If you’ve ever spent time scrolling through cat content on Instagram, you’ve probably seen that one viral clip of a cat stealing a guest bed pillow, curling up like they own the place, and making you wonder—wait, is my guest room bed actually for them? As someone who runs a small cat bed supplier, I get this question all the time. Literally, last week, a customer emailed me saying their niece was coming to stay for a week, and they were debating between shoving their huge Maine Coon’s favorite bed in a closet or just plopping it in the guest room. Spoiler: I told them to plop it down. And no, I didn’t just say that because I sell cat beds. Let me break this down like I would to my cousin, who’s still confused why her tabby thinks her laptop is a heated pad. Cat Bed
First, let’s talk about cats and boundaries. Cats are way more flexible about personal space than humans. A lot of us think “guest room = for humans only” because we bring our suitcases and fancy toiletries there, but cats see guest rooms as new, quiet spaces to mark as theirs. Think about it: when you first move into a new house, your cat might sleep in the bathroom for the first week, right? Because it’s small, low-traffic, and feels safe. A guest room is that same vibe, just with a extra pillow and a window. If you ban your cat from the guest room, they’ll just sneak in anyway when you’re not looking, and probably make a mess on the guest bed sheets to “prove” it. I’ve heard so many stories from fellow cat parents about that—they change the guest linens just for their niece, come back downstairs, and their cat peed on the pillow because they were mad about being restricted. Don’t create that chaos. Put the cat bed in the guest room.
Wait, but hold on—what if you have guests that are allergic? Oh, that’s a valid point, and I don’t want you to ruin a friend’s trip over a fur allergy. Let’s be real: even if you put a cat bed in the living room, your cat will sit on the couch when your guest is there, so moving the bed to the guest room doesn’t magically eliminate fur exposure. But if allergies are a big concern, you can just pick a washable cat bed (shoutout to all the machine-washable ones we stock) and tell your guests upfront, “Sorry, my cat’s a fur machine, so I put their bed in the guest room, but I can strip the linens and vacuum before you arrive.” Most people who aren’t deathly allergic will laugh it off—my best friend is allergic to grass, and she still crashes at my place even though my two cats follow her everywhere. She just takes an antihistamine and brings her own pillow. No big deal.
Another thing: cats love consistency. If your cat has a favorite bed that smells like them, moving that bed to the guest room gives them a “safe spot” that’s separate from where you sleep. A lot of cat parents don’t realize that cats get stressed when there’s a lot of new activity—guests running around, loud voices, new people in their space. If your cat usually hangs out in your bedroom, a guest coming over might make them want a quiet retreat where they can go if they feel overwhelmed. The guest room with their own bed is perfect for that. I had a customer a few months back whose grandma was visiting for Thanksgiving. Her cat, Mochi, hates new people, so she put Mochi’s favorite cave bed in the guest room. When grandma arrived, Mochi hid in that bed for an hour, then came out to sit by grandma’s feet without attacking anyone. Total win.
Wait, but what if you think it’s going to mess up the guest room’s vibe? Like, you spent money on cute linen sets and a diffuser, and a cat bed would make it look messy. Let’s talk about cat bed styles. We stock so many different kinds—they don’t have to be that fuzzy neon thing you see in big box stores. There are sleek, low-profile cat beds that look like extra throw pillows. We have one that’s a neutral linen color, same as most guest room decor, so you can plop it on the floor by the window and no one will even notice it’s a cat bed. There are also round donut beds that look like decorative floor cushions. If you pick a style that matches your guest room, it doesn’t ruin the aesthetic—it adds to it. Guests even commented on that customer’s guest room with Mochi’s bed, saying it looked cozier, not like a cat infestation.
Let’s get into the science of this, too, because I’m not just here to give casual advice (even if I talk like it). Cats’ scent is their comfort. When they rub their face on things, they leave pheromones that make them feel calm. If you put their bed in the guest room, they’ll rub all over it, leave their scent, and that room becomes a stress-free zone for them. If you don’t let them have that space, their stress levels go up—studies from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) say that cats with limited access to their preferred resting places are more likely to have behavioral issues, like inappropriate elimination or excessive meowing. So not only is putting a cat bed in the guest room fine, it’s actually good for your cat’s mental health.
