Desk Nest review — For when your cat won't let you work unsupervised

Cats and computers typically don’t mix. You know the drill; right when you sit down at your computer desk to work or to unwind with a good game, a cat will decide that it is the perfect time to nap on your keyboard or snuggle in your lap, severely constricting your movement. Sure, cats are cute and all, but sometimes you just need space. Well, Desk Nest provides exactly that, while still allowing your cat to remain close to you.

The Desk Nest is a cat bed that clamps onto your computer desk or any table and provides a sturdy perch for your cat to lounge. A simple concept, and one I’m surprised I haven’t seen more often. Simple or not, it does exactly what it states, and looks great while doing so. The Desk Nest is available in two colors, walnut and white oak, both of which fit right in with nearly any office interior, and every aspect of the Desk Nest is premium, from its surprisingly sturdy adjustable arm and table clamp to the aesthetically pleasing bed and cushions themselves.

Assembly is incredibly easy, involving only the included Allen wrench and a few parts, and once assembled, the bed can quickly be moved between areas of the house on a whim, ensuring your spoiled cat always has a comfy place to supervise your work. The clamp, which has a base of 4.5”, is padded to protect your desk and has a default maximum spread of 2.75”, though you can purchase an optional extension to allow for a spread of 4.3” for larger tables. Multiple wooden blocks are included to place between the clamp and the table in case you need extra stability, but on all the surfaces I tested the clamp on, the pressure was always sufficient on its own. Attached to the clamp is a 12” pole arm, upon which you then attach a 360° capable arm and the cat bed itself. This arm can be positioned anywhere along the 12” of the pole arm, providing flexibility for your setup.

Once you have the clamp and arm positioned, you then attach the cat bed itself via a simple hand screw. Now all you must do is place the included cushion in the bed, and you’re all set to work while your cat sleeps! There are a few optional items you can purchase for the bed, including a wrap-around cushion that covers the top edge. The bed itself is larger than I expected, and it is extremely sturdy. Measuring in at 15” wide, this cat bed can hold even the heftiest of cats without an issue. 25lbs is supported, and in all my testing with my extremely spoiled and slightly overweight cats, I never had so much as a slip when they hopped in and out. 

Of course, whether you can get your cat to test out the bed is another issue. Cats are notoriously fickle and averse to change, but I found that they all eventually checked out the bed, with one cat in particular quickly claiming it as his own and using it throughout the day.

I do want to note that while the cat bed can spin 360°, if the clamp is not firmly and fully attached to the underside of a table, say because you have a small table lip or any other similar scenario, I would highly recommend balancing the bed so that the clamp and bed aren’t pulling against each other, which can cause the bed to fall when a cat hops in. The included wood blocks may help with this, but also ensuring that the bed is facing the same direction as the clamp will allow for weight distribution should ensure no issues. Again, this issue will ONLY affect you if you attempt to use the bed on a table with a small lip that does not allow the clamp to fully press against. Otherwise, the bed is incredibly sturdy. 

While this cat bed is technically made for a computer desk, and does work great on one, I actually hooked it up to my dining room table at one point where it quickly became a popular sleeping area for my cats. To this day, I still have it sitting there since I can’t bring myself to take their new perch from them.

Overall, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the Desk Nest, both at how aesthetically pleasing it looks in a room, but also by how enraptured by their new throne my cats were. I highly recommend picking up a Desk Nest if your cats are anything like mine and insist on being part of the action at all times.