Wicker Cat Beds: A Review of the Best

Have you ever noticed how your cat will often steer towards the more natural coverings in your home and garden? For instance, my cats prefer to sit on wooden table tops or the woven matted floor carpet (which is pretty tough) instead of the vinyl, stainless steel or concrete indoor surfaces.

Cats prefer natural-made materials over man-made materials and so when given a choice between a cold plastic shell and a woven wicker basket, the latter always wins. My cat Mildred loves hers. In the wild, cats sleep in trees or nests of undergrowth. The wicker fibre is an unconscious attraction to the cat's instincts. They are also good at keeping in the heat of the animal, when inside, which is ideal for the colder months.

Cats like to feel secure where they sleep which often leads to them finding comfortable spots on bookcases, on top of wardrobes or where the best vases stand on the table in the hall. One of my cats used to climb on to this rather unsteady book shelf in order to sleep which led to panic attacks on my behalf during her pre-sleep grooming. It was a pain having to move her.

It all changed when I bought this two-tier wicker cat bed (see image above) which has an enclosed sleeping area on ground level and an exposed but higher vantage point above. The security and comfort this feline penthouse provides my cat is extremely popular. Sometimes she goes inside the lower tier, especially in winter where she enjoys the warm snugness and at other times she watches the daily events take place from her secure location off the floor. With other cats in the house, this proves to be a bone of contention between them. They all want that spot!

Hand woven wicker has an ageless charm and is admired across the world. Instead of the rather ugly or mundane plastic bowl, the wicker bed can add to the décor and even the features of the room. I put mine in the main living room next to some giant dried twisted willow branches and the affect was amazing. Add to that the natural elegance of the cat and it was a beautiful sight to behold. Wicker, in most cases, really can go with anything whether that is on slate tiles in a kitchen or on a soft carpeted bedroom floor.

One of the things that first caught my attention regarding wicker cat beds was the sight of a woman in my road carrying her cat to the vet in a wicker cat carrier similar to the one in image you see above. Most cat carriers are either ugly plastic contraptions or unsettling wire cages. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, it was also a more comfortable carrier for the cat. It's circular shape meant less corners and a more secure travelling compartment where the animal was unlikely to slide about.

This one also doubles up as a cat wicker bed when not in use as a carrier. That "knocks out two birds with one paw" as my cat Mildred would say.