When you picture indoor cats, you probably envision them looking out of a window at all the exciting happenings going on
outside. There are birds and squirrels to see, and of course, there’s the all-important napping in the sun. So, why not combine two of a cat’s greatest loves: napping and windows!
Many beds and perches are designed to fit on a windowsill or even on the window itself, but it can be daunting to find the right one online. We created reviews of the 10 best cat beds and perches meant to go into windows. This way, you can get the searching part of online shopping out of your way, and your cat gets the best of both worlds.
The best overall window perch for cats is the K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Kitty Cradle. This window perch also doubles as a scratching pad and has a curved design, making it that much cozier. “Refills” are available for when the surface is all scratched out, so you don’t have to purchase the whole thing all over again. You can flip it up when it’s not in use (and then you can close your curtains or blinds), and it can hold up to 50 pounds. It is attached to a window (a 24” x 24” window is recommended) with four suction cups, and it comes with catnip to entice your cat to use it.
The disadvantage of this window perch is the flipping-up feature, which isn’t as easy to use as you would expect. If your cat wants to sleep on it all the time, you might not need to flip it up, though. You should also be careful when putting it up and read all instructions carefully, as it might not hold the weight of your cat.
Pros
Doubles as a scratching pad and comes with catnip
Cozy curved design
Scratching pad refills available
Can be flipped up
Holds up to 50 lbs.
Cons
Not easy to flip up
Might not hold the weight of heavy cats
2. K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Window Perch — Best Value
The best window bed for cats for the money is the K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Window Perch. It’s affordable and comes with four suction cups that are attached to the window with a secure “push and turn” feature. It can be flipped up to allow for curtains and blinds, and the soft fleece cover is removable and machine washable. It can hold up to 50 pounds.
The downside of this perch is that after a while, the suction cups might stop working and will stop holding the weight of your cat.
Pros
Inexpensive
Four suction cups that secure with “push and turn”
The best premium choice cat window bed is the PetFusion Ultimate Window Cat Perch. This isn’t actually just a window perch — it’s more like a cat tree. It has a tall sisal scratching post — 42 inches, to be exact — and a perch on the top. The perch has three suction cups that can be stuck to the window, which adds much better stability, as well as a soft sleeping pad. There are replacement sisal posts available too.
However, it is expensive, and this perch will not work for any cats with mobility issues. If you own a senior cat or one that is overweight, it’s a challenge for a cat to maneuver from the scratching post to the perch and then get off again.
The K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Penthouse gives your cat the opportunity to sleep inside or on top of this perch. This way, your cat can feel safe and cozy inside while watching the world go by or hang out on top. It’s lined with soft microfleece and has a ledge that allows for easy access. It includes a removable soft microfleece pad and six secure suction cups.
It is a little pricey, though, and after a while, some of these window perches tend to start to fall apart. Of course, this might also depend on the weight of your cat and how frequently the bed is used.
The K&H Pet Products Deluxe Window Sill Bed is decently priced and is designed to be placed on a window sill rather than the window itself. You’ll need at least a 2-inch window sill, and it can be attached using adhesive Velcro strips or more permanent screws. The platform can hold up to 40 pounds and has orthopedic foam and a machine-washable fleecy cover.
Unfortunately, the Velcro strips might not hold over a long period of time, so you might want to consider screwing it into the wall if that’s an option. Additionally, some (but not all) of these perches might have a strong chemical smell.
Pros
Placed on a window sill
Attach with Velcro strips or screws
Platform holds 40 lbs.
Fleecy cover is machine washable and has orthopedic foam
Petsfit’s Cat Window Perch comes with a soft pad and is a sturdy perch made with strong wood. It is secured by screwing it into the window sill, which adds to the safety and security of the perch, and it won’t cause any damage to your sill.
The downside of this window perch is that it is expensive, and it can only fit a small cat (you can always get two and put them side by side, but that’s more expensive). Besides the weight limit, the perch itself is on the small side. Plus, it won’t fit every window sill, so double-check the requirements before purchasing.
Coziwow’s Heavy Duty Window Perch attaches to the window sill with screws for stability, and it comes with a thick, velvety pad. The pad is about 1.5 inches thick — the cover is removable for washing. The interior is memory foam, and it’s attached to the platform with Velcro. It has two sturdy metal support brackets.
