Cats need a space where they can lounge around and feel comfortable, which gives them a good spot to scope out their surroundings. They are drawn to high spaces, giving them the opportunity to scout without getting involved in the fray. Hammocks are a great way to give your cat safety and comfort without taking up too much space in your home.
“Hammocks provide the cat with an enclosed or wrapped feeling and this helps them feel safe and secure,” Cat Behaviorist,Mieshelle Nagelschneider.told The Spruce Pets.
我们’ve tested hundreds of cat products, including dozens ofcat trees,scratching posts, andperches. Several of our favorite tested products appear on this list. After consultation with experts and lots of research, we believe the Fukumaru Breathable Cat Hammock is the best hammock for most cats, thanks to its sturdy construction, big bed, and how easy it is to wash.
Best Overall
Fukumaru Breathable Cat Hammock
Sturdy wooden construction
Breathable fabric
Suitable for indoor or outdoor use
Machine washable hammock
Only one fabric option
The Fukumaru Breathable Cat Hammock has a birch plywood frame that supports a hammock made of breathable brown twill. It’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and can support up to 40 pounds. With a 21-inch length, it’s long enough for most cats to enjoy, but larger cats won’t be able to fully sprawl out.
It’s also one of the easiest hammocks to deploy, with a quick assembly and a frame that’s easy to move anywhere. The fabric hammock is removable and machine washable too.
While the Fukumaru Breathable Cat Hammock has an attractive, minimal design, we would have preferred it was offered in a few different colors too.
Price at time of publish: $33
Dimensions:21 x 16.5 x 10 inches |Materials:Birch plywood, brown twill hammock
Best with Scratching Post
Trixie Baza Scratching Post with Hammock
Fits small spaces
Very cozy hammock
Durable sisal scratchers
Available in two sizes
Hammock cover can’t be removed for cleaning
Your cat may not use the fuzzy hammock in hot weather
特里克茜的Baza抓柱与吊床的用途two scratching post pillars to support its plush hammock basket. Each of the two scratching posts are wrapped in sisal, which can hold up to a lot of scratching, and is also easy to replace yourself.
The hammock on the Trixie Baza is a little more structured than most, with a metal rim that keeps its faux-fur “bucket” round and welcoming. Our volunteer tester cat enjoyed the fuzzy interior, but it’s a little annoying that there’s no way to remove the cover to wash it—expect a well-loved hammock to collect a lot of hair.
The Trixie Baza is also available in a few different configurations, including two different sizes—the larger more appropriate for cats 14 pounds and up. There’s also a versionmore suitable for senior cats, which has added steps to help a kitty with limited mobility get into the hammock.
Price at time of publish: $48 for large
Dimensions:16 x 16 x 20 inches (16-inch), 18 x 18 x 19 (19-inch) |我们ight:10 pounds |Frame Material:Engineered wood |Covering Material:Plush, sisal rope
Best Hanging
JOYELF Cat Hammock Bed
Reversible design with fuzzy and smooth sides
Smooth side is water-resistant and easy to wipe down
Four sturdy clips for easy hanging
Available in two sizes
Most convenient for hanging in cages, and difficult to find a home otherwise
The JOYELF Cat Hammock Bed is a classic hanging hammock, which means you need a place to install it. With four metal clasps—one at each corner—finding a home for it can be a little tricky. However, if you have a kennel, cage, orcatiothen the JOYELF should be a cinch to get set up.
Our favorite feature in this hammock is the double-sided bed, with one smooth and one fuzzy side. The fuzzy side is great for cold weather snuggling, while the smooth side is more appropriate for hot weather (plus it’s water-resistant and easier to clean). If you put the whole hammock inside of a washing bag, it’s even machine washable.
The JOYELF hammock is available in two sizes too.
