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Finding the best pet blanket can be difficult; after all, there are countless options available online and in stores. But don’t worry — we’ll list our favorites, their pros and cons, and things to consider when shopping for one.
What’s the Best Pet Blanket?
A pet blanket can be your furry companion’s best friend. It can serve as a designated place for him and a cozy cushion of softness on top of a chair, couch, or bed. Pet blankets also provide comfort as a familiar item while at home alone or when he’s traveling with you.
However, with so many options to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to choose the best one. We understand the challenge, so we’ve provided seven of our top picks and reviewed them for you.
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Pet Blankets
- Best Overall: Mighty Monkey Pet Blanket
- Best for Cats and Small Dogs: Kritter Planet Super Soft Sherpa Pet Blanket
- Best for Medium to Large Dogs: PetAmi Dog Blanket
- Best Luxury Pet Blanket: Horimote Home Luxury Plush Faux Fur Throw Blanket
- Best Waterproof Pet Blanket: Pet Parents Pawtect Blanket
- Best for Furniture: Kritter Planet Waterproof Pet Blanket
- Best for Cooling: PetFusion Cat and Dog Cooling Blanket
Why You Need a Pet Blanket
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Just like human children, our fur babies like to be comforted. When your lap isn’t available, a pet blanket can do the trick. Dogs can get attached to a favorite blanket because of its familiarity with their home and their people.
Pet blankets are great to add to the bottom of a pet crate, on furniture, and even on top of a pet bed for extra cushion and softness. And speaking of cushion and softness, you can fold a pet blanket to create layers and place it on the floor for a more comfortable napping spot.
Some dogs will become accustomed to a certain blanket in a special area on the floor or a piece of furniture and return to it over and over for a secure-feeling place to rest.
Another use for a pet blanket you might not have thought about is for cooling. Dogs and cats can become overheated in warm seasons. A cooling blanket can help prevent this.
The thermoregulating material of a cooling blanket uses thermal conduction to transfer heat from your pet’s body and keep him cool. Cats like to show love and contentment by kneading with their paws. They sometimes do this in preparation for lying down to nap.
A pet blanket can protect your furniture or your lap from sharp claws when your cat kneads. And finally, pet blankets can be useful for protecting your furniture from getting ruined by pet accidents or dirty paws.
Waterproof pet blankets are best for this purpose. Keep reading for our reviews of seven of the best pet blankets we’ve found for each of these uses.
The 7 Best Pet Blankets in 2023
Pet blankets come in many sizes and material types. Which one to choose depends on your pet’s size, habits, and your intended use for it.
We’ve combed the marketplace for pet blankets and narrowed the field to seven of the best ones based on material, size, quality, and overall value.
1. Mighty Monkey Pet Blanket – Best Overall
- Sherpa on one side and faux fur on the other
- Machine wash and dry
- Stylish - looks good in your room
- Not waterproof
- Mid price point (not the cheapest)
We picked the Mighty Monkey Pet Blanket as best overall because it has a good mix of quality and features for an affordable price. It isn’t the fanciest blanket, nor the cheapest. It’s right down the middle, making this pet blanket a great value.
One thing we love about this blanket is that it has sherpa on one side and faux fur on the other. These two materials are favorites for dogs and cats for comfort and warmth.
This blanket comes in six colors and two sizes. It looks beautiful for a nice addition to your living room or bedroom décor, and it’s easy to care for.
2. Kritter Planet Sherpa Pet Blanket – Best for Cats and Small Dogs
- Sherpa on one side and soft fleece on the other
- Machine washable
- Inexpensive
- Not as thick as others
- Not waterproof
This blanket is a perfect size for your smaller pets. And a smaller blanket means a smaller price tag. What we love about the Kritter Planet Sherpa Blanket is that even though it’s small and inexpensive, it’s durable and attractive.
Like the Mighty Monkey blanket, this one is also reversible.
One side has sherpa, one of our favorite qualities in a pet blanket. The other side is a soft fleece material. The Kritter Planet Sherpa comes in seven attractive colors. Your small dog or cat will love how it feels, and you’ll love how it looks.