Wait, but what if your cat is old or has joint issues? Then the guest room is even better. If your cat is 10+, they might have trouble jumping onto your bed, so a guest room with their own low cat bed (we stock orthopedic ones, too!) gives them a space where they don’t have to climb. No more straining to get onto the guest bed—they can just walk right onto their bed. And if your guest is someone who likes to sit on the floor, they might even end up hanging out with your cat in the guest room, which is way better than your cat hiding under the bed all weekend. I have an 11-year-old tabby named Gus who has a bad hip, and I put his orthopedic bed in the guest room when my cousin visits. Now Gus waits by the guest room door the second my cousin pulls up, because he knows she brings him treats. It’s become their thing.
Is there any time you shouldn’t put a cat bed in the guest room? Let’s be fair—if your guest is staying for a month, and they’re super private, maybe move the cat bed to the living room for a bit. But even then, most people would rather have their cat have a safe spot than be locked in a bathroom. If your cat is a chewer, and the guest room has random cords lying around, don’t put the bed there until you pick up the cords. That’s just basic cat proofing, not a no-go on the guest room. And if you have a cat that hates other people, and your guest is terrified of cats, maybe keep the bed in your room and just close the guest room door when they’re over. But even then, you can leave a crack in the door so your cat can check in, not so they can steal the guest’s socks.
Let me tell you a quick horror story that made me 100% confident about this. A customer reached out to me last year, panicking because their sister was coming for a weekend, and they moved their cat’s bed from the guest room to the linen closet. That night, their cat peed on the guest bed. Not on a random towel—directly on the center of the white linen sheets. She was so upset about it, she had to buy new sheets last minute, and her sister thought there was a “cat accident” on purpose. The whole weekend was tense. After that, she swore she’d never move the cat bed again. Moral of that story: when you ban a cat from a space, they punish you by ruining your stuff. Don’t do that to yourself.
Now, if you’re convinced to do it, here’s a quick pro tip from someone who’s been in the cat bed game for years. Pick a bed that’s easy to clean, because let’s be real—accidents happen. Even the most well-behaved cat might drool a little, or a guest might spill a drink near it. We make beds that are machine-washable, so you can just throw the whole thing in the washer and it comes out looking new. Also, put the bed in a spot that’s not too close to the guest room door. If it’s right by the door, your cat will run out when the guest opens it, which might startle the guest. Put it by the window or the corner of the room, so it’s a quiet retreat, not a traffic spot.
Another pro tip: if you have multiple cats, put their favorite beds in the guest room too. My friend has three cats, and when her sister comes over, she plops all three of their beds in the guest room. Now the cats hang out there all day, so they don’t bother her sister in the main living area. Her sister actually said it’s the most relaxed she’s ever been on a visit, because she doesn’t have to worry about cats jumping on her or knocking over her coffee. It’s a win-win.
Wait, what about guests that have their own pets? Like, if your friend brings their dog, should you put the cat bed in the guest room? If the dog is friendly, probably not a big deal, but if the dog chases cats, then keep the cat bed in a space the dog can’t access, like a closed guest room. That way, the cat has their safe spot away from the dog, and the dog doesn’t bother the guest room. It’s just a little bit of planning.
At the end of the day, cats are just weird, simple creatures. They want a safe place to sleep, a place that smells like them, and they want to be left alone when they’re stressed. Putting a cat bed in the guest room doesn’t hurt anyone—it actually helps your cat, and it might even make your guest room cozier. I’ve been selling cat beds for 5 years, and I’ve never had a customer regret putting a cat bed in the guest room. The only regrets I’ve heard are from people who tried to ban their cat from a space and ended up with a peed-on pillow or a stressed-out cat hiding under the bed.
If you’re still on the fence, here’s what I’ll say: next time you’re thinking about moving that cat bed to the closet, just step back and think about your cat’s vibe. Does your cat hate being restricted? Does they hide when new people come? Would they rather have a quiet spot than be under your feet all weekend? If the answer is yes (and it almost always is), then put the bed in the guest room. It’s not a mistake. It’s actually a smart move.
If you need help picking the right cat bed for your guest room, hit us up. We have all sizes, all styles, all washable options—whatever fits your decor and your cat’s weird little needs. We’re here for it, because we love cats, and we love helping cat parents make their lives easier.
PP Rattan Cat Bed References:
ASPCA. (n.d.). Understanding Cat Behavior. Retrieved from animalbehavior.com for domestic cats
International Society of Feline Medicine. (2021). Environmental Enrichment for Indoor Cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Songtai(Shandong) International Trade Co., Ltd.
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