Best cat sofa: Places for your kitty to sit pretty

Cat sitting on what could be one of the best cat sofas
(Image credit: Paws and Purrs)

While a regular human sofa is okay for cats, nothing beats having their own pick of the best cat sofas. After all, every pet owner out there knows the pain of loving your wonderful fur babies so very much, but not being a huge fan of the constant fur all over your furniture. That, or being used as a scratching post. Maybe both. With their own sofa, not only will fur on your furniture be a thing of the past, but their fur will be contained to one single, smaller place, making it much easier to clean up after. 

Of course a cat sofa isn't there to benefit just young cats. Older cats may need orthopedic support, or a sofa that isn’t too far off the ground so they don’t need to jump on and strain themselves. Coupled with the option of cooling gels, or sofas that can be heated up via thermal heating or the radiator, your cat’s needs should be the first priority when buying a cat sofa.

With all that in mind, finding the right sofa sounds difficult, doesn’t it? That’s where we come in. With our six cat sofas to choose from, you’ll have the benefit of knowing which sofa will suit your feline friend’s needs. If you don't think a sofa will suite your cat, maybe take a look at the best cat hammocks or maybe even our pick of the best luxury cat beds.

PetsRadar's pick of the best cat sofa

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Furhaven Ergonomic Luxe Lounger Contour cat sofa

(Image credit: Furhaven)

Furhaven Ergonomic Luxe Lounger Contour Pet Couch

The best overall cat sofa

Specifications

Orthopedic Support: Yes
Size: Medium to Giant
Cooling Gel Support: Yes
Machine Washable Cover: Yes
Color Choices: 15

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable sleep surface
+
Easy to clean
+
Orthopedic and Cooling Gel is optional

Reasons to avoid

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Thin material around the mattress

Okay, so it may look a little simple at first, but how can you deny this luxurious Furhaven chaise couch when it comes with 15 different colors? Especially when one is described as ‘Microvelvet Clay?’ That’s right you can’t because, with 15 colors to choose from, you’re sure to find something that’ll match the decor of where you live. 

Fashion aside, the design of this sofa is made with your cat’s comfort in mind, with its contoured curves giving your pet more room to stretch out and find the right spot. The ergonomic design will also help in supporting your pet’s back and neck, providing them with maximum comfort.

As for the mattress inside, there are more than enough options for you to choose from: orthopedic, cooling gel foam, or memory foam. This can give you choice, and you can buy all three, but we wouldn’t recommend doing that. If you need all three, you may want to look somewhere else. It’ll be less pricey.

The best thing about this sofa – not including the fact that it’s machine washable, hallelujah! – is that it comes in all sizes, from medium to giant. While we’re looking at sofas from a cat owner’s perspective, this sofa is targeted at all pets, which is incredibly useful if you’ve got more than one fur baby that needs a place to lounge. 

While we adore the simplicity and variety of choice with the Furhaven sofa, it does have some drawbacks. The material around the mattress is very thin, so durability is something to keep in mind if your cat likes to excessively chew or scratch at things. 

cat sofa

(Image credit: Paws and Purrs)

Paws and Purrs Modern Pet Sofa

Best modern cat sofa

Specifications

Orthopedic Support: No
Size: 31.5" W x 19.5" D x 15.5" H (inches)
Cooling Gel Support: No
Machine Washable Cover: Yes
Color Choices: 3

Reasons to buy

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Modern look suits most homes
+
Soft, padded foam mattress
+
Easy cleaning

Reasons to avoid

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Not suitable for pets weighing over 20lbs

Why should humans get all the fun of having a modern sofa? That’s not fun at all! This is where the Paws and Purrs Modern Pet Sofa comes in, and while it is a little pricey, it’s fashionable design and quality will make it 100% worth purchasing. Alongside your own furniture, it won’t stick out like a sore thumb in comparison to other cat sofas, and will make your cat really look like part of the family with their own furniture.

It works like an actual sofa too, with a soft, padded foam 3-inch mattress included at purchase. The cover of this cushion is removable via zipper, making it easy to clean with your washing machine, as well as by hand. Unfortunately, there are only three different colors for the sofa and cover, but that seems to be a minimal fault in comparison to the modern look.