3. PetAmi Dog Blanket – Best for medium to large dogs
- Large size at an affordable price
- Sherpa on one side and soft fleece on the other
- Machine wash and dry
- Not waterproof
- Some reviewers say the sherpa side sheds when washed
The PetAmi blanket is marketed for big dogs because of its size (80 x 60 inches), but several reviewers stated their cats love it too. Like the other two blankets listed above, this one is also reversible with sherpa on one side and soft fleece on the other.
There are eleven colors and patterns to choose from. Seven color choices are solid colors, and four of them are plaid. With this variety, you’re sure to find one that matches your décor.
Even if you have a smaller pet, the PetAmi Dog Blanket would be a good choice if you’re looking for something to cover your bed or couch to protect it from pet hair. Just remember it’s not marketed to be waterproof, so this is not the blanket for protecting furniture against pet accidents.
4. Horimote Home Luxury Plush Faux Fur Throw Blanket – Best Luxury Pet Blanket
- Large size
- Machine washable
- Durable and good quality tailoring
- Higher price point
- Not waterproof
This blanket looks luxurious and expensive, yet it comes at an affordable price for its size and quality. It has upscale-looking shaggy faux fur on one side and faux fleece on the other.
We wouldn’t label this as a reversible blanket, though, because it’s meant to be used fur side up. The fleece underside is intended to provide a slip-free durable surface to lay on your furniture or the floor.
Even though this product is marketed as machine washable, there is a warning to use only cold water and to let it air dry. If you follow those instructions, the blanket should wash easily and stay looking lovely for a long time.
The long, plush fur of the Horimote Home blanket provides a comfortable cushion of softness for your furry friend’s long naps. Treat your dog or cat like a prince or princess with this beautiful piece.
5. Pet Parents Pawtect Blanket – Best for Waterproof for Travel
- Waterproof
- “Edge Protector” keeps liquid from running off
- Durable
- Only two colors to choose from
- A little bit more expensive than others
The Pet Parents blanket was a close second for our best overall choice on this list. If you need a blanket for your pet that’s waterproof for ultimate protection, this one is a great pick. This blanket is durable because of its ‘LockJaw’ edging, which also keeps liquid from spilling off the sides.
This is helpful while traveling in the car or a pet carrier. It was hard to find the washing instructions for the blanket, but reviewers say that it holds up well in the washer and dryer.
The waterproof surface of the PetParents Pawtect Blanket is a sherpa blend they call “Sherpup”. It’s a soft sherpa-like material with multiple layers and a waterproof barrier. The other side is faux fur.
There are only two color choices for this blanket, gray and brown. It’s an attractive blanket and would look fine in your living room or bedroom, but some of the others on this list are more stylish for the home. We picked this one for travel because of its sturdiness and dependability.
This Pet Parents blanket has great reviews for being soft, durable, and waterproof. You can’t go wrong with it if you travel with an accident-prone puppy or an older dog with incontinence.
6. Kritter Planet Waterproof Pet Blanket – Best for Waterproof for Home
- Waterproof
- Comes in extra-large sizes
- Reversible
- Should be washed on gentle cycle and air-dried
- Pricy for the larger sizes
The Kritter Planet waterproof blanket is a similar price point to the Pet Parents one listed above. However, along with the medium size at this price, it also comes in two extra-large sizes that are more expensive.
This blanket is reversible with sherpa on one side and fleece on the other. There is a waterproof liner between them. The sherpa material is not waterproof, but the liquid won’t penetrate to the other side through the waterproof barrier.
The fleece side is water-resistant and durable. One thing we love about this blanket is that the waterproof barrier is on the inside of the blanket and doesn’t affect the softness of the sherpa.
The Kritter Planet waterproof blanket comes in eight color and pattern combinations and four sizes. The largest size is almost the same as a queen-size comforter. This would be a perfect choice if your pet sleeps with you and you want to protect your comforter from pet hair or accidents overnight.
7. PetFusion Cooling Blanket – Best for Cooling
- Cooling fabric
- Machine wash and dry
- Non-shedding
- Not waterproof
- More sensible in looks instead of stylish
If you live in a hot climate or want a blanket for the summer months, this PetFusion blanket is a great choice. It’s made from a cooling technology/nylon blend fabric designed to absorb heat from the body, keeping it cool.
