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How Do Pets In Your Bed Affect Your Sleep?

And What You Can Do About It

By Shelley WengerPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
Photo Courtesy of Canva

A large number of people in America sleep with their pets in their beds. Sometimes, they feel like they are a part of the family and deserve a spot on the bed. Other times, they simply cannot get their pets to get out of their bed.

Either way, how do pets in your bed affect your sleep?

Many people have allergies that might keep them awake at night. You may not be able to sleep as good because you can't breathe as well with them beside you.

Pets are just like people. They can move around, snore, kick you, and basically keep you awake all night. Just like your husband or wife, you may find yourself waking up every time that your pet moves.

Cats are nocturnal, and they love to roam at night. They might keep you up while they are pacing around the bedroom looking for something to get. You may hear them running around the house when you should be getting your sleep.

That being said, some people feel better having their pets in bed with them. They might feel safer at night with their pet beside them. This may be even more true if they are home alone at night.

Even if you want to get your cats off of your bed, you might not be able to. They are very territorial and might not like it when you move them off of your bed. They might hiss, scream, and bite. You have to be careful of cats that try to scratch you because they can give you cat scratch fever.

Before you let your pets in bed with you, you need to make sure that they are healthy. Pets can pass on diseases such as roundworms, intestinal worms, and much more. You definitely need to take good care of your pets to let them sleep in your bed.

While a pet in your bed may or may not disturb you, it is up to you whether or not they are allowed in your bed. It may be a personal reason, though it may also be practical. Only you can make the right decision for you and your pet.

If you do decide to sleep beside your pets, here are some tips to make sure that you both get a good sleep every night.

Take your pets to the veterinarian regularly for checkups and deworming. You don't need to get sick just because you sleep with your pet.

Work on training your pet to sleep beside you, not on your chest, head, or anywhere else. You don't want to get woken up feeling like you can't breathe, simply because they are sleeping on your neck or chest. They can safely stay beside you all night long.

Be sure to get a good mattress protector that will help you against bacteria that grows on your mattress. If you have allergies, you may also want to find one that is designed for allergy sufferers.

Whether or not you allow your pets to sleep with you, you need to decide for yourself. For some people, their pets are disturbing their rest due to their snoring and roaming. However, some pets will sleep quietly beside you all night long. Some even get mad if you interrupt their sleep! Others may get mad when you try to get them off of your bed.

Photo Courtesy of Canva

If you do decide to let your pets get beside you in bed, you need to make sure that you take your pets to the veterinarian regularly. You want to keep your fur babies healthy, as well as your entire family.

health

About the Creator

Shelley Wenger

Small town country girl in southern Pennsylvania. Raising two boys on a small farm filled with horses, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, dogs, and a cat. Certified veterinary technician and writer at Virtually Shelley.

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