When you are a pet parent you often want to spend as much time with them as possible. That often includes letting them sleep in your bed. However, it is also common to wonder if it is a good idea to let your cat sleep with you. Even though slightly less than half of pet owners share their bed with their pet, there is usually at least one person that will tell you it’s not a good idea.
Letting your cat sleep in your bed is generally is not a problem. It has even been known to be beneficial. After all, your cat is a natural “den” animal and so they usually have a strong desire to curl up with their best human. But however sweet it sounds, sometimes it just depends on your lifestyle and what works for you.
Pro’s For Co-Sleeping with Your Cat:
- It can be beneficial to your mental health by reducing loneliness and increasing feelings of love
- Purring can help lull you to sleep more quickly
- They can reduce stress from a long day with their cuddles
- It makes you feel good to not deny them access to you.
Con’s For Co-Sleeping with Your Cat:
- It can aggravate allergies and asthma
- Your cat can easily disrupt your sleep because they can often get up several times at night. They like to lay in between your legs, on your stomach, on your head, etc.
- Their litter box paws can contaminate your sheets with bacteria
- They can make it hard to get up because they are so comfortable to sleep with
How to kick your cat out of the bed:
Sometimes you realize the lack of sleep or health issues like allergies and asthma make it unrealistic to share the bed with your cat. But, if you have let your cat sleep in the bed before only to realize that it is not the best arrangement for you, it can be hard to get them out of the bed. You don’t want to make your cat feel distressed, abandoned, or rejected, so to avoid that by simply closing the bedroom door and barring her entry. Your cat can probably jump over a pet gate, but if you use two, you can arrange them on top of each other. Place them in the doorway of your bedroom, in the hallway, or in another spot that you prefer. Give your kitty time to adapt to this new situation. Let her know that she’s still loved and cherished by distracting her from the disruption surrounding her sleeping arrangements. Before you head off to bed, sans cat, snuggle with her, pet her, play with her, and perhaps give her a treat. Making sure she has a new, comfortable bed is also essential.
However, for the most part, sleeping with your cat is a pretty wonderful arrangement. The cuddles and the purring are calming, plus it is a great way to bond with your cat. It does not really change their behavior, other than maybe being a little more attached to you. So unless you have allergies or have been advised by your doctor to no sleep with your cat, then cuddle up!
Do you sleep with your cat?