6 Best Cat Window Beds Of 2023: A Buyer’s Guide

I think at some point or another most of us have thought about what life would be like if we were a cat. They seem to have a stress free life spent sleeping, eating, playing, and just hanging out. There’s almost nowhere that’s off limits as a chilling place for a cat, to quote the famous cat based internet meme “If I fits, I sits”.

However, despite the fact that your cat probably hangs out and lies down wherever it may please, us humans can occasionally try and provide them with dedicated chill out spots (aka beds). One of the most innovative inventions that are taking the world by storm are cat window beds (or cat perches).

Today we are going to take a look at what exactly cat window beds are, why cats like them, and we’re going to give you some actionable purchasing advice in our buyer’s guide. At the end of this article, we’re going to recommend several excellent products that represent the very best the market has to offer in 2023 in our impartial cat window bed review.

Let’s get started.

Why Do Cats Like Window Beds?

Cats enjoy window beds for the same reasons many of us humans enjoy sitting somewhere quietly and people watching – it’s entertaining.

While we strongly believe that all cats will appreciate a good window bed, we think that indoor cats stand to gain the most from them. The world of an indoor cat is limited to the walls of your home, they know nothing of what is beyond the front door. By providing them with a resting place attached to a window they’ve got a whole new piece of land to spend their time watching over.

Window beds are particularly enjoyable when your cat has to spend large portions of its day alone inside the house while you’re out at work. Instead of waiting in solitude for your return, they can perch on the window and watch the world go by.

Although it’s not just when the house is empty that cats love window beds, they’re useful when people are home too. They provide a tranquil refuge where they can chill out without being disturbed. They will be out of the reach of dogs and children who may want to play, and they can bask in the sun looking down at them with a smug kitty smile.

They’re an amazingly simple yet effective product and we feel that no cat should be without one.

Is Using A Cat Window Bed Safe?

Cat window beds are extremely safe providing they are high-quality products that are firmly attached. Cats have balance and agility that is far beyond anything that a human could ever hope to match. So they’re not going to fall out accidentally, and they’re not going to slip off the edge.

The only conceivable way your cat could be injured by using a window bed is if the whole bed itself falls off of the window. It’s a totally avoidable problem, but if you don’t do enough research it could potentially happen (so keep reading).

There are two main factors that you need to take into account to ensure safety when looking at potential window beds – the weight limit and the attachment methods.

The weight limit is reasonably self-explanatory. Every cat window bed will be rated for a certain weight. Figure out how much your cat weighs (don’t guess) and ensure you’re getting a bed that can hold its weight.

If you’ve got two cats, then you need to ensure that the bed is capable of holding the weight of both of them at the same time. Because even if the bed is technically only big enough for one kitty, we pretty much guarantee they will both be on there at the same time at some point or another.

Almost every cat window bed on the market attaches directly to the window via suction cups. As you may already know, these kinds of suction cups are not all created equal. Some will be super secure, and others will fall off almost immediately.

The weight limit of a window bed is almost always determined by the strength of the suction cup as it’s the weakest point. As such the weight limit can potentially be a good indicator of the quality of the cup. But it’s not foolproof, as the weight of the bed itself needs to be taken into account. For example, weak suction cups holding a bed made from cardboard may have a higher weight limit than strong suction cups holding a bed made from steel.

A general rule of thumb with suction cups is the bigger they are, the safer they will be. Without actually testing them out in person there’s not much more you can use to judge their effectiveness in a real-world scenario.

The only exception to this rule is when the suction cups have additional safety features built into them (the most common of which is often some form of a locking mechanism). These are twist activated and provide a sturdy connection between the cup and the window. It’s very hard for the cup to become detached unless it’s intentionally unlocked (but it’s not impossible).

So to summarise, for total safety you should be aiming to get a bed that has the largest suction cups possible, that have locking mechanisms, and have a high weight rating.

Things To Look Out For When Buying A Cat Window Bed

Aside from the safety concerns about weight limits and suction cups, there are a few other things you should be looking out for when shopping around for the perfect cat window bed.

Ease Of Access

Cat window beds come in all shapes and sizes, and as such, some are easier for your cat to get in and out of than others. Totally flat beds are often the easiest to access as your kitty can just jump straight on them. Other beds have slightly raised sides that cradle your kitty and they’ll need to jump over them to get in. Some are even partially enclosed cases with access holes cut in the sides.

Take a while to think about where you’re going to be placing the window bed. When shopping around ensure that your kitty is going to be able to access it easily in your specific living situation.

Ease Of Removal

While we want our window beds to be securely attached to the window, we also probably want to be able to intentionally remove them easily when we want to clean. It can be hard to take off some of the larger suction cups that don’t have twist locking mechanisms, so bear that in mind.

Folding

So cat window beds sound like a pretty good idea right? But have you thought about how you’re going to close the blinds or curtains when it’s attached?

This is one of the main issues people have with window beds.

Unless you get a folding product you’re probably going to have to remove the window bed every time you want to close the curtains. This obviously depends on the kind of windows you have, and it may not be a problem if you mount it on a window that doesn’t need the curtains drawn. Either way, you should certainly think about this point before purchasing, and if the bed is going to become an obstruction, then consider a folding product.

The Difference Between A Window Perch And A Sill Perch

Before we head to the review section we wanted to clear up a common misconception that many people have between a window perch (bed) and a sill perch. They largely do the same job, but they go about it in slightly different ways.

