A backrest changes how an animal uses a bed. Cats and small dogs habitually sleep with their spine against something solid, which is why they choose the gap between the sofa cushions over the middle of an open mat. Giving them a proper curved back to lean into means the bed gets used in the way it was meant to be, rather than being treated as a rug they happen to be lying near.

Solid timber does the structural work. The frame carries the cushion on raised feet, lifting it clear of a cold or draughty floor and leaving air underneath instead of trapping damp against the boards, and the curve of the backrest wraps round one end so the animal has something to press into from more than one direction. The cushion itself is thick and lifts straight out for washing, which is the part that decides whether a wooden bed stays pleasant to have in a living room. Three wood finishes and two sizes are offered.

• Solid wood frame on raised feet
• Curved backrest wrapping around one end
• Thick removable, machine-washable cushion
• Three finishes: yellow oak, red walnut and black walnut
• Two sizes, small and large
• Suited to cats and small dogs

On sizing and chewers. A wooden frame is also a poor match for a puppy or a determined chewer, and a dog with stiff hips may struggle to step up over the frame at all.

Who it's for: Cats and small dogs who sleep pressed against something, in rooms where the bed has to look like furniture rather than pet kit.