

No matter how much you love your furry friend, if they’re keeping you from getting quality sleep, it’s probably time to get them their own sleep space. If you’re a sensitive sleeper, a cat in the bed might be a disruption rather than a positive addition to your sleep. Delgado adds that “some cats are active at night, so they might be spending more time playing on the bed than sleeping on the bed!” Mikel Delgado, Cat Behavior Expert with Rover suggests that sleeping with a cat might not be the best for light sleepers as “it can restrict your movement while you sleep– especially if they lay on your legs or chest.” Dr.

Additionally, there are other downsides to keep in mind: It can disrupt your sleepĪccording to a 2015 study, people who co-slept with their pets took longer to fall asleep, were more likely to wake up tired, and were more likely to be disturbed by their pet’s noises at night.ĭr. If that’s the case, you may want to consider an alternative sleeping arrangement. However, as mentioned before, cats are crepuscular, which means they are more active at twilight.Īs you’re trying to drift off, your kitty may decide that it is the perfect time to run circles through your bedroom or chase a ball around the house. This might be especially true if you’ve got a busy schedule and you’re not home a lot sharing a bed with your cat at night might be the longest block of bonding time you two have.Ĭats' sleep patterns change with age, but most adult cats will sleep between 12 and 20 hours a day. Cutler adds, “many cats also choose to spend time on the bed, so it’s likely they enjoy it as well.”

Janet Culter, Ph.D., Certified Cat Behaviorist at Cat World says, “People often describe feeling more bonded to their cats if they sleep in their room and also if they spend more time touching them.” Dr. These benefits also translate to lower blood pressure and better-coping abilities. This is largely because, as we now know, pets can help with feelings of loneliness, but on a more chemical level, the act of actually petting and snuggling your animal increases levels of oxytocin (a happy hormone) while simultaneously reducing levels of cortisol (a stress hormone). The study’s results showed that those who owned pets coped significantly better, had more positive emotions, and had better overall psychological well-being than non-pet-owners. In a 2021 study, researchers looked at the impact having pets had during the COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia. It relieves stressĪnimals help relieve stress. If you’re a person who tends to have anxiety at night or wakes up with nightmares, having your cat nearby might be a tremendous relief and comfort.

Another study found that 52 percent of participants who shared a bed with their dog or cat got some level of comfort and security from it. A survey by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that 85 percent of pet owners experience less loneliness because of their pets. Pets protect against loneliness, anxiety, and depression. If it makes your pet happy and doesn’t interfere with your sleep, then having your cat in bed with you presents some benefits. On the other hand, you may have a cuddly one that thrives on close contact with you.
