Armarkat Pet Bed Mat Review

We purchased the Armarkat Pet Bed Mat so our reviewer could put it to the test with her dog. Keep reading for our full product review.

As pet parents, we want the best for our furry friends, but some pet products are unreasonably expensive—which is exactly why the Armarkat Pet Bed Mat is so appealing. This fuzzy, cushy dog bed seems to be a wonderful find at a reasonable price, but is it too good to be true?

We wanted to see if there was a “catch” with this wallet-friendly pet bed, so we handed it over to a 10-week-old golden retriever named Addy to see if it would receive the doggy seal of approval. Read on to see how she liked it and to see photos of the bed in action!

Material: Fuzzy outside, waterproof inside

The Armarkat Pet Bed Mat comes with a cushy insert, as well as a fuzzy, faux fur-like cover, both of which appear to be high quality. The vacuum-sealed insert is filled with polyester fiber, and you have to fluff it a bit when it first comes out of the box. It looks and feels quite similar to a bed pillow, and what’s really nice is that the top is lined with a waterproof plastic fabric—this design feature is ideal if your dog is prone to accidents (stay tuned for more on that topic). 

The one thing we didn’t like about the insert is that it’s made up of two separate sections so you can fold it in half to more easily put on the cover. While functionally this makes sense, it also creates a “rut” right in the middle of the bed, which may make it uncomfortable for some pups.

As far as the cover goes, the top is a faux fur material in an ivory color, and the sides are a thick, sturdy burgundy fabric. The bottom is made from heavy-duty canvas with non-slip dots. While overall the bed looks quite nice, we had a few minor issues with the cover. For one, there was writing in what appeared to be chalk on the bottom of the bed we received—not an issue functionally, but a bit unsightly.

Additionally, while the faux fur material is incredibly soft, cozy, and welcoming, the texture must have reminded our tester of grass—yup, that’s right, little Addy had not one, not two, but three accidents on the bed! She actually would run right over to it any time she needed to “go.” As such, we ended up taking it away from her until her potty habits were more consistent. She got the bed back at around 14 weeks and, thankfully, hasn’t had any accidents since. 

There are two takeaways from this experience: First, the waterproof insert really is waterproof! The liquid beaded up on the surface, making it easy to clean. And second, this bed might not be the best choice for pups who aren’t housetrained yet. 

Size: Paw-some for a growing pup

The Armarkat Pet Bed Mat comes in three sizes—medium (28 x 22 x 5 inches), large (39 x 28 x 7 inches), and extra-large (49 x 35 x 8 inches). It seems a bit strange that there’s no small size, but the medium would probably be suitable for smaller dogs. 

We decided a large bed would be the best size for Addy—she’s small now, but in a few months, she’ll be a bigger dog, and we wanted to give her room to grow. The large was perfect for her needs as a puppy, but it may actually end up being a little too small for her once she’s full-grown. However, she seems perfectly happy to lounge with her head hanging off the edge, so we’re not too worried about it.

Comfort: 100 percent puppy-approved

This cozy bed quickly became Addy’s go-to nap spot—she even prefers it over the couch! She seems to like that she can curl up, stretch out, or even loll around on her back when she’s feeling goofy. She doesn’t even mind the “rut” caused by the separation in the insert, as it forms a cozy little nook that’s perfect for her puppy-size form. 

Plus, the bed also serves as a cushy landing spot when she’s zooming around the house and needs to make a crash landing. It doesn’t even slide around on impact, thanks to its non-slip bottom!

Does your pooch get hot in the summer? Check out our guide to the best cooling dog beds you can buy today.

Washing: Beware of shedding

Nope, we’re not talking about dog hair! We ended up washing the cover of the Armarkat Pet Bed Mat several times thanks to Addy’s accidents, and while it’s nice that you can just throw it in the washing machine, the fuzzy exterior sheds—a lot. 

The cleaning instructions say to zipper the cover closed before you put it in the wash, and the one time we forgot to do this, the lint trap on the dryer was nearly overflowing with white fuzz. The burgundy exterior was covered in fibers as well. The rouge fuzz was easily removed by our handy ChomChom, but we worry the cover may end up looking a bit bare if you wash it too frequently. 

See more reviews of our favorite pet hair removers available for purchase.

Durability: So far, so good

The Armarkat Pet Bed Mat has held up perfectly over the course of almost two months—however, Addy did lose her privileges for a few weeks thanks to the potty incident, so it wasn’t being used the whole time. The insert hasn’t lost any of its height or gotten lumpy, and the cover is still in great shape, despite being removed and washed several times. 

We didn’t get to see how well the bed stood up to puppy chewing, however, as Addy is an extremely good girl and has been very careful with her bed. The manufacturer does say it’s not designed to be chew-resistant, so if you have a power chewer, this bed probably won’t last long in your household.

Price: Extremely reasonable

Dog beds can get quite pricey—many high-quality models cost $50, $100, or even more for large sizes. As such, the Armarkat Pet Bed Mat’s price tag of about $22 for a medium and $41 for a large is really reasonable, especially considering the materials are high-quality and the bed seems to be durable. 

Competition: Armarkat Pet Bed Mat vs. Frisco Pillow Pet Bed Mat

The Frisco Pillow Pet Bed Mat is another popular mat-style dog bed, but this one is even less expensive than the Armarkat model. The Frisco bed comes in small, medium, and large sizes, and you can choose between brown or khaki colors (a bit boring, if you ask us). 

 Even though the Frisco Pillow Bed Mat is filled with the same polyester fiber, reviewers say it can flatten out over time. Plus, the insert isn’t waterproof, so it won’t be as easy to clean if your pup has an accident. The Frisco might be a good option if you have a small dog, thanks to its smaller size option, but for other pets, we’d recommend spending a little more on the Armarkat, since it appears to be higher-quality and is still affordable.

 Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best dog beds.