Price at time of publish: $10 for medium
Dimensions:18 x 14 inches (medium); 21.5 x 17 inches (large) |Materials:Metal clips, polyester
Best Wall-Mounted
Fukumaru Wall-Mounted Cat Hammock
Attractive fabric options
Available in multiple sizes
Comes with pieces for several mounting options
Durable wood construction
Hammock is removable and machine washable
Hammock is saggy—more appropriate for naps than perching
Fukumaru creates minimalist cat decor using wood-grain finishes, like this cat hammock is made with sturdy rubberwood. The wood construction makes this hammock extremely durable, and able to hold up to 40 pounds. It’s also suitable for a wide range of walls, and comes with mounting hardware for both masonry walls and drywall.
The comfortable canvas fabric can be removed and is machine washable. There’s even an extra-large version for bigger cats.
Price at time of publish: $33 for medium
Dimensions:15.7 x 13.8 x 4.75 inches (medium); 18.3 x 13.8 x 4.75 inches (large) |Materials:Rubberwood, canvas or flannel |Colors:White, striped, patterned, walnut
Best Cat Tree with Hammock
Go Pet Club Cat Tree
Two different hammocks, including a basket bed
Sturdy design
Available in multiple colors
Assembly instructions are pictorial only, and can get a little tricky
Sisal scratching posts are only partially wrapped
When we tested more than 25 cat trees, the Go Pet Club 62” Classic Cat Tree earned high scores, especially for its features-packed design and durability. It’s got so many interactive elements—a play tunnel, dangling rope, multiple platforms, and a hideout—that it’s an especially good pick for households with multiple cats. It also incorporates two different hammocks: a low-hanging hammock that’s easily accessible, and a higher “basket” bed where your cat can observe their vast kingdom.
Our volunteer tester, who had the Go Pet Club cat tree in their home for weeks before providing feedback, praised the tree’s sturdy design, which kept the tree rock-steady, no matter how much our 14-pound tester cat hopped around the top platforms. It incorporates a combination of carpeted and sisal-wrapped surfaces, though we wish some of the posts were fully sisal-wrapped so a cat can fully stretch out when they scratch.
The Go Pet Club cat tree is available in five different colors and a “paw print” design.
Price at time of publish: $121
Dimensions:38 x 27 x 62 inches |我们ight:39 pounds |Materials:Engineered wood, faux fur, synthetic fabric, sisal |Colors:Beige, black, blue, brown, gray, paw print
Our favorite cat hammock is theFukumaru Breathable Cat Hammock, which has a sturdy birch plywood frame that’s easy to set up indoors or outside, with a hammock bed that’s both breathable and easy to wash. If you’re looking for a hammock with a combination of features, we also highly recommend theTrixie Baza Scratching Post with Hammock, which stacks its plush, faux-fur hammock bed on top of two sisal-wrapped scratching posts. It’s available in a variety of useful configurations too.
What to Look For in Cat Hammocks
The enclosed feeling a cat hammock provides should bring security to your cat, making it feel camouflaged or prepared to pounce. It should be a place where your feline friend feels comfortable and safe, and should be installed in a location that’s accessible to them. Whether it’s in a cat tree or clung to a window, it should be placed one to seven feet off the ground, according to Nagelschneider.
Nagelschneider also recommends getting a hammock that is a bit larger than your cat so they’ll have plenty of room. Getting a smaller hammock will just make your cat not want to lounge around in it.
-
How do you hang a cat hammock?
All hammocks are different. Some use wire that can be suspended from a window or a wall, while others just need to be set-up in a cat tree.
-
Why do cats like hammocks so much?
Hammocks provide the cat with an enclosed or wrapped feeling and this helps them “feel safe and secure,” Nagelschneider. said.“Almost like hiding in an Amazon box, it’s just another medium or even a sort of camouflage for the cat.“
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
This article was written bySteven Asarch, a freelance writer for The Spruce Pets. He has firsthand experience working with different feline products and taking care of two rambunctious felines.
To gain a better understanding of what cats are looking for, he spoke to Cat Behaviorist and Founder of The Cat Behavior Clinic, Mieshelle Nagelschneider. He prioritized hammocks made of comfortable fabric and durable materials. He looked for products that were easy-to-assemble, practical, and sturdy.