We all know how much cats love to keep warm. From making a nest in a pile of warm, freshly dried laundry to soaking up the sunshine on the floor, you’ll often find your cat in the warmest spot of your house. If you want to offer them somewhere that will stay warm even in the middle of winter, investing in a self-warming cat bed is the perfect option.
Unlike traditional heated cat beds, which need to be plugged into a power source to work, self-warming cat beds use your cat’s own body heat to keep them as warm and cozy as possible. If you’re unsure which of the many options on the market will suit your cat best, we’re here to help.
Our reviews include details of the top 10 self-warming cat beds, so you can choose the one that you think your cat will love the most. We considered all sorts of different factors to make our decision, from price to comfort and owner’s reviews.
A Quick Glance at Our Winners in 2022
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Aspen Pet Self-Warming Bolster Cat Bed |
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Best Value
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Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed |
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Premium Choice
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K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Hooded Cat Bed |
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Pet Magasin Self Warming Cat Cave Bed |
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American Kennel Club Self-Heating Bolster Cat Bed |
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The 10 Best Self Warming Cat Beds
1. Aspen Pet Bolster Self-Warming Cat Bed — Best Overall
If you’re looking for the best self-warming cat bed, then you can’t go wrong with the Aspen Pet Self-Warming Bolster Cat Bed. This comes in four different sizes, from 19-inch diameter to 35-inch diameter. So, even if you have multiple cats that like to snuggle up together, they’ll all be happy!
The interior of this bed contains a reflective material, the same as is used in space blankets. This reflects your cat’s body heat to keep them warm and cozy without the need for any electricity. This bed is machine washable on a cold cycle, but take care not to put it through a hot wash or in the dryer, as this will damage the reflective material.
- Choose from four sizes
- Lightweight
- Non-slip base
- Cozy faux lamb’s wool interior
- Only available in one color
2. Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed — Best Value
If you’re looking for the best self-warming cat bed for the money, then the comes highly recommended. This soft bed has a low bolster for your cat to snuggle up against, which is a great way of helping them feel safe and secure. It can also be used to line their travel crate for trips to the vet or a road trip.
The interior contains a reflective material designed to keep your cat cozy and warm by reflecting their body heat into the bed. This bed is easy to keep clean because it’s machine washable on a cold cycle. Be careful not to run it through a hot wash or place it inside your dryer, though, as this will damage the reflective material and it will no longer work.
- Neutral color
- Machine washable
- Great value for money
- Non-skid base
- Only available in one color
3. K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Hooded Cat Bed — Premium Choice
If you feel like your pampered cat deserves a luxurious premium self-warming bed, then the K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Hooded Cat Bed is an absolute winner. This bed has super high sides to give your kitty the comfort and security that they crave. What’s even better is that it has a removable hood for additional warmth and privacy, for cats that like their own space.
The plush interior is irresistibly soft, and we’ve yet to find a cat that can resist climbing into this bed for a nap. The removable cover can be washed on a cold cycle. This bed also comes with a 1-year limited warranty, so you know that you’re covered if it develops a fault.
- Choose from two colors
- Removable hood
- Plush and soft interior
- High walls for extra comfort
- Expensive
4. Pet Magasin Self Warming Cat Cave Bed
If your cat loves to snuggle under things when they get cold, treat them to the Pet Magasin Self Warming Cat Cave Bed. Rather than a traditional bolster bed shape, this self-warming bed can be used in four different ways, so see which one your cat prefers! They can climb inside the tube and use this bed as a cozy cat cave, jump into the upright tube, push the sides down to make a cozy pod, or sleep on top and watch the world go by.
The faux-fur interior is irresistibly soft and the microfiber outer is hardwearing. These fabrics are also antimicrobial, which helps keep this bed cleaner for longer. Unlike some other beds, this one doesn’t have a reflective liner and uses thick polyester instead. So, it may not keep your cat as warm as beds that use reflective materials.
- 2-year warranty
- Antimicrobial fabric
- Machine washable
- Can be used in four ways
- No heat-reflective liner
5. American Kennel Club Self-Heating Bolster Cat Bed
If your cat loves to stretch out when they’re asleep, then this cuddly bolster bed will be the perfect choice. This deeply padded bed has a cozy and plush quilted sleeping surface and contains heat-reflective fabric guaranteed to keep your cat toasty and warm. This bed can be machine washed, making it easy to keep clean.
