Snoozing with Spot can reduce stress, increase sleep

By Beth Leermakers

Do you share your bed with your cat or dog? 

Almost half (46 percent) of Americans sleep in the same bed with a pet, according to a 2022 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 

Should you sleep with your pet? While many people have strong opinions on the subject, there isn’t a definitive answer. The decision to share your sleeping space comes down to personal preference. However, it’s generally unwise to have a child six years or younger sleep alone with a pet, according to a PetMD article. 

There are several good reasons to make room for pets in your bed. Spending time with your cat or dog can reduce stress and make you feel happy, even at bedtime. Pets provide a sense of security, alerting people when something is wrong in your home and offering comfort and protection (protection probably applies more to big dogs, but you never know). And pets keep us warm on cold nights. 

On the other hand, potential health risks and sleep disruption may be good reasons to keep pets out of your bed. Sleeping with a cat or dog may:

Trigger allergies or asthma. If you have pet allergies or asthma, you may want to keep Fido and Fluffy out of your bedroom, even during the day, to avoid exposure to pet hair and dander while you sleep. 

Lead to illness and infections. Animals can spread a lot of germs, although illnesses are rarely transmitted between pets and people, according to the American Kennel Club. If your dog or cat accidentally — or intentionally — scratches or bites you when they’re disturbed while sleeping, that bite or scratch may get infected. 

Result in flea or tick bites. If your pet brings parasites into your bed, you may wind up with itchy, irritated skin or tick bites that can cause diseases such as Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. 

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine survey found that only 19 percent of respondents who sleep with a pet say they sleep worse with them in bed. In fact, 46 percent of those who sleep with a pet report they sleep better with a furry friend.

Whether co-sleeping pets disrupt your sleep probably depends on where and how your cat or dog sleeps. If your kitten sleeps soundly throughout the night at the foot of your bed, you’re in good shape. But if she sleeps on your pillow, paws at your face at 3 a.m. (wanting to play), or wakes you at 5 a.m. for breakfast, you won’t feel as rested. My two big dogs are snugglers who hog my pillow, snore in my ear and crowd me to the edge of the bed. If I dare to get up during the night, I lose my tiny piece of real estate. 

Experts agree that you — not your pet — should decide whether to share your bed — and when and where she can be on the bed. 

If you choose to slumber with your pet, follow these tips to protect your health and sleep — and your dog’s safety: Provide an alternative sleeping area nearby, such as a pet bed or cat perch so your pet has somewhere to rest if she leaves your bed.  

Invest in pet stairs to make it safer and easier for small dogs or senior pets to enter and leave your bed. 

Clean your pets, bedding and bedroom. Bathe your pet and use flea/tick preventatives to keep fleas, ticks and germs out of your bed. Use pet hair-resistant bedding or cover the bed with a sheet to keep linens clean and reduce allergens. Wash your sheets at least once a week to keep pet dander, fleas and fungal organisms from accumulating. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to remove more than 99 percent of pet dander and other allergy and asthma triggers floating around your bedroom.

Designate a spot on the bed for Spot. This sounds good in theory, but I’m not sure how you enforce it. If you figure out how to make this work, please let me know! 

Send Spot packing if: 

You’re losing sleep. If sleeping with your pet disrupts your sleep, leaving you tired every morning, it’s probably time to change the sleeping arrangements.

You’re afraid to disturb your pet. Some dogs may start resource-guarding the bed, growling or snapping when you move or someone else approaches the bed. If your cat or dog becomes aggressive — or behavior problems worsen — it’s time to evict her from the bed. 

Keep in mind that it’s easier to keep a new pet out of your bed than get him out after he’s used to being there. If you decide to change the rules, these tips may help:

Get your pet her own bed. Put an orthopedic bed (or even a crib mattress) on the floor near your bed so your pet can sleep comfortably and be close — but not too close — to you. My foster dogs aren’t allowed in my bed (three’s company, four’s a crowd!), but they are content on a super-comfy dog bed next to me. 

Teach your dog (or cat — they’re trainable!) the “off” command. If your cat or dog jumps on the bed, say “off” and reward him (think high-value treats) for vacating the bed. 

If your pet shares your bed and isn’t going anywhere, take comfort from the fact that cooler weather is on the way.