A donut cat bed is a round, soft bed with a raised rim, and the right one fits your cat when it curls up. This guide from WakaPaw compares 5 donut beds on size, fur, washing and returns, so you can pick the one that suits your cat.
Key Takeaways
- If your cat curls into a ball in the open: choose a plain donut with room inside the rim for its curled-up body. The Bedsure 20 in suits a small cat, and Best Friends by Sheri comes in the most sizes.
- If your cat likes to hide: choose a cave bed with a roof, or a donut with a covered tunnel.
- If your cat weighs over about 15 lb (6.8 kg): choose a bigger plain donut rated for that weight, like the Sheri 30 in or the Furhaven M.
- If you're not sure your cat will use it: check the return rules first, because some brands won't take an opened bed back.
- If your cat naps, hides and plays: our 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed is the best overall pick. It's a plush donut with a tunnel built in, for $69.99 with 100-day returns.
Donut Cat Beds at a Glance
Here are the 5 beds side by side, so you can match one to your cat's size and your return needs first. Each one is covered in full below.
| Bed | Best for | Size | Cat weight | Return rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed | Cats that nap, hide and play | 33.5 in (85 cm) ring | Up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 100 days |
| Best Friends by Sheri | The most sizes to pick from | 17 to 45 in (43 to 114 cm) | 23 in (58 cm): up to 25 lb (11 kg) | Unused, with tags, 30 days |
| Bedsure (20 in) | Small cats and small spaces | 20 in (51 cm) | Up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg) | Amazon's return window |
| Jackson Galaxy Donut Disturb | A bed made just for cats | 24 in (61 cm) | Not listed by the brand | None once opened |
| Furhaven Long Fur Donut | Adding more stuffing later | XS 20 in (51 cm), S 23 in (58 cm) | XS up to 15 lb (6.8 kg), S up to 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 90-day defect cover, not a return window |
The 5 Donut Cat Beds Compared
How we compared donut cat beds
To be open with you: we make the 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed, and it's first on this list. For the other four, we read each brand's own page on November 1, 2026. For Bedsure, we used its own Amazon store, because its site didn't load for us. We didn't test the other four ourselves, and where another bed beats ours on a point, we say so.
We list our own price, but we don't give prices or shop links for other brands, so check the brand's page for the current price. We looked at each bed on these five points.
- Size: does the brand give a weight for each size?
- Fur and rim: the type of fur and the rim height each brand describes.
- Washing: whole bed or cover only, and what the brand says about the dryer.
- Returns: can you send it back after your cat has tried it?
- Claims: we skip "calming" and "pain relief" lines that a brand doesn't back up.
1. Best Overall Donut Cat Bed: 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed
Why it's our pick: it's a plush donut ring with a padded cushion in the middle, and a tunnel through the side. It's the only donut on this list with a tunnel built in, and the only one that changes shape. The other four are plain donuts, made for sleeping only.
Soft inside and out: long faux fur covers the outside of the ring, and the tunnel is lined with soft fabric. Your cat can sink into the cushion and lean on the rim. When the house gets busy, it can slip into the tunnel instead.
Three shapes from one bed: zippers and small toggle buttons turn it into a round donut, a bed with an open tunnel or one long S-shaped tunnel. A pom-pom hangs down for paws to bat, and you can take it off.
What owners say: on our product page, Maria T. wrote that her pet only peeked in at first. Then it started going in alone and staying inside. In her words, "The fabric feels really nice."
Size and fit: the ring is 33.5 in across and 10.2 in tall. Take the cushion out and the middle is about 15.7 in. It's made for cats up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg), and also for kittens and small dogs.
Easy to live with: the cushion lifts out for a gentle machine wash. The tunnel's wire frame folds down into a 12.6 in box when you want to put it away. Full care steps are on the product page.
| Type | Plush donut bed with a built-in tunnel, 3 shapes |
|---|---|
| Size | 33.5 in (85 cm) across, 10.2 in (26 cm) tall, center about 15.7 in (40 cm) |
| Made for | Cats up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg), kittens and small dogs |
| Feel | Long faux fur outside, soft lining, padded cushion |
| Cleaning | Cushion goes in the washing machine, gentle cycle |
| Colors | Frost Gray, Rainbow, Honey Lattice |
| Price | $69.99, free worldwide shipping, 100-day returns |
Pros
- A donut bed and a covered tunnel in one
- Plush inside and out, with a cushion to sink into
- Three shapes, so you can change the setup now and then
- Cushion goes in the washing machine
- Room for one cat in the ring and another in the tunnel
Cons
- Made for cats up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg). Heavier cats need a bigger bed rated for their weight.