The deeply padded base is perfect for older cats or those with joint issues, and the high sides give your cat something cozy and warm to lean against. Reviewers comment that their cats adore this bed so much, they don’t want to get out!
- Choose from two colors
- Machine washable
- Deeply padded base
- Expensive
6. Friends Forever Self-Warming Donut Cat Bed
The Friends Forever Self-Warming Donut Cat Bed is a great choice if you’re looking for a bed to soothe your cat and help them feel safe and secure. This bed is made from a tactile and cozy plush synthetic fur that will retain your cat’s body heat and help them feel warm. There’s no reflective liner, but reviews mention how warm this bed seems in any case.
It can be machine washed on a cold cycle. The high sides offer great support for your cat, whether they want to rest their head on the side or lean into it for an extra feeling of security. The middle section is not as deeply padded as some other beds, so that’s worth bearing in mind.
- Choose from five colors
- Choose from three sizes
- Machine washable
- No reflective material
- Middle is quite thin
7. Pet Craft Self Warming Calming Cat Bed
The Pet Craft Self Warming Calming Cat Bed offers comfort and support for your cat due to the deeply padded base and soft supportive walls. While the padding helps retain your cat’s body heat, this bed doesn’t use a reflective interior liner, so it may not keep your cat as warm as the beds that do. What we do like about this bed is that it has an integrated pocket designed to be filled with catnip. It’s guaranteed to get your cat to love their new bed from the start!
The interior of this bed is lined with a soft and comfortable plush fabric, while the exterior is made from a chunky corduroy in two neutral shades that will suit any home. This bed can be machine washed on a cold cycle.
- Great value for money
- Choose from two colors
- Non-slip base
- No reflective material
8. PUPPBUDD Self-Warming Cat Bed
The PUPPBUDD Self-Warming Cat Bed is a great choice if you have a large cat that likes to stretch out or multiple cats that all love to sleep together. This bed is made from a soft and plush fabric with a deeply padded base for ultimate comfort. While many plush beds in this style are round, this one has an oval style to encourage your cat to stretch out in comfort.
The interior of this bed is filled with high-quality fiber to keep your cat as comfortable as possible. The deep fill makes it ideal for senior cats that need a bit more support. Reviewers love how comfortable this bed for their cats is, and while it is on the more expensive side, it does offer great value for what you get.
- Choose from seven colors
- Choose from four sizes
- Non-slip base
- Expensive
- A bit big for some cats
- No heat-reflective interior
9. Hollypet Self-Warming Cat Tent Bed
The Hollypet Self-Warming Cat Tent Bed is the perfect choice if your cat loves to hide themselves away while they have a nap. This bed can be used in two ways, either as a tent with the roof lifted so your cat can go inside or with the roof pushed down so your cat can lie on the top. As a word of warning, once the roof has been pushed down, it becomes a bit floppy and may not stand up that easily again.
Once inside, your cat’s body heat will reflect to them off the thickly padded walls, keeping them cozy and warm. This bed doesn’t use a reflective liner like some other self-warming beds, though. If your cat is very large, they may not fit in this bed; at 12 inches across, it’s quite small.
- Good value for money
- Non-slip base
- Can be used in two ways
- Only one size available
- Too small for large cats
- Top section can collapse
10. NOYAL Donut Self-Warming Cat Bed
The NOYAL Donut Self-Warming Cat Bed is the perfect choice for cats that love to curl up and feel safe and secure in a small bed that fits them just right. You’ll be able to find the right size for your cat breed because it’s available in four sizes. This bed is also available in a wide range of 10 different colors, so you’ll easily be able to find the perfect match for your home décor.
This bed is made from faux fur and has high sides to provide comfort and security. The base is thick when the bed is new out of the box, but it does compact quite quickly, as do the sides. This bed can be machine washed on a gentle cycle and machine washed on low heat. While it doesn’t contain any heat-reflective material, the fabric does a great job of keeping your cat warm.
