Picture this: it’s bedtime, you’re ready to slip under the covers, and your feline friend is already making themselves comfortable on your mattress. You’re not alone in this scenario. More than half of pet owners share a bed with their pets, according to online polls. Yet this cozy habit sparks endless debates among cat parents about whether it’s beneficial or harmful.
Sleep is sacred, and sharing your personal sanctuary with a furry companion involves more than just making room on the mattress. Your cat’s presence can transform your nighttime routine in surprising ways. From strengthening your emotional bond to potentially exposing you to health risks, the decision requires careful consideration of both the heartwarming benefits and practical concerns.
So let’s get started exploring the fascinating world of human-feline co-sleeping and uncover what experts really think about this purr-fectly complex topic.
The Heartwarming Benefits of Bonding and Trust
This behavior is a sign of trust and affection, and it often means that your cat sees you as a safe and trustworthy person in their life. When your cat chooses your bed as their nightly retreat, they’re essentially saying you’re their chosen person. Cats feel most vulnerable when sleeping, and so will curl up next to the person they love and trust the most.
The mutual benefits extend far beyond simple companionship. If your cat is bonded to you, sleeping with you can increase their bonded feelings towards you. Obviously, this will also increase your feelings of bonding and affection toward your cat. This creates a beautiful cycle where trust builds upon trust, deepening your relationship with each peaceful night together.
Sleeping together allows cats to be physically close to their human companions, which releases oxytocin in both, and strengthens the human-feline bond. Think of it as nature’s way of cementing your friendship through shared sleep cycles and quiet moments of vulnerability.
Mental Health Magic: Stress Relief and Emotional Support
Sharing a bed with a pet has been linked to multiple mental health benefits for people. Owning a pet has shown a positive link to a reduction in the symptoms of disorders like anxiety and depression. Having your cat as a bedmate may enhance the positive effects of pet ownership by further improving mental health.
The science behind this emotional boost is fascinating. Studies have shown that interacting with a pet can support our stress levels by increasing oxytocin production and release. Oxytocin is the hormone often associated with happiness and bonding. Its presence is normally associated with a decrease of the stress-linked hormone, cortisol.
Pets protect against loneliness, anxiety, and depression. A survey by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that approximately 70 percent of pet owners experience less loneliness because of their pets. Having your furry therapist right beside you all night amplifies these comforting effects.
Physical Health Perks You Might Not Expect
Here’s where things get really interesting for your cardiovascular system. Studies suggest that pet ownership may be associated with cardiovascular benefits, with some research indicating that cat owners may have lower risks of heart-related issues than that of the people who didn’t own cats.
You may also experience positive physiologic effects, like a reduction in your baseline blood pressure and heart rate when you have a pet, and sharing a bed with your pet may better support these benefits. Your cat’s calming presence works like a natural medicine, gently coaxing your body into a more relaxed state.
There’s even something special about that familiar rumbling sound. The purring of cats has also shown a potential link to supporting healing, especially with muscle and bone injuries, so falling asleep to a purring cat on you may provide some physical healing. It’s like having a tiny, furry sound therapy machine right on your chest.
Security and Comfort: Your Personal Feline Guardian
There’s just something about the presence of a pet or person in your room at night that can be very calming and provide an enhanced feeling of security and safety. Your cat becomes more than just a companion; they transform into your personal nighttime sentinel, alert to any unusual sounds or movements.
Bill Fish, cofounder of Tuck.com, says, without question, there are positives to allowing your cat into your bed each night, including giving both of you a sense of security, emotionally and physically. “Having a guest in bed with you also reduces stress as well as brings warmth and comfort”.
“As you feel your cat’s rhythmic breathing, it soothes you and helps you get to sleep more quickly”. This natural rhythm creates a peaceful environment that can ease racing thoughts and help transition your mind from the day’s stresses into restful sleep.
Improved Sleep Quality and Bedtime Routines
Some studies have shown that people who share a bed with a pet are less likely to take sleep aids and may get a more restful and relaxing sleep. This can support your physical and mental health, as well as ensure you receive the full benefits of a good night’s sleep, like mental acuity and improved mood.
Many cat owners discover an unexpected benefit: better sleep discipline. “… it has made my actual sleep cycle much better because she waits on my bed when it’s time to sleep and I feel bad if I don’t join her. I tend to have a messed up sleep cycle and the routine of just having a cat in general (especially feeding times) has improved it drastically”.
Allowing your cat to sleep on your bed may encourage them to sleep around the same time you do. They can eventually adopt this nighttime routine and become less disruptive at night. Your cat essentially becomes your accountability partner for healthy sleep habits.
The Hygiene Challenge: Cleanliness Concerns
One of the disadvantages of having your cat sleep on your bed is uncleanliness. You’ll be sure to see an increase in cat hair on your bed. Allergy sufferers will also struggle with having their cats sleep on their beds because of the increased amount of pet dander and dust that will get on them.
Since there’ll be an increase in cat hair, dander, and other debris when your cat sleeps on your bed, you’ll have to change out your bed sheets more frequently. It’s best to have two or three sets of bed sheets in your rotation and to wash them weekly. You’ll also want to keep a spare set in case of accidents, like hairballs, vomit, and bathroom accidents.