- It takes more floor space than a 20 in donut, because the tunnel wraps around the ring.
Who it's for: cats that curl up and like to hide, and shy cats that want a covered spot in the open. It also suits playful young cats and homes with two cats.
See the 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed: ships free worldwide, 100-day returns
2. Most Sizes: Best Friends by Sheri Calming Donut
A black cat curled up in a shaggy round pet bed (stock photo, not the exact product).
This is the classic shaggy donut, with vegan faux fur, a raised rim and a bottom that resists water and dirt. It comes in four sizes: 17, 23, 30 and 45 in. The brand gives a pet weight for the larger three. The 17 and 23 in beds go in the washer whole and can tumble-dry on low.
Know before you buy: it only takes back unused beds with the tags still on, and you pay the return shipping. On the day we checked, most sizes and colors were sold out on the brand's site. Also, the 23 in is the brand's "small" size, for pets up to 25 lb (11 kg).
Pick it if you want a classic shaggy donut and need a size the others don't offer. It suits a large cat, or a cat and a small dog that share.
3. Best for Small Cats: Bedsure Donut Cat Bed (20 in)
A black cat asleep in a round, plush pet bed (stock photo, not the exact product).
What you get: a cat-sized donut, 20 × 20 × 6 in, for cats up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg), with a non-slip base. Bedsure's listing says the fabric is certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, a label that means it was tested for harmful substances. The small sizes go in the washing machine whole. We read the listing on Bedsure's own Amazon store, which also offers many colors and bigger sizes.
Keep in mind: at 6 in high, it's a small, low bed. The listing says different things about which sizes wash whole and which need the cover off, so check the label on yours.
Choose it if you want a small, simple first donut for a small or average cat. It also works as a second bed for another room.
4. Best Cat-Only Design: Jackson Galaxy Donut Disturb Cat Bed
A long-haired cat asleep in a round, padded cat bed (stock photo, not the exact product).
What stands out: the brand markets it as a donut made for cats, not a smaller dog bed. It measures 24 × 24 × 6 in, with a polyester faux fur top and a non-slip bottom, in four bright colors. It ships vacuum-packed, which means squeezed flat in plastic. The brand pitches it as a spot your cat can claim as its own.
The downside: the brand's refund policy says this bed can't be returned once opened. It comes in one size only, with no weight limit on the page. The brand also suggests air drying after a cold wash.
It's a good fit if you want a bright donut made just for cats, for one average cat, and you're sure about the 24 in size.
5. Best for Refilling: Furhaven Long Fur Donut
A kitten resting in a round bed with soft, padded sides (stock photo, not the exact product).
Furhaven makes a long-fur donut with deep padded sides. An inner lining with a zipper lets you add more stuffing when it goes flat, and you can buy a new cover on its own. The brand's size chart starts at XS, a 20 in bed for pets up to 15 lb (6.8 kg), and goes up to jumbo. The brand says it suits pets that like to snuggle in and dig down.
Watch for: it's named and sized as a dog bed, so most cat owners will look at the XS or S. The brand says it's not for heavy chewers. It ships squeezed flat, and the care text only points you to the label.
Go with it if you'd rather refill a flat bed than buy a new one. The S size also fits a cat of 15 to 20 lb (6.8 to 9.1 kg).
Give your cat a plush tunnel to race through and a soft donut bed to nap in. One cat tunnel bed, 3 shapes, ...
What Is a Donut Cat Bed?
A donut cat bed, also sold as a cat donut bed, is a round bed with a padded, raised rim around a soft, low middle. Your cat curls up in the center and rests its head or back on the rim. Many are covered in long faux fur, which is soft fake fur. That raised rim is what sets it apart from a flat mat.
How to Choose a Donut Cat Bed
Start with how your cat sleeps, then check the size and what the label really promises. Go through these three steps in order, and the right bed gets much easier to spot.
Step 1: Match the shape to how your cat sleeps
Watch how your cat sleeps now, because each sleeping style suits a different bed. Then find your cat in the list below.
- Curls into a ball: a donut.
