding 75 degrees Fahrenheit because they need to maintain a body temperature of above 90 degrees. Cold temperatures make cats feel uncomfortable and contribute to anxiety.

Maintaining such a high room temperature isn’t always possible, so a warm anti-anxiety cat bed can greatly improve your pet’s emotional well-being.

If your cat is cold-sensitive, get it a donut-shaped bed with a fuzzy faux fur cover, wool cat cave, or a heated bed. The first two types make a cat feel warmer because of their material, while the latter has a built-in heating element.

Heated cat beds are perfect if the temperature inside your house is too low and you don’t have a thermostat. They also benefit cats with joint and muscle pain. Physical discomfort worsens anxiety, so a heated bed can make a cat feel better.

Warmth makes cats feel like kittens, curled up near their mother or sleeping under their owner’s duvet.

Do Anti-Anxiety Beds Work on All Cats?

A comfortable resting area is crucial for any cat, particularly for felines with anxiety. A soft, warm, private bed makes a cat feel secure and content, thus relieving negative emotions.

However, there is no universal anti-anxiety bed that would help all cats. Each cat is an individual with different preferences and ways of dealing with anxiety.

In this sense, cats are like humans. Some of us deal with anxiety by taking deep breaths, while others listen to favorite music, do repetitive actions, or call their loved ones.

One cat might relieve anxiety by resting on the windowsill. All it needs is sun and birds singing behind the window, and it doesn’t care about softness.

Another cat might need a dark, private, soft place to sleep. Sunlight, open space, and bird noise will only stress it out. You should consider your pet’s current habits to find the best anti-anxiety cat bed.

In other words, anti-anxiety cat beds do work, but your cat’s needs may differ from other cats’ needs.

Do Cats Really Need Anti-Anxiety Beds?

Yes, cats do need a safe and comfortable bed to relieve anxiety. The signs of an anxious cat include hiding, aggression, excessive grooming, crying, frequent urination, trembling, loss of appetite, and hyperactivity or lethargy.

Cats can be anxious for various reasons, including changing house, losing a loved one, new pet in the family, visiting the vet, and being exposed to noise. Mild anxiety can go away on its own, but often, cats need the owner’s help to feel better.

Prolonged anxiety can severely affect a cat’s nervous system and increase the risk of medical condition development. For this reason, your cat should always have access to a place where it can calm down.

When you’re having a bad day, you likely want to go home and get into your bed. Your cat is no different – it needs personal space where it will not be disrupted.

One may think that a couch or the owner’s bed is comfortable enough for a cat to sleep. This is true for a regular day, but when a cat is anxious, it needs its territory.

Cats have scent glands in their paws, cheeks, and forehead that release pheromones, marking the territory. Your cat needs a comfortable, soft bed with only its scent to feel truly secure.

How to Pick an Anti-Anxiety Cat Bed

Learn how to choose an anti-anxiety cat bed to make your pet happier. Pay attention to where your cat spends time when it feels anxious – under the bed, wrapped in a fuzzy plaid, or on the radiator.

Pick a bed similar to your cat’s current anxiety-relieving spot. If your cat hides under the bed, it will appreciate a cave-style bed, and if it likes to curl up in plaid, it will admire a donut-shaped bed.

If your cat likes to spend time on the radiator when it doesn’t feel well, get it a heated bed. Choose a bed large enough to accommodate your cat in any position but not too large because the bed should hug your pet.

The material should be easy to wash from fur, vomit and pee stains, and skin oils to maintain proper hygiene. It should also be soft to the touch and not cause skin irritation. Ideally, the bed’s material should resemble cat fur.

The best cat beds have a removable cover for easy machine washing. The cushion should also be washable unless it’s a heated bed. Ensure that the bed is durable because cats don’t like changes, so you want it to serve your pet for years.

The problem with many anti-anxiety beds is that they lose shape after some months of use. The bed’s cushion should be tough enough to withstand kneading and chewing.

How to Turn Your Cat’s Bed into a Relaxation Spot

Your cat might already have a bed it’s accustomed to but refrain from using it when it’s anxious. The most plausible reason is incorrect bed location.

Anxious cats like secure and warm places. If your cat’s bed is in a high-traffic area or near a window where your cat can feel a cold breeze, find a better location.

If you have cold floors, put the bed on an elevation or near the radiator. Ensure that you don’t walk past the bed too often. You can also note where your cat likes to sleep the most and put the bed in that room.

Another way to make your cat’s bed more relaxing is using pheromone sprays. Simply spritz the spray on your cat’s bed when it feels anxious, and it should calm down after some minutes.

Don’t use catnip because it acts as a stimulant when inhaled and can turn an anxious cat aggressive. However, it can help some cats switch their attention from anxiety to playtime.

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