cat cave
December 12, 2022 4:28 PM Subscribe
I want to buy my kitty the comfiest coziest cat cave ever. Options online are overwhelming. Do you have suggestions?
I want it to be cozy for a small cat. I also want it to be small enough that my terrier-sized dog cannot fit into it, as he has stolen all of my cat's beds and toys and my boyfriend thinks it's funny and does fuck-all to keep it from happening.
Basically I want to do something nice for my little buddy. He's nearly 12, I've had him since he was a kitten, and he puts up with a LOT from the dog (they get along, but still, I'm getting tired of the dog getting away with co-opting all of the cat's stuff).
I've looked on Etsy and got immediately overwhelmed. Specific suggestions, especially from people who have bought car caves that their kitties like.
I want it to be cozy for a small cat. I also want it to be small enough that my terrier-sized dog cannot fit into it, as he has stolen all of my cat's beds and toys and my boyfriend thinks it's funny and does fuck-all to keep it from happening.
Basically I want to do something nice for my little buddy. He's nearly 12, I've had him since he was a kitten, and he puts up with a LOT from the dog (they get along, but still, I'm getting tired of the dog getting away with co-opting all of the cat's stuff).
I've looked on Etsy and got immediately overwhelmed. Specific suggestions, especially from people who have bought car caves that their kitties like.
This post was deleted for the following reason: posters request -- frimble
Put a box up somewhere the cat can get to it but the dog can't
Put a "mysterious purr pad" in the box
Cats like to rotate to different nap spots so having a few of these in different spots would be nice
posted by Jacqueline at 7:48 PM on December 12, 2022
Put a "mysterious purr pad" in the box
Cats like to rotate to different nap spots so having a few of these in different spots would be nice
posted by Jacqueline at 7:48 PM on December 12, 2022
I leave my cat’s carrier out with a towel that has his smell in the bottom and he sleeps in there fairly regularly. It helps with bringing the cat to the vet, because then he has his safe house with him at the vet, instead of the carrier being the torture chamber that takes him to the vet. But maybe you could make use of that dichotomy here - how does the dog get to the vet? And would the dog recognize the vet transportation container by sight even if you cleaned scared dog smell out and replaced it with treasured cat blanket smell? That might give the cat a spot that the dog is too scared to take over.
posted by eviemath at 7:58 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by eviemath at 7:58 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
My cats love the heated beds from K & H (the electric heated ones, never tried the self-heating version). They have a couple, but predictably, their current favorite nap spot is just the heating pad that I poached from a bed and put under an old blanket on the back of the sofa. There are many kitty standoffs throughout the day over this very desirable territory. They also like their "toasty kitty cup" which we put at the top of one of their towers. They actually like the bed whether or not it's plugged in.
I like this brand, specifically, because they're designed for pets, so they don't get too warm and I don't worry about burns. The bed we have is fully washable; the whole thing can be disassembled and the heating pad removed. I also appreciate that they sell replacement heating pads at a reasonable price.
I adopt FeLV+ cats and I have yet to meet one who doesn't like the heated cat bed.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 4:31 AM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
I like this brand, specifically, because they're designed for pets, so they don't get too warm and I don't worry about burns. The bed we have is fully washable; the whole thing can be disassembled and the heating pad removed. I also appreciate that they sell replacement heating pads at a reasonable price.
I adopt FeLV+ cats and I have yet to meet one who doesn't like the heated cat bed.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 4:31 AM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Our 12-year-old cat basically lives in her Meowfia cat cave, despite rejecting all other cat beds. I think if you got any other cat cave made of felted wool it would be just as good, though. (The wool is great because it's cozy and thermoregulating but also doesn't get staticky in winter).
That said, I agree with the suggestions to find additional places your cat can have his own space, ideally high off the ground. A window hammock? Cat tree? Wall-mounted shelf?
posted by ersatzhuman at 5:11 PM on December 13, 2022
That said, I agree with the suggestions to find additional places your cat can have his own space, ideally high off the ground. A window hammock? Cat tree? Wall-mounted shelf?
posted by ersatzhuman at 5:11 PM on December 13, 2022
My cats aren't that interested in the felted wool cave that they got as a gift but are interested in wicker baskets. I've been eyeing basket caves (and should start trawling thrift stores for items I could use to diy a version).