The sofa is very easy to assemble, as all you need to do is screw the legs and the back together for it to be complete. You don’t need to be an expert at DIY to do that!

However, if your cat is heavier than 20lbs, we’d ask you to reconsider this sofa, as it cannot handle the weight of larger pets. Pets with mobility issues or pains like arthritis should also look somewhere else as, despite it looking great and fashionable, this sofa lacks orthopedic features, and doesn’t provide thermal heating or a cooling gel. Older pets may also struggle in getting on this sofa, as while it isn’t too far off the ground, the legs do make it higher than other sofas out there. 

AmazonBasics Cat Sofa Lounger

(Image credit: Amazon)

AmazonBasics Pet Sofa Lounger

Best simple cat sofa

Specifications

Orthopedic Support: Yes
Size: Small to Large
Cooling Gel Support: No
Machine Washable Cover: Yes
Color Choices: No

Reasons to buy

+
Memory foam provides support
+
3 sides for a secure fit
+
Comes with a water resistant liner

Reasons to avoid

-
Lightweight makes it slippy on hard surface flooring

If you’ve been reading this article and have been wondering, “Okay, but what if I just want a simple cat sofa? It doesn’t matter if it’s an orthopedic or not, just a simple, clean, nice, cat sofa.” Well, don’t sweat, because AmazonBasics Pet Sofa Lounger is here to save the day, and make buying a cat sofa so easy that you won’t need to second guess anything at all. It’s just the perfect combination of easy comfort and an affordable price. 

The AmazonBasics Pet Sofa has 3 raised sides to provide comfort and stability for your pet’s head and neck. It comes in sizes small to large, with more than enough room for multiple cats to occupy the sofa if that’s the sort of product you’re looking for. 

The cover for the mattress foam of the sofa is a grey, polyester canvas that is machine washable, and can be removed easily via the zip. The mattress foam inside is very thick, making it comfortable and reduces pressure points, which in turn can ease joint and muscular pain, making sleep easier for your treasured feline. 

AmazonBasics’ sofa also comes with a water-resistant liner and a durable fabric base that can withstand water damage, as well as damage from chewing and claws, though if damage does happen the product does come with a 1-year warranty. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, after all.

Again, this isn’t a cat sofa that will blow minds, and it fails to have a non-slip bottom so it doesn’t work well in homes that has hard surfaced flooring, but if you’re just in need of a cat sofa that’s good on the wallet and doesn’t lack in quality, then there’s no better than AmazonBasics. 

How to choose the best cat sofa

When choosing a cat sofa, there are more than a few things to consider: what is your cat’s personality, how old are they, what’s their size, and do they have a disability? Without these thoughts in mind, you risk the chance of getting a sofa that your cat just doesn’t vibe with.

If you have a cat that’s rather playful, then a sofa that they can both use to lounge on, as well as scratch and chew on without ripping it apart, is the way to go. That way they can get the best of both worlds. Maybe even consider getting a bigger sofa, as it can give them more room to play on their sofa with toys. Alternatively, your cat may just want to sleep on their sofa, and if that’s the case then a soft, comfy sofa that can either be high or low to the ground will work just fine. 

However, older felines – or those with mobility issues – should also be considered. Straining themselves to get to a sofa isn’t good for them, and may cause them more strife than comfort. Get a low on the ground sofa that isn’t too hard – memory foam works best – and one that is secure, preferably one with two arms and a back. Of course, a sofa bed that has too high sides could be a problem, so be aware of that before purchasing. You should also think about whether the sofa includes features such as cooling gel or thermal heating – the gel for if your cat runs hot, and thermal heating to keep your feline feeling snug. 

And let’s not forget the number one thing: style! Choosing the right cat sofa for your cat is good and all, but if it doesn’t fit your living room then it’s going to stick out like a sore thumb. Of course, if you’d rather have it outside then you should consider getting a durable, waterproof cat sofa. The possibilities are limitless.

Aimee Hart

Aimee Hart is deputy editor of LGBT+ video game publication, Gayming Magazine, part-time freelance writer, and a full-time animal lover. She is owned by two dogs, a cat, and a ridiculous amount of fish. None of them can escape her cuddles.