While there is no doubt my cats lead a pampered life and are willingly waited on paw over paw by me, it does not mean that they wear diamond studded collars and eat fresh smoked salmon. I respect the value of a dollar and try not to spend my money too lavishly on them, despite how it might seem on the surface. Many kitty items in my house are handmade, most were bought on sale, and lots of them have been given to me – either as gifts or for product review. So, when I was given the opportunity to review a Sleepypod pet bed/carrier/car seat, I must admit I was a bit hesitant – this item was a bit pricey for me (the model sent to me retails for $179.99) and I worried about affordability to my readers.

When I received the item and removed it from the shipping box, I immediately changed my mind. Sometimes quality and value go hand in hand and it is not always about buying the least expensive item you can find, often which will have to be replaced, causing you to spend more money in the long run. The Sleepypod is a versatile and clever product that that lets you pamper your beloved pet in luxurious style and comfortable practicability – it is a comfy pet bed (with an optional bed warmer for colder days and an optional mesh liner for cooler days available), a travel carrier, and a crash tested car seat – whatever your needs or circumstances, the Sleepypod will adapt.

And while the functionality is incredible, it’s the quality and workmanship of this item that really impressed me – from the gorgeous and stunning box the Sleepypod is packaged in to the durable materials used, every bit of attention to detail is attended to. The sleeping pod is shaped like a round hatbox and is lined with a plush fur interior that is irrestiable to cats. The removable domed lid is constructed of a strong and breathable mesh and nylon material and all the components are held together with sturdy nylon zippers that come apart and together ingeniously to suit whatever need you have at the moment. It is also extremely pet friendly, meaning all the parts can easily be wiped down or washed when needed.

I’m not the only one impressed either – critics agree as well. The product awards Sleepypod have won year after year are too numerous to mention by name, but let’s just say that Cat Fancy is at the top of the list!  I think the best endorsement, however, is from the true critics – my cats – so I’ll let them finish the review and do the meowing, which they did the instant I put the box on the floor. Mia, our refined little princess, gave it her paw stamp of approval for the aesthetic design and sturdy construction. I literally had to shoo her off the box and when I was finally able to put the Sleepypod on the bed to examine how to zipper the domed lid to the pod, Zoey instantly jumped inside to give her approval to the thick, cozy pile that lined the bed. She did not want to share, so Mia helped me again by getting the ball rolling as she investigated the domed lid on her own. I’m sure the Sleepypod people actually intended for the dome to be zippered to the pod BEFORE the cat uses it, but Mia loved the fort effect that the dome created and actually snuggled inside it for a few minutes for a safe and comfy cat nap!

Mia was instantly attracted to Sleepypod packaging.

Mia is as pretty as the Sleepypod box!

Zoey stakes claim to the pod once I put it on the bed!

Mia gets the ball rolling – time to check out the domed cover!

Even though she is hard to see, Mia is happily napping under the dome!

After Mia finished her nap and I was able to zip the cover onto the pod, Kizmet jumped right in and his brothers and sisters gathered around to see what the Sleepypod was all about!! There was no doubt they were all intrigued by the Sleepypod, so I decided to give it a different setting to see what would happen and I took it and put it next to the chair in my office and walked away to see if it would attract any of them without me prompting them.

Kizmet in the fully assembled Sleepypod – surrounded by his new brother Rolz, and sisters, Peanut, and Mia!

About an hour later, I came into the office to find Jazz completely snuggled up like a bug in a rug in the pod. Since the Sleepypod folks were kind enough to send me a bed warming pad to try out, I plugged it in to give Jazz some extra warmth for his old and tired bones (I had already put it in the pod previously to see how it worked). He seemed to enjoy that feature a lot – for those of you who have cats with arthritis or who are aging, you might want to get the warming pad – it does not get overly warm and once you put the pad into the Sleepypod, it is very easy to plug in and out. The warmer comes with both an electric cord and a charger for the car and again, it is the attention to those details that really impressed me about this company. They understand that if your pet needs warmth in the house, then they would enjoy the same warmth while traveling in a car.

Jazz cuddling in the Sleepypod – you will see the cord for the warming pad on the floor – it is super easy to plug it in when you want to use it!

Now, two days after I took the Sleepypod out for kitty testing, I came home from work and found Peanut snuggled into the pod – again – no prompting whatsoever. There is no doubt about it, my cats are seeking out the Sleepypod and I think that they love the circular shape of it so that they can curl up in it in a perfect ball. I love seeing how content they are and best of all – I now get the company of a happy kitty next to me, but instead of napping on my keyboard, they are in the Sleepypod and I don’t have to worry about an important document being deleted!!

Peanut is another very satisfied Sleepypod cat!

Not to be outdone by Jazz and Peanut, Kizmet prefers a more unconventional approach and is snuggling in the mesh dome cover (pardon the blurry image, it was the best I could do in light of a deadline)!

Another positive feature is because it can also be used as a pet carrier (it actually is designed so that it can be held safely in place in the car with a seat belt), you cat does not associate it with a bad experience like when you go to the garage and bring out that “evil” contraption that brings them to the vet. By already using it in your home as a trusted and happy napping place, they are less inclined to be upset when you put the zippered lid on it and use it as a carrier. As I said, my gang actually likes the dome and the sense of security it gives them.

I have not yet used it in the car, but Kizmet does have an upcoming vet trip planned, so I will try it out. In the meantime, please take a moment to watch this informative video courtesy of Sleepypod on how the Sleepypod works and all the details on how to take it apart put it back together. It does not have sound, but it is very easy to understand and follow and does a very good job showing how to use the carrier as a car seat when traveling.

All in all, I would recommend this mobile bed if you are someone who appreciates high quality craftsmanship and versatility. As I said, it is a bit pricey, but it will last a lifetime and there is no doubt that cats really like the design. It would also make an incredible, unique, and thoughtful gift for any pet lover on your list or it would be a great item to ask for as a present! The Sleepypod fits a pet up to 15 pounds, so it can also be used for smaller dogs. They also have a mini pod model that fits pets up to 7 pounds and they even have carriers for small pets like hamsters and gerbils which often get overlooked in the pet market.

Please be sure to check out the Sleepypod website – not only is it visually stunning, but they have a full range of pet products designed for the comfort and practicability of your pet along with lots of great videos and product information. Best of all, Sleepypod is offering a giveaway opportunity for one lucky reader – just leave a comment why your pet would love a Sleepypod of their own by midnight, PST, Thursday, December 13th  and a random drawing will be conducted and the winner will be announced on Saturday, December 15th . U.S. residents only and be sure to include your email when you submit the comment. The giveaway includes a Sleepypod and as a bonus, a pet warming pad!

Good luck to all and thank you to Sleepypod for this generous giveaway opportunity!

I was not paid for this product review and all of the opinions are based on mine as witnessed by the actions of my cats.

On another note, we are pleased to announce that the winner of our Cat-A-Pole interactive toy giveaway is our dear friends, da tabbie o trout towne!! Concatulations!!