Sleeping with pets is certainly not for everyone, and while some owners are not too keen on the idea, for some, there’s nothing better.
In recent years it’s become common knowledge that a good night’s sleep is vital to overall health and wellbeing, and with this in mind, does sleeping with our pets help or hinder our quest for this coveted shuteye?
According to a recent study from Trinity College, it turns out that sleeping with your dog may not be the best idea if a good, restful night’s sleep is what you’re after. On the other hand, cat parents will be happy to know that snuggling with your feline may not only have zero negative effects—but may even be beneficial.
The Trinity College Study
The study was done by Dr. Brian N. Chin, associate professor of psychology at Trinity College, and focused on data from a survey of just over 1,500 participants. Over 750 of these reported co-sleeping with one or more of their pets (either with them in the bed or in the same room).
These participants were asked to report on aspects including the quality of their sleep, their general stress levels, and their relationships with their pets. The answers of the co-sleepers were then compared to the answers of the non-co-sleepers to determine the impact of pets on sleep.
Those who reported co-sleeping with dogs had poorer perceived sleep quality, sleep efficiency, and greater insomnia incidence than those who did not co-sleep with any pets.
Cat co-sleepers, on the other hand, reported no difference in sleep quality compared to non-co-sleepers—in fact, many reported better sleep efficiency than those who slept with dogs and even those who slept with no pets.
This can likely be attributed to dogs moving around at night, making noise, and even giving off too much body heat during sleep. Of course, while any pet can cause these disturbances, it’s understandable that dogs would be more disruptive than cats during sleep.
Other Factors to Consider
But, of course, this can differ depending on the cat. Catster.com in-house veterinarian Dr. Karyn Kanowski, BVSc MRCVS, explains. “Does sleeping with cats benefit sleep quality? I think that’s going to depend on the cat and the sleeper. Some cats become well-conditioned to the sleeping patterns of their human guardians, while others are more committed to running amok when the house is quiet, eager to pounce on any elbow or toe that stirs beneath the blankets.”
Dr. Kanowski adds, “Perhaps that’s the real benefit of sharing our beds with pets: increased contentment rather than sleep quality, which is important, but not if it leaves you sleep deprived. As a compromise, I try to get into bed half an hour early to spend some quality cuddle time with the cats before closing the door for a peaceful night’s sleep.”
We all know cats for their ability to move quietly and gracefully through their environment—dogs, not so much. With this in mind, the study doesn’t surprise cat lovers much!