- Hides under blankets or in closets: a cave bed with a roof, or a donut with a covered tunnel.
- Sleeps stretched out flat: a flat mat or a big, low cushion.
- Plays hard, then naps right away: a donut with a tunnel, so the play spot and the nap spot are the same.
Our tunnel bed blends the two shapes. The ring works like a donut, and the tunnel through its side gives a shy cat somewhere to tuck in. Want a tunnel on its own? See our guide to the best cat tunnels.
Step 2: Pick the right size donut bed for your cat
Measure your cat while it sleeps curled up, then compare that with the space inside the rim. Donut beds are sold by their outside size, rim included, so a 20 in donut has a much smaller spot to lie in. The sizes below are outside sizes.
| Your cat | Look for | Examples from this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Small: under 8 lb (3.6 kg), kittens and small breeds | 17 to 20 in (43 to 51 cm) | Sheri 17 in; Bedsure 20 in and Furhaven XS, both up to 15 lb (6.8 kg) |
| Average: 8 to 12 lb (3.6 to 5.4 kg), most house cats | 20 to 24 in (51 to 61 cm) | Jackson Galaxy 24 in; our ring, with a center of about 15.7 in (40 cm) once the cushion is out |
| Large: 12 to 15 lb (5.4 to 6.8 kg) | 23 to 24 in (58 to 61 cm), or bigger for a cat that stretches out | Furhaven S, up to 20 lb (9.1 kg); Sheri 23 in; our ring, up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg) |
| Extra large: over 15 lb (6.8 kg), such as a Maine Coon | 30 in (76 cm) and up | Sheri 30 in and Furhaven M, made for bigger pets |
Treat these weight bands as a rough guide, then check the brand's own limit for the exact bed you pick. Between two sizes? Go one size up, most of all for a heavy cat or one that likes to stretch. A little extra room inside the rim is easier to live with than a bed that's too tight.
Step 3: Check what "calming" means for anxious cats
Many donut beds are sold as "calming," but treat that word as marketing, not a proven result. The brand pages we read showed no study behind lines like "soothes anxiety" or "pain relief." So we don't make that claim for ours.
What a donut can really offer is simpler: a rim to lean on, a warm, soft surface and, on some beds, a covered spot. Look for those three things, and treat "calming" as only a label.
Why Won't My Cat Use Its New Donut Bed?
A new bed can take a while to win a cat over. Try these steps in order, and let your cat set the pace.
- Fluff it up first: many donuts ship folded, or squeezed flat in plastic. Open the bag right away, then press and pull the rim with your hands. Our tunnel bed arrives folded in a small box, and its wire frame springs back into shape in seconds.
- Pick a known spot: put it where your cat already naps, like a sunny window, a corner of the living room or the end of your bed.
- Add a familiar smell: a worn T-shirt, or the blanket your cat sleeps on now.
- Make it interesting: a pinch of catnip, a treat in the middle or a toy in the tunnel.
- Let it be your cat's idea: don't put your cat in it. Wait for your cat to find it.
- Check the fit: a cat that sleeps stretched out may need a bigger bed or a flat mat.
Two cats and one bed? A second bed in another room often settles it. So can a bed with two spots, like the ring and tunnel on ours.
How to Wash a Donut Cat Bed and Keep It Fluffy
A few habits at wash time help the rim stay full and the bed keep its shape. Follow these three steps each time you clean the bed.
Step 1: Get the cat hair out first
Long faux fur holds on to shed hair. Before every wash, run a damp rubber glove or a lint roller over the fur, or go over it with the small brush tip on your vacuum. Light colors hide a white or gray cat's hair, and darker ones hide a black cat's.
Step 2: Wash the way the label says
Follow the care label on your bed, since brands differ. Of the beds here, Sheri allows a low tumble dry on its small sizes, while Jackson Galaxy suggests air drying. On our tunnel bed, the cushion goes in the washing machine on a gentle cycle.
Important: don't put a donut bed in the dryer unless its care label allows it. If it does, use only the heat setting the label lists. Some brands suggest air drying instead.
Step 3: Fluff the rim every time
Push the filling back into the rim by hand while the bed dries. On the Furhaven, the zipper lining lets you add stuffing instead. To clean a plush tunnel, see the washing steps in our cat tunnel guide.
Donut Bed With a Tunnel or a Plain Donut: Which Is Right for Your Cat?