The reality is that maintaining cleanliness becomes a more intensive task. The chances of coming into contact with particles of fecal matter are pretty high if your cat sleeps in bed with you; especially if they use a litter box. Humans can catch salmonella from their cats’ feces, as well as pasteurella multocida from their cats’ mouths.
Sleep Disruption and Nocturnal Activities
Cats are champion sleepers, clocking around 15 hours a day, but their sleep patterns aren’t the same as ours. This fundamental difference can create some challenging nighttime scenarios. Remember, most cats are active at night. So, don’t be surprised by your cat running all over your bedroom in the middle of the night. They can help you fall asleep and then wake you up at 2 am.
While cats may be able to help you feel more relaxed, they can also end up interrupting your sleep, especially if you’re a light sleeper. Kittens and younger cats can have a lot of energy and end up being very active at night. It’s not uncommon for them to try to wake up their owners or step on them while they’re sleeping.
In one study, women who shared a bed with a dog reported less disturbed sleep than those who shared a bed with a cat. This suggests that our feline friends might be more disruptive bedmates compared to their canine counterparts.
Health Risks and Disease Transmission
Not to gross you out, but animals can potentially spread A LOT of germs. Aside from the conditions listed above, there are about 100 other zoonotic diseases – including cat scratch fever – that can spread from animals to people. The risk increases significantly during sleep when you’re in close contact for extended periods.
Sleeping next to your cat for over 8 hours means that you have a high probability of being exposed to its excretions and secretions. While the odds of contracting diseases from cats are low, people with weak immune systems, the elderly and young children are at a greater risk. About 12,000 individuals are diagnosed with cat-scratch fever every year according to the CDC. Cat-scratch fever can be dangerous for people with compromised immunity systems.
Studies show a strong connection between sleep troubles and allergies. Ditto if you have asthma. Adding a pet to the bed can escalate those breathing issues. Sleeping with a furry friend exposes you to allergy and asthma triggers (such as pet dander) for multiple hours in close quarters. “There’s a real chance your allergies or asthma can be activated”.
Territory and Behavioral Issues
Research shows us that cats are very territorial; so much so that they place more importance on the security of their territory than they do on their attachments to people or other animals. This can make them incredibly hard tenants to evict from your bedroom. Once they know it is part of their territory, it will be hard to convince them that it’s not.
“Cats are attracted to places that smell most like them – and you. The bed is probably the place in your home that smells most like you and your cat if he sleeps with you. Cats are also creatures of habit; once a habit is established, it’s challenging to change that routine”.
“Having your cat in your bed can also promote dominance within the animal,” Fish said. “They begin to feel like it is their territory and could get agitated if anyone else enters the bed”. This territorial behavior can create complications if you have a partner or other pets.
Safety Concerns for Both You and Your Cat
Sharing the same bed can be a potential danger for your cat if you tend to move around a lot in your sleep. If you have a history of moving around in your sleep, you may accidentally hurt your cat by hitting them or rolling on top of them. Since it can be unsafe for some cats, it’s important never to force them to sleep on your bed.
Dogs and cats often don’t take kindly to being disturbed during a slumber. Their instinctive startle reflex may include using their claws or sharp teeth to send a message to the sleepy time offender. Any bite or scratch brings a risk of infection. This risk applies equally to cats who might react defensively if accidentally disturbed.
Cribs are attractive napping spots for cats, given that they’re high up, protected on multiple sides and soft. But even with the most loving and friendliest cats, there is a risk that that tight ball of fur could inadvertently smother a sleeping baby. So you should save the irresistible cat-baby cuteness for when they’re awake!
Making the Right Decision for Your Household
Ultimately, veterinarians can’t issue a blanket statement on whether it is objectively “good” or “bad” to sleep alongside your pet. Only the pet owner can really answer that question. “Some people feel more comforted with their cat in the bed, other people will have difficulty getting comfortable, or might be disturbed if their cat walks on them or hogs the bed”.
The bottom line is that, yes, there are some risks associated with snoozing with your cat, but as long as you know about them and are OK with the risk, then it’s perfectly fine! “If you aren’t allergic and your cat sleeps soundly at night, then by all means, cuddle up with your kitty,” Dr. DeWire says. Just make sure to stay on top of your vet visits and all flea, tick and disease protocols.
The decision ultimately comes down to weighing your personal circumstances, health conditions, sleep preferences, and your cat’s behavior. “It depends on a case by case basis on what the cat and the owner each want out of the sleeping arrangement,” Pankratz says.
Conclusion
The debate over whether cats should sleep in your bed isn’t one with a universal answer. Like many aspects of pet ownership, the decision rests on understanding both the scientific evidence and your personal situation. The mental health benefits, strengthened bonding, and cardiovascular advantages are compelling reasons to welcome your feline friend into your sleeping sanctuary. Yet the hygiene challenges, potential health risks, and sleep disruptions deserve serious consideration.
What matters most is making an informed choice that works for both you and your cat. Whether you decide to share your covers or create a cozy alternative sleeping arrangement nearby, the goal remains the same: ensuring both you and your furry companion get the restful sleep you both deserve.
What do you think about it? Have you tried sleeping with your cat, and did the benefits outweigh the challenges? Tell us in the comments.
