Multi-Cat Household 2025: Stress-Free Ways to Add New Beds 🛏️

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

New bed day = new tension? In a multi-cat household, even something as simple as a cozy new cube or pad can spark competition, confusion, or conflict if it’s introduced the wrong way. 😾

Here’s how to bring in a new cat bed (or two!) without disrupting your cats’ routine, territory, or relationships — plus which beds work best for homes with multiple personalities.

😼 Why New Beds Can Trigger Drama 

• ✅ Beds are territory — not just furniture
  
• ❌ A new scent = a challenge to the existing scent map 
• ❌ One cat may try to “claim” it, causing another to retreat 
• ✅ Sudden changes in layout = stress signals to cats

💡 Solution: Slow integration, scent control, and space variety.

✅ 5 Steps to Introducing a New Cat Bed

1. Don’t Remove Any Existing Beds Right Away

• Keep your current beds in place for at least a week
  
• Cats need time to assess options, not be forced to switch

2. Place the New Bed in a Neutral Zone

• Not directly next to a food bowl, litter tray, or existing “claimed” bed 
• Try hallways, corners, or shelves your cats already pass through

3. Add Familiar Scent 

• Use a fleece, toy, or small blanket that already smells like your cats 
• Let each cat investigate the bed alone (no forced group intros)

4. Observe + Adjust

• If one cat guards the bed, add another option in a separate area
  
• If a cat uses the bed, reward with gentle praise or treats

5. Offer Variety (Not Duplication) 

• Each cat has their own preferences — some like caves, others want pads 
• Mix and match styles:       3-in-1 Cube +       XL Pad +       Felt House  

🛏️ Best Purrz Beds for Multi-Cat Harmony

• 🔁 3-in-1 Cube Cave – flexible design = flexible relationships 
• 🛋️ XL Felt Pad – open layout = no dominance or guarding
  
• 🏠 Felt Houses – separate “rooms” in shared environments

📦 Bonus Tip: Rotate Beds Seasonally

Rotating 1–2 beds every few months keeps your cats interested and reduces boredom-related tension.   Reintroduce old beds with a fresh scent layer (spritz with diluted catnip water or use a new blanket insert).

💬 From Dr. Duncan Houston

“Cats don’t need matching beds — they need personal space. A successful new bed introduction is slow, respectful, and designed with behavior in mind. That’s how you reduce tension, not cause it.”

🛒 Ready to Expand Peacefully? 

• 🛏️ XL Pad – great for shared or solo naps
  
• 🔁 3-in-1 Cube – perfect for new intros 
• 🏠 Felt Houses – structured for privacy and play

🐾 Browse all beds for multi-cat homes at Purrz

📚 References

1. International Cat Care. (2023). Multi-cat environment and territory stress. https://icatcare.org
2.  
3. Buffington, C. A. T. (2011). Feline resource management. *Vet Clinics of North America*, 41(5), 1001–1017.