How To Wash A Cat Bed

However, even short-haired and hairless cats leave skin oils and dander on their bedding, so every owner should know how to clean a cat bed properly. How often to wash a cat bed depends on your cat’s lifestyle and shedding.

Different fabrics have different washing requirements; that’s common knowledge. The problem is that cat beds rarely have labels with washing instructions. Plus, you might have to deal with hard-to-remove stains.

Some cat beds cannot be washed at all or are only suitable for hand washing. The best cat bed should have a removable, washing machine-friendly cover.

Remove Hair

Start by removing fur from the bed. You can loosen the hair by lightly beating the bed. Then, put on a rubber glove (you can find it in the grooming section in pet stores) and grab as much hair as possible.

Alternatively, you can use a stiff-bristled brush like one for vegetable cleaning. Then, collect the hair with your hand and throw it away.

You can skip this step if you have a short-haired cat that doesn’t shed much. For example, Burmese cats leave almost no fur behind, so a lint roller will do the job.

If you’re washing a cave-type cat bed, pay attention to the inside because most of the hair will be there.

Vacuum the Bed

Regardless of your cat’s shedding intensity, vacuum the bed before washing it. Vacuuming helps remove remaining hair, dirt, and dander from the bed, including hard-to-reach places.

Vacuuming is also necessary if you suspect your cat’s bed is infested with flea or tick eggs because washing doesn’t eliminate them.

Parasites tend to hide in seams. Note that fleas can hatch in the vacuum bag, so dispose of it as soon as possible.

If your cat’s bed has a removable cushion, don’t forget to vacuum underneath it. Use the crevice tool to effectively remove dirt from the fabric. Then, go over the fabric with a vacuum hose.

Wet the bed with your hand for better results, then let it dry and vacuum. Wetting the bed helps loosen debris. After vacuuming, you can go over the bed again with a lint roller to remove the remaining hair.

Remove Stains

Before you wash your cat’s bed, get rid of any persistent stains such as pee, vomit, and fecal matter. A washing machine or hand cleaning doesn’t usually remove such stains entirely.

Furthermore, if your cat marked the bed with pee and feels the smell after washing, it will do that again. Cats often pee in the same area, so you should eliminate the odor.

The most effective cleaning solution for cat pee stains is enzymatic cleaner. You can find such cleaners in many pet and homeware stores. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions and break down uric acid into gases that evaporate.

Ensure that the enzymatic cleaner is suitable for fabrics. Apply it to the stain and let it soak for 15 minutes. Then, blot it and let the bed air dry. If necessary, repeat.

You can also use enzymatic cleaner for cat vomit stains, but vinegar is equally effective. Mix half a cup of white vinegar with a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and whisk it until it begins to foam.

Then, apply the solution to the stain and let it sit for five minutes. Wipe the stain with a damp towel and let it dry. Repeat if necessary. This solution also works against poop stains.

Baking soda excellently removes odors, so you can finish by applying it to the stain. Let it do its magic for five minutes, then remove the remaining soda with a paper towel.

Hand-Wash the Cover

Some cat beds cannot be washed in the washing machine. If you’re unsure whether the fabric is suitable for machine washing, check the label.

If you cannot find the tag, washing the bed by hand is the safest option. If you aren’t sure how to hand wash a cat bed, start by removing the cover.

Then, pour cold or lukewarm water into a large bucket or basin and add detergent according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ensure that the detergent is pet-safe. Use a detergent for babies if you cannot find one specifically for pets. You can also add fabric softener for a more pleasant tactile feeling or stain remover if the bed is very dirty.

Some cat owners gravitate towards fabric detergents with pleasant scents. However, your cat doesn’t care whether its bed smells of mountain pine, spring rain, or calming lavender. Use a detergent without any smell.

Firstly, many cats can’t stand citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, and mint scents popular in detergents. Secondly, chemicals can cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction in your cat.

Many owners are confused about how to wash a cat cave. If you wash a cave-type bed, pull it inside out because most dirt will be inside it.

Let the bed cover soak in the solution for 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the dirtiness. Then, take on rubber gloves to prevent harming your skin and rub the cover in the water.

Afterward, rinse the bed cover thoroughly, ensuring no detergent is left. If you think the cover is clean, rinse it more to eliminate the risk of an allergic reaction.

If possible, squeeze the cover to remove water, but don’t do it to delicate fabrics and cave beds. If you wash the cover in a sink or bathtub, don’t forget to put a hair trap on the drain.

Even if you’ve vacuumed the bed beforehand, some debris and hair will be left and might clog your pipes.

Wash the Cover in a Washing Machine

Many cat beds are washing machine-friendly, but mattresses often aren’t. Check the cat bed washing instructions on the label and remove the cover if possible. If you’re cleaning a cat cave, pull it inside out.

If your cat’s bed has delicate decorations, put it in a large mesh wash bag. Which cycle to choose depends on the fabric, but the general recommendation is to wash cat beds in cold water.

Pick a cycle for delicate fabrics and use pet-safe detergent with no harsh chemicals. You can use detergent for babies free of dyes and scents.

Don’t wash pet bedding together with your clothes – keep it separate. After the wash, inspect the bedding for remaining stains and repeat the cycle if necessary.

If you’re dealing with fleas, don’t throw the bed into the washing machine immediately. First, let the cover soak in a hot water bucket for an hour. Then, wash the bed in hot water with a cup of white vinegar.

Dry the Bed

Use the lowest heat setting if you can put the cat bed in the dryer. If the cover isn’t suitable for machine drying or you don’t have a dryer, air dry it.

Place the cover flat on a drying rack. Don’t leave it hanging because it may lose its shape. If the weather is sunny, air dry the cover outdoors to eliminate the remaining detergent scent.

Cleaning the Mattress

Many cat beds have removable mattresses that can be washed separately from the covers. You can hand-wash the mattress if it isn’t dirty or in the washing machine unless the label states that you should only wash it by hand.

If you decide to wash the mattress by hand, pour fabric detergent into a bucket or bathtub of lukewarm water. Let the mattress soak for some time, then rub it with soap and rinse it well.

You might have to rinse the mattress multiple times. The best way to do it is to drain the bathtub and refill it with clean water, then place the mattress in it and gently squeeze it.

After the mattress is rinsed thoroughly, squeeze it to remove excess water and let it air dry flat. Don’t hang it because it can deform. If the mattress is drying machine-friendly, you can speed up the process.

Don’t put the cover on until the mattress is completely dry. Even if the mattress is dry outside, it might still be wet on the inside.

Can Any Cat Bed Be Washed?

Not every cat bed can be washed because some are made from delicate materials or have a particular construction. Others can only be cleaned by hand in cold water with gentle detergent.

Felt cat beds are very popular, but they aren’t washing machine-friendly. Felt must be washed in cold water with mild soap and air dried.

Cat beds with sturdy construction that can be damaged by machine washing should only be cleaned by hand if there are stains. Some of them have removable cushions, which makes washing easier.

Heating cat beds should never be washed apart from the cover because water will damage the heating element.

If you’re choosing a new cat bed, opt for a bed with a removable cover because those with a non-removable cover take longer to dry. Cat beds on cat trees should always have removable covers.

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