diff --git a/xcdat/bounds.py b/xcdat/bounds.py
index dfbc0aff..61e2bbce 100644
--- a/xcdat/bounds.py
+++ b/xcdat/bounds.py
@@ -236,18 +236,7 @@ def get_bounds(
         else:
             # Get the obj in the Dataset using the key.
             obj = _get_data_var(self._dataset, key=var_key)
-
-            # Check if the object is a data variable or a coordinate variable.
-            # If it is a data variable, derive the axis coordinate variable.
-            if obj.name in list(self._dataset.data_vars):
-                coord = get_dim_coords(obj, axis)
-            elif obj.name in list(self._dataset.coords):
-                coord = obj
-
-            try:
-                bounds_keys = [coord.attrs["bounds"]]
-            except KeyError:
-                bounds_keys = []
+            bounds_keys = self._get_bounds_from_attr(obj, axis)
 
         if len(bounds_keys) == 0:
             raise KeyError(
@@ -505,8 +494,32 @@ def _get_bounds_keys(self, axis: CFAxisKey) -> List[str]:
         except KeyError:
             pass
 
+        keys_from_attr = self._get_bounds_from_attr(self._dataset, axis)
+        keys = keys + keys_from_attr
+
         return list(set(keys))
 
+    def _get_bounds_from_attr(
+        self, obj: xr.DataArray | xr.Dataset, axis: CFAxisKey
+    ) -> List[str]:
+        # Check if the object is a data variable or a coordinate variable.
+        # If it is a data variable, derive the axis coordinate variable.
+        bounds_keys = []
+        coords = get_dim_coords(obj, axis)
+
+        if isinstance(coords, xr.DataArray):
+            bnds_key = coords.attrs.get("bounds")
+            if bnds_key is not None:
+                bounds_keys.append(bnds_key)
+        elif isinstance(coords, xr.Dataset):
+            for coord in coords.values():
+                bnds_key = coord.attrs.get("bounds")
+
+                if bnds_key is not None:
+                    bounds_keys.append(bnds_key)
+
+        return bounds_keys
+
     def _create_time_bounds(  # noqa: C901
         self,
         time: xr.DataArray,