- Good value for money
- Choose from four sizes
- Available in 10 colors
- No reflective liner
- Base loses its thickness over time
- Sides not that structured
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Self-Warming Cat Bed
If you like the idea of a heated cat bed but don’t want an electric option that you have to leave plugged in, we have the perfect solution: a self-warming cat bed!
What are self-warming cat beds?
Self-warming cat beds help keep your cat warm and cozy without the need for any electricity. Instead of containing a heating element that emits warmth when it’s plugged in, these beds work in two different ways to keep your cat warm:
- Heat-reflective material. Some self-warming cat beds use a silver plastic, much like the space blankets that you see runners wrapped up in at the end of a marathon. These reflect heat toward your cat, helping raise the ambient temperature inside their bed. This fabric is most often used in the base of the bed, but sometimes it’s in the sides as well.
- Thickly padded walls. Some self-warming cat beds don’t use heat-reflective materials and instead, rely on thickly padded walls to keep your cat warm. These beds often have high sides or roofs, designed to trap your cat’s body heat inside.
For any self-warming cat bed, they will feel cold when your cat initially lies down. As your cat’s body heat starts to radiate, the bed will feel warmer and warmer.
What else to look for in a self-warming cat bed?
Once you’ve decided that a self-warming cat bed is the right option for your feline friend, you need to think about what features are important to you. Options to think about include:
- Washable fabric. Choosing a bed that’s machine washable will make it as easy as possible to keep your cat’s bed clean. Take care to check the washing instructions for your chosen bed. Many beds that use a heat-reflective lining can be machine washed on a cold cycle but cannot be tumble dried. The heat damages the reflective lining, meaning it will no longer work. Beds without a reflective lining can usually be tumble dried, but again, it’s best to check.
- Some cats love to curl up in a bed that seems far too small for them, while others prefer to stretch out. Think about the size of your cat and their preferred sleeping style before making your decision. Rectangular beds with a low bolster will suit cats that like to stretch out, while round donut beds are great for cats that like to curl up small. If you have a large breed cat, you’ll need a bigger bed to comfortably accommodate their size. If you have cats that love to sleep together, buying a larger bed than you think that you’ll need can be a good idea.
- Self-warming cat beds come in all sorts of shapes and styles, so choose the one that you think will suit your cat best. Some cat beds are open so your cat can see all the comings and goings in your house. These are ideal for confident cats that love to know what’s going on. Other beds are either partially or completely enclosed with a hood or roof. These are great if you know that your cat likes to hide to feel safe. For the best of both worlds, get a bed with a removable hood so you can experiment and see what your cat likes best!
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best self-warming cat bed, our top pick is the Aspen Pet Self-Warming Bolster Cat Bed. This bed has a soft faux fur interior and a chunky corduroy outer. It has a heat-reflective material inside, designed to bounce back all your cat’s body heat, keeping them warmer than ever before.
In terms of the best value, you can’t go wrong with the Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed. This bed has low bolster sides to provide comfort and security and to give your cat room to stretch out. It contains a heat-reflective liner to keep your cat cozy and warm in cold weather.
Choosing the right self-warming cat bed can feel like mission impossible with all these different options! Our reviews are designed to get straight to the heart of the matter and bring you the best choices. All you need to do is choose your favorite from our top 10 selection. Then, see what your cat thinks!
Featured Image Credit: Pet magasin, Chewy
Contents
- A Quick Glance at Our Winners in 2022
- The 10 Best Self Warming Cat Beds
- 1. Aspen Pet Bolster Self-Warming Cat Bed — Best Overall
- 2. Frisco Self Warming Bolster Round Cat Bed — Best Value
- 3. K&H Pet Products Self-Warming Hooded Cat Bed — Premium Choice
- 4. Pet Magasin Self Warming Cat Cave Bed
- 5. American Kennel Club Self-Heating Bolster Cat Bed
- 6. Friends Forever Self-Warming Donut Cat Bed
- 7. Pet Craft Self Warming Calming Cat Bed
- 8. PUPPBUDD Self-Warming Cat Bed
- 9. Hollypet Self-Warming Cat Tent Bed
- 10. NOYAL Donut Self-Warming Cat Bed
- Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Self-Warming Cat Bed
- Conclusion
