Scientists have long debated whether to let pets on the bed at night. A new study seems to provide a definitive answer: it is okay to sleep with cats, while the presence of a dog in the room may negatively affect sleep quality.
Many pet owners fall asleep hugging their cats or dogs — perhaps due to the desire to feel warmth and love or simply because it is comfortable to sleep while embracing someone. Sometimes the choice of whether to sleep on the bed with their owners is made by the pet itself. But should we give our smaller brothers such a choice? How does sleeping together with animals affect the quality of sleep? It does, and quite significantly! Moreover, different cats and dogs have different impacts.
Which pets can you sleep with without worrying about sleep quality?
Researchers from Trinity College in Cambridge (UK) conducted a survey among more than 1,500 American adults who filled out questionnaires about their sleeping habits. About half of the respondents admitted that they sleep with their pets — either in the same room or on the same bed.
Then the team of scientists compared the habits of people who slept with pets and those who did not allow them into the bedroom at night. The results showed that the first group had lower sleep quality, and symptoms of insomnia were more frequent. These findings remained true even when accounting for demographic differences between the groups.
After that, the authors of the study decided to find out if there was a difference in how sleeping with different animals — cats and dogs — affects sleep quality. It turned out that there is indeed a difference: dog owners slept worse than cat owners.
Interestingly, 93% of the study participants who sleep with their pets are confident that the animals have either a positive or neutral impact on their sleep. The scientists suggest that they simply do not realize the potential negative effects that dogs and cats can have on human sleep quality.
Sleep quality with pets can indeed deteriorate: they can make various noises, move around, lie on their owners, and restrict their movements. Additionally, even in sleep, we may unconsciously worry about accidentally hitting the pet and causing it pain. However, scientists cannot yet definitively answer why there are differences in sleeping together with dogs and with cats. Further research is needed for that.
Leave a comment