Is it normal for two cats to take turns using one bed?

Cats taking turns on a favourite bed can reflect an ordinary preference or a less comfortable sharing arrangement, so look at the surrounding behaviour. If both cats approach freely at different times and settle elsewhere without hesitation, time-sharing may simply suit their routines. If one waits at a distance, leaves whenever the other appears or avoids the room altogether, the shared spot may not be equally available.

Observe more than a single interaction and note whether access to other resources is affected. Offer another appealing resting place with a different approach so neither cat depends on the contested location. Avoid interpreting the pattern as a human-style hierarchy that the quieter cat must accept. The practical question is whether each animal has comfortable choices. Persistent avoidance or distress warrants professional advice, particularly if it accompanies changes in appetite, toileting or normal activity.

Furniture placement can help reveal and relieve a bottleneck without explaining every social issue.

A useful comparison is what happens when an equally comfortable alternative becomes available elsewhere. If the waiting cat promptly settles there, that gives it a choice now; continue observing whether it can also move freely around the shared area.