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:35 PM on December 13, 2022
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:35 PM on December 13, 2022
I came back to add that, like smorgasbord said, cats are of course fickle creatures with their own preferences. As silly as it sounds, I legit laid out a spread of sample materials on the floor (plush blanket, old wool coat, etc.) to see which our cats preferred before buying anything. The kitty who loves the wool cave preferred the wool coat. The 18-year-old, who now lives on his plush heated mat, preferred the fluffy blanket. Think about what spots and materials your kitty currently chooses.
Chances are high your kitty would enjoy a heated cat bed, like easy, lucky, free suggested, but the downside is that the dog probably will too. If you can put one out of the dog's reach it would be a great cozy spot for your kitty.
posted by ersatzhuman at 4:49 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Chances are high your kitty would enjoy a heated cat bed, like easy, lucky, free suggested, but the downside is that the dog probably will too. If you can put one out of the dog's reach it would be a great cozy spot for your kitty.
posted by ersatzhuman at 4:49 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you all for your suggestions!
Regarding the boyfriend's attitude about the dog bogarting cat items - he's not being a jerk (he loves the cat) - he just doesn't see a way to stop it from happening. The dog is 3 years old and very puppy-ish still, and obviously doesn't have a sense of "this thing is mine that thing is Cat's." I try to discourage the dog gently when he steals a cat toy, my boyfriend says let's just get new toys for them both, the dog won't be able to take all of them.
I'm a bit protective of the cat as he predates the relationship, was an only pet for a long time, and is a bit of a grumpy old man at this point. The dog desperately wants to be his friend and tries to play and cuddle with him, and the dog is also just a big love bug so he's not being aggressive or rude to the cat, the cat just can't or doesn't particularly want to stand up for himself (Cat gonna Cat, Dog gonna Dog) and I feel bad that he doesn't even get to have a place of his own to snuggle.
I'll look into heated bed options - I think Cat would love that.
(FWIW my boyfriend brings the dog to work a few days a week bc his boss also brings his dog in and they get playtime. I WFH and the minute boyfriend and dog leave for work Cat goes to co-opt the dog's bed for a long nap, which I find hilariously passive aggressive. Cat gonna Cat.)
posted by nayantara at 9:16 AM on December 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
Regarding the boyfriend's attitude about the dog bogarting cat items - he's not being a jerk (he loves the cat) - he just doesn't see a way to stop it from happening. The dog is 3 years old and very puppy-ish still, and obviously doesn't have a sense of "this thing is mine that thing is Cat's." I try to discourage the dog gently when he steals a cat toy, my boyfriend says let's just get new toys for them both, the dog won't be able to take all of them.
I'm a bit protective of the cat as he predates the relationship, was an only pet for a long time, and is a bit of a grumpy old man at this point. The dog desperately wants to be his friend and tries to play and cuddle with him, and the dog is also just a big love bug so he's not being aggressive or rude to the cat, the cat just can't or doesn't particularly want to stand up for himself (Cat gonna Cat, Dog gonna Dog) and I feel bad that he doesn't even get to have a place of his own to snuggle.
I'll look into heated bed options - I think Cat would love that.
(FWIW my boyfriend brings the dog to work a few days a week bc his boss also brings his dog in and they get playtime. I WFH and the minute boyfriend and dog leave for work Cat goes to co-opt the dog's bed for a long nap, which I find hilariously passive aggressive. Cat gonna Cat.)
posted by nayantara at 9:16 AM on December 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
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Could you build a perch near a window that your pup can't reach? Or put up a gate so the dog can't go into the cat's space? If neither is possible, how about just going into a different room and/or crating the dog for thirty minutes so you and your kitty can get some uninterrupted one-on-one time?
I agree with your boyfriend that there's likely not much you can do to keep your dog from taking the cat's toys as long as the pets are together. However, your partner's lack of compassion and effort do seem to bother you! I know this is a pet ask but we can help with human stuff, too, if you want help there.
posted by smorgasbord at 7:15 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]