If you have pets, look for a bunk bed with a sturdy, stable frame, no gaps where a paw or head could become caught, a finish that resists scratches and wipes clean, a ladder that animals cannot easily climb and mattresses with removable, washable covers. Clear floor beneath and around the bed makes it far easier to keep on top of pet hair. Dogs and cats often follow children into their bedrooms, so it pays to choose a bed that works for both.
Our range of modern bunk beds UK includes wood and metal frames with different finishes and storage options. Below we explain which features matter most in a home with animals and why.
Most bunk bed advice assumes the only people using the bed are the children sleeping in it. In a house with a dog or cat, the bed is also a place to lie beside, hide under, scratch against and sometimes try to climb. That affects which materials last, which designs stay safe and how much cleaning the room needs.
None of this means a bunk bed is a poor choice for pet owners. It simply means a few details move higher up the list. Thinking about the bed alongside the rest of your bedroom furniture UK also helps, because surfaces, storage and flooring all affect how well the room copes with fur and muddy paws.
Powder coated metal frames resist scratching well and are simple to wipe clean. They are not tempting to chew. The slim tubing also leaves fewer flat surfaces for hair to settle on. Check that all tube ends are capped and that there are no sharp edges at pet height.
Solid wood is sturdy and feels warm, but softer timbers such as pine can show claw marks and are sometimes chewed by puppies. The upside is that light damage can usually be sanded and touched up. A painted or lacquered finish adds some protection compared with bare or waxed wood.
Engineered boards with a laminated or foil surface are smooth and easy to clean. However, chipped edges can be harder to repair, and the board beneath may swell if a pet regularly licks or wets one spot.
Fabric covered bunk beds look soft and inviting, but they tend to attract hair and can tempt cats to scratch. Unless the fabric is particularly hard wearing and easy to clean, they are usually less practical in pet homes.
The British and European bunk bed standard, BS EN 747, sets rules for the size of gaps in guard rails and frames to reduce the risk of children becoming trapped. Those rules are designed around children, so it is worth looking at the bed from a pet’s point of view as well.
Check the gap between the lower bunk and the floor. If it is just large enough for a cat or small dog to squeeze under, they may get stuck or be difficult to reach. Either choose a bed with drawers beneath, which closes the space, or one with enough clearance for a pet to move in and out easily and for you to clean underneath.
Look at the ladder too. Open rungs with wide gaps can catch a paw if a dog tries to climb. A ladder with flat treads and smaller gaps, or one fixed at a steep angle, is less inviting.
The top bunk is no place for a dog or cat. Animals can fall from height, startle a sleeping child or tread on the guard rail and slip. A heavier dog jumping up can also put unexpected load on the frame. Make it a house rule that pets stay at floor level, and choose a design that makes climbing difficult.
Cats are the trickiest, as they can jump straight onto a top bunk from a nearby chest or windowsill. Keep tall furniture away from the bed so there is no easy launch point. Some families find that a pet bed placed somewhere warm and comfortable in the room is enough to keep cats happily on the floor.
Dogs that are used to stairs may try a bunk bed ladder, especially if their favourite person is at the top. A vertical ladder is much harder for them than an angled one. Removable ladders can be lifted away during the day, though they must be refitted securely before a child climbs up. Never block the ladder with a gate or barrier that could trip a child at night.
Even if pets are kept off the beds, hair finds its way onto everything. Choose mattresses with removable, washable covers and add a waterproof protector to the lower bunk in particular, as it is the one pets can reach. Our range of mattresses UK sale lists cover details so you can compare. Remember that the top mattress must not exceed the depth stated by the bed’s manufacturer.
Tightly woven cotton bedding tends to shed hair more easily in the wash than loose knits or fleece. Darker or patterned throws on the lower bunk disguise hair between washes.
If anyone in the household has allergies, the bedroom is where it matters most. Metal and smooth painted wood frames are easier to wipe down than fabric. A bed with clear floor beneath allows a vacuum to reach right underneath, which helps keep dust and dander under control. Washing bedding and mattress covers regularly also makes a difference.
Hard floors are easiest to keep clean in pet homes, but a rug beside the bunk bed makes the room warmer and softens the landing at the foot of the ladder. Choose a low pile design that sheds hair easily when vacuumed. Our collection of modern rugs UK includes flat weave and short pile options that suit busy bedrooms.
Give the pet a bed of its own in the room if they like to be close to the children. Place it away from the ladder so no one steps on a sleeping dog in the dark, and away from the door so it does not block the route out.
Pets and loose toys rarely mix. Small pieces can be chewed or swallowed, and soft toys are a favourite target. Closed drawers beneath the lower bunk, lidded boxes and shelves at a height pets cannot reach help keep children’s belongings safe. Bedside surfaces matter too: a glass of water on an open shelf at dog height will not last long. Our practical bedside table checklist for UK homes covers features such as drawers and stability that are just as useful in a pet household.
A pet’s age changes what matters. Puppies chew and explore, so cover or avoid exposed wooden edges at floor level for the first months, and keep cables well away from the bed. Kittens climb everything, so check daily that they have not found a route up to the top bunk. Older dogs may simply want a warm spot near their children, and a padded bed with low sides beside the lower bunk is often enough to keep them content and settled through the night.
Check the frame every few months for loose bolts, chewed corners and scratches that might leave rough edges, and deal with any damage promptly. Teach children to keep the ladder area clear and to close drawers so pets do not climb in. At Furniture in Fashion, our bunk bed listings include materials, finishes and dimensions so you can choose a frame that suits your household, animals included.
Dogs should never be on the top bunk because of the risk of falls. Whether they share the lower bunk is a household decision, but a separate pet bed on the floor is usually more practical.
Powder coated metal and smooth lacquered wood tend to cope best, as they resist scratching and clean easily. Fabric frames are more likely to be scratched.
Choose a vertical ladder rather than an angled one, keep the area around it clear and train your dog to stay at floor level in the bedroom.
Yes. They close off the space beneath the bed, so pets cannot become stuck, and they keep toys out of reach.
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