Best Christmas Pet Beds: How to Choose One Your Cat or Dog Will Actually Use

A Christmas pet bed is one of those purchases that either becomes a favourite spot for years or sits in a corner untouched. The difference usually isn't the price or how festive it looks — it's whether the bed suits how your cat or dog actually sleeps.

This guide covers the shapes worth considering, how to size them properly, and the practical questions to ask before you buy a holiday bed.

Why a dedicated Christmas bed is worth it

Most pet owners already have a bed. So why add a seasonal one?

Washability. Holiday beds tend to be the ones your pet uses during the messiest part of the year — wet walks, muddy paws, shedding winter coats. A bed you can wash without worrying about it is genuinely useful.

Comfort in cold rooms. If your home has cold spots in winter, a bed with raised bolsters keeps a pet warmer than a flat mat. Cats in particular seek out enclosed, draft-free spots when the temperature drops.

A place of their own during a busy house. Christmas means visitors, noise and unfamiliar routines. A pet with a defined, comfortable spot copes noticeably better. This is the argument that convinces most people, and it has nothing to do with decoration.

The main shapes, and which suits which pet

Enclosed cat beds and caves

Enclosed beds have walls or a hood, and cats generally prefer them. A cat that hides under furniture or squeezes behind the sofa is telling you it wants cover.

Enclosed beds are also the warmest option, because body heat stays inside. If you have an older cat or a thin-coated breed, this matters more than the styling.

The trade-off is size. An enclosed bed looks bigger than it is, because the walls take up space the cat can't use. Measure your cat's length from nose to base of tail while it sleeps stretched out, then add a few centimetres.

Round bolster beds

A round bed with a raised rim is the classic shape, and it suits both cats and small to medium dogs. The bolster gives something to rest a chin on, which many dogs seem to find settling.

Round beds are easier to size than enclosed ones because the sleeping area is fully visible. They also wash and dry more easily than hooded designs.

Flat mats and rectangular beds

Flat beds suit pets that sleep stretched out, and larger dogs that don't curl. They're the easiest to wash and the cheapest to make well.

If your dog sleeps sprawled on its side rather than curled, a flat or rectangular bed is the right choice — a round bed will be too small no matter what size you buy.

How to size a Christmas pet bed correctly

Sizing is where most bed purchases go wrong. Three measurements matter:

1. Length while sleeping stretched out — nose to tail base. Not while standing, and not while curled.
   
2. Width across the shoulders, then add roughly 5 cm of clearance each side.
   
3. Whether your pet likes to stretch or curl. Curlers can use a compact bed; sprawlers need length.

The most common mistake is buying for the pet's standing size. A dog that stands 40 cm tall may still need a 70 cm bed to lie out flat.

If you're between sizes, go up. A bed that's slightly too large gets used; one that's too small doesn't.

What to check before buying

Is the cover removable and machine washable? This is the single most practical feature. A bed that can't be washed becomes a problem within a month in a normal household.

Will the filling hold its shape? Cheaper beds flatten at the bolster within weeks. Look for a filling that springs back when you press it.

Is the base non-slip? Hard floors plus a sliding bed means a pet that gets up whenever it shifts. A non-slip base solves a problem you'd otherwise never diagnose.

Does it suit your climate? A heavy plush bed is wonderful in a cold house and miserable in a warm one. If your pet already seeks out cool floor tiles, a thick insulated bed is the wrong purchase.

Can you replace just the cover? Not essential, but useful — covers wear out faster than fillings.

Getting a pet to use a new bed

Most "my pet won't use the bed" problems are placement problems, not bed problems.

Put it where your pet already sleeps. Don't decide where the bed should go; follow the animal.
Give it a familiar smell. A blanket from their usual spot helps more than anything else.
Don't corner them in it. An enclosed bed placed with its opening against a wall feels like a trap, not a refuge.
Be patient. Some pets take a week to commit. Leaving the bed in place and not fussing over it works better than placing the pet in it repeatedly.

A note on holiday decorations

If you're decorating around a pet bed, two risks are worth knowing.

Tinsel, ribbon and small ornaments are attractive and swallowable. Cats in particular will chew linear objects, and linear foreign bodies are a genuine veterinary emergency.

Real Christmas trees shed needles, and a pet bed placed directly under one collects them. Needles can irritate paws and, if eaten, cause stomach upset. A bed a little to one side of the tree is the safer arrangement.

Matching a bed to the rest of the room

A Christmas bed doesn't have to look like a Christmas bed. The most-used seasonal beds tend to be the ones that fit the room year-round — a muted colour, a simple shape — with the festive element coming from a blanket or a washable cover you change over.

That also means you can keep using it in January without it looking out of place, which is arguably the better purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Are enclosed cat beds better than open ones?
For most cats, yes — especially in winter. Cats seek cover and warmth, and enclosed beds provide both. If your cat already sleeps stretched out in the open, an open bed may suit it better.

What size bed for a large dog?
Measure nose to tail base while the dog is stretched out asleep, then add 10–15 cm. For most large breeds that means a bed at least 90–110 cm long.

Should a Christmas pet bed be machine washable?
Yes, in practice. Beds used through winter get dirty faster than any other. Look for a removable cover that can go in the machine at 30°C.

Can I use a Christmas bed all year?
Absolutely. Choose a design that works with your room rather than a novelty shape, and it becomes an ordinary bed with a seasonal cover.

My pet ignores the new bed. What now?
Move it to where they already sleep, add a familiar-smelling blanket, and leave it alone for a week. Placement explains most refusals.

The short version

Choose the shape based on how your pet sleeps, not how the bed looks. Measure while they're stretched out, not standing. Insist on a washable cover and a non-slip base. Then put it where they already sleep and let them decide.

Get those four things right and the bed gets used — this Christmas and for several after that.

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