The Benefits and Drawbacks of Sharing Your Bed with Your Cat

Did you know that over half of Americans are sleeping with their cats in their beds?

Whilst many experts claim there are relaxing benefits of letting your furry companion into your bed, many are against it due to the hygienic implications.

Oregon residents ranked top for sharing their bed with a cat

The survey found that 74% of Oregon residents allow their cats to share a bed with them at night.

Alabama ranked second with 70% of residents followed by Oklahoma (68%), Georgia (68%), and New York (61%) reporting that they share a bed with their cat.

Sharing a bed with pets can both positively and negatively impact your health and hygiene, but what key considerations should you keep in mind?

Martin Seeley, Sleep expert and CEO at MattressNextDay, looked at how sharing a bed with your cat can affect your sleeping environment, revealing some of the positive and negative effects it can have on your health.

Noted benefits were:

• Enhanced sense of security and companionship: Having your cat nearby can provide comfort and a sense of safety, reducing feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
• Stress reduction: The presence of a cat can promote relaxation and lower stress levels, leading to improved sleep quality.
• Reduce insomnia symptoms: The calming effect of a cat’s presence may aid in falling asleep faster and staying asleep throughout the night, benefiting individuals with insomnia.
• Improved mental health: Interacting with a cat before bed and during the night can release feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, promoting overall well-being.

Noted negatives were:

• Allergies and respiratory issues: Pets can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions, leading to sneezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing during sleep.
• Disrupted sleep patterns: Pets may snore, move around, or demand attention during the night, leading to disrupted sleep for their owners.
• Hygiene concerns: Pets can bring dirt, fur, dander, and other debris into the bed, increasing the risk of skin irritation, infections, and unpleasant odors.
• Sleep quality: Despite the emotional benefits, co-sleeping with pets may negatively impact sleep quality due to disturbances and discomfort.

Martin Seeley also offered his advice on whether sharing a bed with your cat is beneficial to a good night’s sleep: “I believe that while sharing a bed with your cat can offer emotional benefits like comfort and companionship, it’s crucial to maintain a clean sleep environment to mitigate hygiene concerns.

Regularly washing your bedding, vacuuming your mattress, and grooming your pet can help reduce allergens and debris in the bed. By following these steps, you can enjoy the positive effects of sharing a bed with your cat while promoting a clean and healthy sleep environment for optimal rest.”

If you’d like to know what other sleeping habits Americans are doing every day, please visit the onsite blog here >> https://www.mattressnextday.co.uk/snooze-news/post/americas-dirtiest-sleeping-habits-revealed

Source 

2,000 survey respondents from 3Gem.

Methodology

The “America’s Dirty Sleeping Habits” report is the result of a comprehensive national survey conducted by MattressNextDay. The survey involved 2,000 participants from across the US.

About MattressNextDay

MattressNextDay is a leading online mattress retailer, operating since 2004. They specialize in competitive prices and free, fast next-day delivery, as well as other services such as mattress removal and recycling. They offer 1000s of mattresses, beds and bedding products, from multiple prestigious brands, including Hypnos, Silentnight, Sealy & Tempur. MattressNextDay also provides sleep and product advice, from both their buying guides and dedicated sleep blog, ‘Snooze News’. Their CEO, Martin Seeley, is a recognised Sleep Expert, regularly giving specialist advice to a number of renowned publications, such as The Guardian, Daily Mail and The Independent.