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Associated Press

It turns out that our furry best friend might also be our sleep enemy.
Lots of pet owners let their animals sleep on the bed with them, which usually disrupts rest. But many would say it is worth it.
Researchers do not necessarily agree.
Melissa Milanak, an associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in the United States who specialises in sleep health, says most people at her clinic say their pets often disturb them at night.
“You can’t say that, hands down, it’s bad for every single person, but there is a lot out there saying it negatively impacts your sleep,” she says.

Generally speaking, having a pet is good for many people’s health. Pets have been shown to lower their humans’ stress levels, get them to exercise and provide other benefits. Many pet owners also say they feel an immeasurable amount of comfort from having their pets close as they sleep.
But dogs’ and cats’ natural sleep cycles are not the same as humans’.
Dogs tend to be light sleepers and wake up multiple times at night. Some display instinctual behaviour like scratching at bedding, which can prevent deeper phases of sleep even if it does not wake you up.
As many cat owners know, “the zoomies” often occur before they are ready to get out of bed. Cats evolved to hunt in low light, meaning they are particularly active at dusk and dawn.
Milanak also says that allergens such as pet dander and microbes brought into the house can affect owners’ breathing, preventing them from getting enough deep sleep.

Brian Chin, a professor of social and health psychology at Trinity College, in the US state of Connecticut, says his research has found that sleeping with pets was associated with poor sleep, “particularly those dimensions of sleep quality and insomnia symptoms”.
That is even accounting for the fact that pet owners may be less inclined to report problems in a survey because they do not believe their beloved pets cause problems.
“I hate to even admit that my cat disrupts my sleep at all,” says Chin, who has one cat that keeps him awake and another that leaves him alone.
Moreover, a higher number of pets was associated with higher sleep disruption, he says.
What should you do about it?
It is not as simple as telling pet owners that they should not share the bed, Milanak says. For a lot of people, sleeping with a pet becomes part of their sleep routine. Sleeping without the animal becomes difficult because they have come to associate pets with sleep.
Because the topic is sensitive, Milanak asks new patients several questions before getting to whether they sleep with a pet.
If they are waking up multiple times a night, for example, they may not realise why. Once the association is made, she then asks whether they are open to not sleeping together.
“It’s like if I said to somebody, you need to stop smoking,” she says. “They’re going to give me all the reasons why they want to continue smoking.”

The first and most obvious solutions are putting a dog bed on the floor in the bedroom, or locking the cat out of the room at night.
For those who insist on having the pet in bed with them, Milanak advises washing the sheets more frequently and perhaps adjusting their sleep schedule to match their pet’s routine.
“Maybe you need to go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier to accommodate the pet,” she says.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
Despite any problems, many pet owners feel that the bonding and emotional benefits outweigh minor sleep disruption.
Angela Wilson, who lives in Cobb County, in the US state of Georgia, says she has bought a series of evermore plush beds for her golden retriever, Sadie. But Sadie jumps into her bed anyway.
Then they usually sleep peacefully back to back.
“People complain about their dogs waking them up, but she doesn’t wake me up,” Wilson says. “She’s very gentle.”
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Many owners emotionally benefit from their pet sharing their bed, but they can disrupt sleep – sometimes without their humans’ knowledge


Many owners emotionally benefit from their pet sharing their bed, but they can disrupt sleep – sometimes without their humans’ knowledge.


Pets

Animals

Should you sleep with your dog or cat? Experts weigh up the pros and cons

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Many owners emotionally benefit from their pet sharing their bed, but they can disrupt sleep – sometimes without their humans’ knowledge

Many owners emotionally benefit from their pet sharing their bed, but they can disrupt sleep – sometimes without their humans’ knowledge