A donut with a tunnel pays off when your cat does more than sleep. If your cat also hides in closets, sleeps under the comforter or races around the house at night, one bed covers sleep, hiding and play. That suits shy cats, young cats that play hard and homes with two cats. Want a tunnel bed under the Christmas tree this year? Our guide to cat tunnel tree skirts shows how.
When a plain donut is the better buy
A plain donut is enough for a cat that only ever curls up in the open. A big cat that sleeps that way needs room more than a tunnel. Above about 15 lb (6.8 kg), a bigger plain donut rated for that weight is the simpler choice.
What you get with ours
What you pay for a bed covers more than the bed itself. Here's what you get with ours, next to what other brands offer.
- No waiting: it comes folded in a small box, and the tunnel springs open with no tools.
- Nap, hide and play: no extra hideout or play tube to buy.
- Easy cleaning: lift the cushion out and put it in the washing machine.
- About 19 cents a night: if your cat naps in it every night for a year.
How the others compare: Sheri lists a weight for most sizes. Jackson Galaxy gives no weight limit, and Furhaven's chart is written for dogs. Jackson Galaxy and Furhaven both ship squeezed flat, so both need time to puff up. Jackson Galaxy asks you to air dry, and some Bedsure and Sheri sizes need the cover off to wash.
On returns: Sheri takes back only unused beds with tags, within 30 days, and you pay the return shipping. Jackson Galaxy won't take the bed back once it's opened. Bedsure goes through Amazon's return window. Furhaven lists 90 days of cover for material defects, which means faults in how it's made, not returns.
Size, colors and what comes with it
One size, 33.5 in (85 cm) across: the center is about 15.7 in (40 cm) with the cushion out, made for cats up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg). Not sure it fits? Send us your cat's weight and we'll tell you if it fits.
3 colors: Frost Gray, Rainbow and Honey Lattice. Buying for two cats? Mix any two colors and save $5 on each.
$69.99, free worldwide shipping and 100-day returns: email us within 100 days of delivery to start a return, and real people reply within 24 hours, 7 days a week. One catch: it's sold only on our site, not in stores.
Shop the 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed: free worldwide shipping, 100-day returns
Conclusion: Which Donut Cat Bed Should You Get?
A donut bed suits a cat that sleeps curled up, so pick one with room inside the rim for that curled-up body. A small cat suits a 20 in donut, a cat over about 15 lb (6.8 kg) needs a bigger bed rated for its weight, and a shy cat may want a covered spot. Get the size right, and the rim gives your cat a soft edge to lean on every night.
If you're looking for one donut that your cat can nap, hide and play in, the 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed is a great choice. It's a plush donut with a tunnel built in, so a shy cat can tuck away and a playful one can race through. It's $69.99, shipped free worldwide, with 100 days to return it.
Have questions about whether it will fit your cat? Contact us at support@wakapaw.com with your cat's weight. Our team responds within 24 hours, 7 days a week.
FAQs
What is the best donut cat bed?
The 3-in-1 Cat Tunnel Bed is our pick for cats up to about 15 lb (6.8 kg) that like to curl up, hide and play. It's a plush donut with a tunnel built in, it changes into three shapes, and the cushion is machine-washable.
Do cats like donut beds?
Many cats that sleep curled up do, because the rim gives them something to lean on. Cats that sleep stretched out flat often like a mat or a bigger, lower bed better.
Are donut beds good for older cats?
They can be, as long as the side is low and easy to step over. Check the bed's height before you buy.
Can you put a donut cat bed in the dryer?
Use a dryer only if the care label allows it, and only on the heat setting it lists. Some brands allow a low tumble dry, while others suggest air drying.
What size donut cat bed should I get?
Measure your cat while it sleeps curled up, then compare that with the space inside the rim, since donut beds are sold by their outside size. Most house cats of 8 to 12 lb (3.6 to 5.4 kg) suit a 20 to 24 in (51 to 61 cm) bed. Between two sizes, go one size up.
Do calming donut beds work for anxious cats?
Treat "calming" as marketing, not a proven result. The brand pages we read showed no study behind lines like "soothes anxiety." What a donut can really offer is a rim to lean on, a warm, soft surface and, on some beds, a covered spot.
Can two cats share a donut bed?
Some will, but most cats like their own spot. A second bed, or a bed with two spots, usually works better.