As we’ve already mentioned window perches usually attach directly to the glass of the window through the use of suction cups. Sill perches, however, attach to the bottom of the window sill instead. They are usually attached through a series of poles, Velcro, and very occasionally some clamps.

Many people assume that sill perches are safer than window beds. However, while this may be true in a few minor instances, on the whole, they are actually less safe.

The section of a sill perch that attaches to the window sill is almost always secured via Velcro. This is the most important part that stops the metal rods slipping and sliding. If this Velcro comes loose (or the glue that attaches it to your sill degrades) the whole thing is going to come tumbling down.

Note: The exception to this is perhaps with sill perches that utilize clamps instead of relying on pressure and Velcro. They are exceptionally sturdy and are as safe as (if not safer than) window perches.

Sill perches are also inferior to window beds in other ways. The most obvious example is that they don’t provide the same refuge from children and dogs in many cases (as they are closer down to the ground).

Sill perches can be very good products if you pick a one from a reputable brand. But on the whole, window beds are the best way to go (in our humble opinion).

Overall Best Cat Window Bed:

K&H Pet Products EZ Window Mount Kitty Sill

We’re going to list a few other excellent product recommendations below, but in our opinion, this product from K&H is the best cat window bed on the market in 2023. It’s a highly affordable product that uses a relatively simple design – but it’s super safe, and cats love it.

One of the biggest selling points for us with this bed is the four suction cups it uses for total safety. You get two medium sized suction cups attached to the stabilizing strings above the perch, and then you get two super large suction cups that directly attach the perch to the window itself.

The chances of all 4 of these cups losing suction without you or your kitty realizing it are slim to none. 3 of them (or even 2) would be enough to safely hold the bed and avoid an accident. All 4 of these suction cups utilize a push and turn safety locking mechanism that ensures you get maximum suction that’s difficult to lose unless you turn the lock.

This is a product that’s been designed to work around you and your home while still providing an enjoyable resting place for your kitty. It’s a foldable product which means you can easily close the curtains or blinds at night, and its neutral grey color will blend in seamlessly with any home’s décor.

Its got an easy clean machine washable cover, it can hold over 100 pounds of weight, and at under $25 it’s an absolute bargain.

We highly recommend you add it to the very top of your shortlist.

5 Other Awesome Window Beds

In this section, we’re going to take a look at 5 other awesome cat window beds that we rate highly but didn’t quite make it to the top spot as our overall recommendation.

Budget Friendly: Oster Sunny Seat Window Mounted Cat Bed

If you’re on a tight budget but want to provide your cat with the perfect perch, then we highly recommend you consider this excellent product from Oster. It lacks some of the bells and whistles of the other products on this page, but it’s a safe and secure product that your cat is sure to love.

Like our top pick its got 4 strong suction cups, 2 of which are attached to stabilizing ropes, and 2 are attached to the bed itself. They’re not locking cups which means that they’re not rated to hold as much weight as the top pick (only 50lbs). However, this should be more than enough for a single cat household (unless you’ve got a seriously supersized kitty). It’s machine washable, comfortable, and at under $10 we think it’s excellent value for money.

Sratcher: K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Window Scratcher Kitty Sill Cradle

The second product from K&H on our list is an excellent option for kitties that love to have a little scratch from time to time. Its got a curved surface made of durable cardboard that is perfect for your cat to dig their claws into and scratch until their heart’s content.

It’s a 4 suction cup system like the products above, but unlike the first K&H product we talked about it doesn’t have a locking system. It also comes with a little bag of catnip to entice your kitty over to the perch when you first install it.

Half Pod: K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Kitty Sill Window Cat Bed

You’re going to see a lot of K&H products on this list, they’re the undisputed kings of cat window beds. This awesome product is designed to cradle your cat snugly and securely while they are resting on their perch surveying their kingdom. It’s made from a durable PVC outer section that will stand the test of time, and it’s secured to the window by 3 suction cups (all of which are directly attached to the bed).

The inside of the cradle is designed for pure comfort and luxuriousness. It’s lined with a super soft material and the base of the bed is padded with an extra plush super comfy layer. It’s like your kitty is lying on a pillow, and it’s perfect for daydreaming in the sunlight.

Penthouse: K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Window Penthouse Window Cat House

Is your kitty the king of your castle? If so then this is the window bed for you. It’s one of the most expensive products on this list, but it’s also one of the best. It’s super secure with its 6 massive locking suction cups that securely attach it to the window (2 on supporting lines, 4 on the bed itself).

It’s an enclosed bed that has a removable fleece lined base, and its got several entry and exit holes on all sides for easy access. The side that faces the window is made from a light mesh material to allow your kitty to peer out of their cozy little snug and watch the world go by.

Double Stack: K&H Pet Products Double Stack EZ Window Mount Kitty Sill

The final product on our list is this amazing double stack window bed. As the name suggests it has two layers which are both made of the same padded comfortable material. There’s an access hole in the top layer to allow your kitty to move between them easily.

It’s a super secure and super strong bed with its 6 massive suction cups that combined can hold over 100lbs of weight. All of the suction cups have a twist and push locking mechanism that ensures that they will not accidentally come loose, and it’s a folding product that’s going to let you close the curtains with ease.

Conclusion

So there you have it, an in-depth overview of cat window beds. Hopefully, by now you should have a little bit more of an idea of what to look out for when shopping around.

We highly recommend you consider any of the products we have recommended above. In our eyes they are all winners to make it on to this list, they fought off some stiff competition.

Any of them are more than worthy of being added to your shortlist.