A cooling blanket is the opposite of a cozy, fuzzy blanket. This one is not intended to be a warm pillow of softness. It is, however, comfortable to lay on or to be covered up by, kind of like a quilt.
In addition to its cooling capabilities, this blanket is heavier than other blankets, which gives it a calming quality. So it’s great for dogs with anxiety too. This brings to mind that it would be a perfect blanket around the summer holidays when there might be fireworks.
The PetFusion cooling blanket comes in two colors, gray and tan. You have four sizes to choose from, all reasonably priced.
The material this blanket is made of would hold up nicely outdoors, so you could take it with you if you take your pet to the park or the beach. It could serve as an inviting cooling spot in the shade between romps in the sand.
Finding the Best Pet Blanket for You
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Choosing the right pet blanket for your special dog or cat can be a daunting task with all the choices available. Here are some useful things to consider to make it easier to narrow the field.
Material
Sherpa is a favorite material for most dogs and cats. It’s soft and warm, providing comfort while napping. Humans also love it for their pets because it’s durable and easy to wash. Faux fur is another favorite.
Dogs and cats like to burrow into snug spaces, and fur gives them the comfort feeling of snuggling next to a mother or sibling. Material choice is also a consideration for its protective qualities of furniture, flooring, and bedding.
Waterproof or water-resistant material can be a priority if you have a puppy or an older pet. And as described in the cooling blanket listed above, you’ll want to choose an entirely different material if you need a cool, calming blanket for your fur baby.
Size
You can sometimes end up with a blanket that’s too small for your pet or that your pet outgrows. It’s best to err on the side of being too big. There aren’t any obvious standard blanket sizes.
They come in many different sizes. Some of the smallest we’ve seen are 27” x 31”. And they go all the way up to 90” x 80”, which is the same as a full-size comforter. Choosing the right size blanket for your pet is purely based on preference.
Who says you can’t have an extra-large blanket for a tiny puppy or small cat? Just make sure it’s big enough for your pet to lay on and that it fits the area you want to cover.
Durability
It kind of goes without saying that you’d want a pet blanket to be durable. Animals can be rough on blankets. Some dogs like to chew. And cats like to ‘knead’.
You’re going to want a blanket that can hold up to rough behavior from your pet. It also needs to be able to withstand multiple washings, as pet blankets will likely need washing more than human blankets.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do Animals Need Blankets?
Need is a strong word here, but the short answer is yes. Of course, blankets aren’t a basic need for animals, but your pets do need comfort, warmth, and cooling. Blankets can serve this purpose.
Can Dogs Use Human Blankets?
Your dog probably won’t know the difference between a pet blanket and a human blanket. And fabrics that are safe for humans are generally safe for animals too. The benefit of using blankets marketed for pets is that they tend to be made with material known to be favorites of dogs and cats. They can also be more durable.
Do Dogs Need Blankets at Night?
This question usually refers to dogs being covered with a blanket at night. Some dogs can enjoy the warmth and comfort of being covered up in a soft blanket at night, but it’s usually not a ‘need’.
How Do I Know if My Dog is Cold?
Most obviously, if your dog is shivering, he is probably cold. Your dog could also be cold if he’s displaying a hunched posture with his tail tucked, whining, or showing other signs of anxiety.
Why Does My Dog Like to Sleep Under the Covers Between My Legs?
Dogs will seek shelter when they’re cold or anxious. Under the covers between your legs is a place where your dog feels warm and safe. Sleeping between your legs under the covers can also be a sign of affection and trust. You’re part of his pack.
So, What’s the Best Pet Blanket?
The best pet blanket is one that fits all the needs for its intended uses. Sherpa and fur are the best material for comfort. But if you’re looking for furniture protection or for cooling your pet, you need to go with a blanket made of special material for those functions.
Whatever you decide, we know your BFF (best fur-friend) deserves to feel safe and comfortable. We hope this article helps you decide which pet blanket is perfect for him.