However, the platform is made with particleboard, which can be relatively flimsy. The platform is hinged in the middle, and some of these perches might collapse in the middle.
Pros
Attaches to the window sill with screws
Thick pad made with memory foam and removable cover
4 x 11.8 x 12.6 inches or 24.4 x 11.8 x 12.6 inches
Hold up to:
50 lbs.
Material:
Metal and fabric
Color:
Smaller: beige or brown; Larger: black, beige, or gray
The Lsaifater All Around 360° Sunbath is well priced and comes in two sizes and several colors — the small (20” long) in beige or brown and the large (24” long) in black, beige, or gray. This is more of a hammock-style with a sturdy fabric on a steel frame, and the fabric is removable and machine washable. It attaches to the window with four suction cups.
The main disadvantage is that the fabric is held onto the frame with Velcro, which might come apart at times. It is also quite tight, and some of these perches are difficult to put together because the Velcro strips aren’t always placed correctly and won’t adhere properly.
Lcybem’s Cat Hammock is made with a breathable black fabric and is well priced. It attaches to the window with four suction cups and is held up by strong steel wires, which is safe, and your cat won’t be able to chew through them. The mesh fabric makes it cooler for your cat in the summer and can be easily spot cleaned.
Unfortunately, the hammock is attached by Velcro, which tends to come apart after a while. Plus, putting it together can be challenging for some people.
Pros
Good price
Breathable black mesh fabric is easily spot cleaned
Held up with four suction cups and strong steel wires
The Petpawjoy Cat Bed is well priced and made with durable and breathable oxford cloth, which also means no chemical smell. It’s easy to spot clean, and it comes with four suction cups. It has a 1-year 100% guarantee for replacement or refund.
However, the suction cups aren’t always reliable. They might not fall off completely but instead, might just start sliding down. Additionally, in some cases, the steel wires that help hold it up might break at some point.
Pros
Well priced
Made with oxford cloth
Easy to clean
1-year 100% guarantee
Cons
Suction cups are not always reliable
Wires might break
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Window Perches & Beds
If you still feel as though you need extra information before making a final decision, check out our buyer’s guide. We go over a few of the different considerations that you might need to make before you finalize your choice.
Image By: Adam Kuylenstierna, Unsplash
Size
Size is important, particularly if you have a large cat. Always remember to measure your cat when they are in their favorite sleeping position and compare this measurement to the beds that you’re considering.
There’s also the size compared to your window or the window sill itself. Read through everything written on the listing for the specific perch that you’re interested in. Many companies state the minimum size of the window that their product can be placed on, and if you can’t find that information, send an email or ask other customers on the website.
Cat’s Weight
While most perches state that they can take the weight of up to 50 pounds, this isn’t always the case. While the suction cups might actually hold, the steel wires attached to the suction cups might fall out, and the whole thing will collapse. If you’re truly concerned about your cat’s weight versus a window bed, consider a tall cat tree.
Multi-cat Homes
Multiple cats might mean multi-products. Start by purchasing just one perch, and if all your cats take to it, consider buying one for each cat. This is not so much to prevent them from fighting over it, but it’s for their own comfort (so each one can spread out) and safety (it’s too much weight if you have three cats on one window bed).
Image Credit: Angela Lo, Unsplash
Accessibility
This is an important one for any owner of cats with mobility issues. If your cat has difficulty jumping, you’ll need to consider placing the perch low enough that your cat has easy access. Otherwise, you’ll need to consider extra ledges and/or cat trees that can get them closer to the window.
Instructions
Always read the instructions before putting a product together and putting it up. If the instructions are non-existent or difficult to follow, look online for guidance. In most cases, you should be able to find instructions and even videos from other customers online, so be sure to follow any advice. This could make the difference between the perch staying up for a long time versus collapsing the next day.
Soaking the suctions cups in warm water before putting them up seems to be common advice for these window beds.
Stability
How you put up the perch will be a huge factor in its stability. Most cats don’t like anything that feels wobbly or unstable and won’t want to go back to the perch if it collapses on them.
You can choose between the suction cup or the window-sill style. Most people don’t seem to have any trouble with the suction cups, but it’s always a possibility. The windowsill is usually the most stable if it’s been screwed in, but in many cases, you’ll need a specific kind of sill for it to attach properly.
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