{"id":2458,"date":"2023-03-21T21:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T20:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed-with-you\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T14:39:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T12:39:00","slug":"do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you sleep better when a pet sleeps in bed with you?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A cat, dog or &#8230; most pets like a warm place at night. Of course, they also like to be with their owner. But what is the impact on your sleep when a pet sleeps with you? Do you sleep better or worse when a pet sleeps in bed with you? In this blog, we explain.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Content:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #003f73;color:#003f73\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #003f73;color:#003f73\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/#Can_my_dog_or_cat_sleep_in_bed_with_me\" >Can my dog or cat sleep in bed with me?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/#Is_sleeping_with_a_pet_good_or_bad\" >Is sleeping with a pet good or bad?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/#Is_it_dirty_to_sleep_with_a_pet\" >Is it dirty to sleep with a pet?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/#Sleeping_with_pet_placebo\" >Sleeping with pet: placebo?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-you-sleep-better-when-a-pet-sleeps-in-bed\/#Do_you_sleep_better_when_a_pet_sleeps_in_bed_with_you_Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Do you sleep better when a pet sleeps in bed with you?  Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_my_dog_or_cat_sleep_in_bed_with_me\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Can my dog or cat sleep in bed with me?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>Sleeping with a pet is not detrimental to health or hygiene. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/08927936.2018.1529354\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American research (2018) by Christy L Hoffman<\/a> shows that sleeping with a pet actually makes you sleep better.<\/p>\n\n<p>Although we should be careful with the interpretation of this research, sleep expert Inge Declercq (UZA) indicated when asked in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.knack.be\/nieuws\/factcheck\/factcheck-nee-vrouwen-slapen-niet-beter-naast-een-hond-dan-naast-een-man-of-kat\/article-longread-1748865.html?cookie_check=1624715509\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Knack<\/a> after Chris Dusauchoit spoke about the research on Radio 1.<\/p>\n\n<p>Sleep quality remains a subjective experience that cannot be properly measured. Thus, whether sleeping with your pet is good or bad is very personal. In fact, it depends on your personal situation.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"419\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kan-mijn-hond-of-kat-met-mij-in-bed-slapen.webp?resize=628%2C419&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"can my dog or cat sleep in bed with me\" class=\"wp-image-1488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kan-mijn-hond-of-kat-met-mij-in-bed-slapen.webp 628w, https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kan-mijn-hond-of-kat-met-mij-in-bed-slapen-480x320.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 628px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_sleeping_with_a_pet_good_or_bad\"><\/span><strong>Is sleeping with a pet good or bad?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>There are several factors that all factor into this question. First, of course, your sleep pattern itself. Some people simply sleep better when they are alone, or rather with a partner or pet next to them. In certain cases, you may find sleeping with a pet to <strong>be a positive experience:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A pet gives off heat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A pet lowers your stress level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You feel comfortable and safe with your pet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>But it could also have<strong> negative consequences<\/strong>. Consider:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your pet wakes you up at night.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You sleep less efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From a hygienic point of view, you don&#8217;t like it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>So, check carefully whether you have positive or negative experiences in your<strong> personal situation <\/strong>. You might feel safer or more comfortable if your dog sleeps with you, and is more likely to fall asleep. But perhaps your dog unconsciously keeps you from your deep sleep at night.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"715\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Is-het-vies-om-met-een-huisdier-te-slapen.webp?resize=715%2C405&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Is it dirty to sleep with a pet\" class=\"wp-image-1489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Is-het-vies-om-met-een-huisdier-te-slapen.webp 715w, https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Is-het-vies-om-met-een-huisdier-te-slapen-480x272.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 715px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_dirty_to_sleep_with_a_pet\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Is it dirty to sleep with a pet?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>&#8216;He who sleeps with the dog gets his fleas,&#8217; the proverb goes. But is sleeping with your pet really that dirty? Fortunately, that&#8217;s not too bad. Cats keep themselves clean very well. With dogs, they may carry dirt from outside, but this has no negative impact on your health.<\/p>\n\n<p>According to Chris Dusauchoit, <strong>sleeping with a pet is not dirty,<\/strong> as is often reasoned, but actually makes for a stronger immune system. However, you do need to wash bedding more frequently if your dog or cat sleeps in bed with you. It is also best to give extra attention to the ventilation of your bedroom.  <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/do-i-need-a-mattress-protector-for-my-mattress\/\">Also read: <strong>What is a mattress protector?<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleeping_with_pet_placebo\"><\/span><strong>Sleeping with pet: placebo?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>Chris Dusauchoit refers to a Canadian study on cardiac arrhythmias. This showed that sleeping with a pet returned as variable. But it is believed to be<strong> a placebo effect.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>You may feel safer or secure sleeping next to a pet, but if this is the conviction you need to fall asleep, half the game has already been played.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/what-is-sleep-hygiene\/\">Also read: <strong>What is sleep hygiene?<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>Whether you sleep better next to your pet is very personal. It can be either positive or negative depending on your situation. Just keep in mind that your pet may leave hair behind and you may need to change your bed more often.<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_you_sleep_better_when_a_pet_sleeps_in_bed_with_you_Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Do you sleep better when a pet sleeps in bed with you?  <strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" data-mobilecollapse=\"false\" data-desktopcollapse=\"false\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-3c9463fc-9e22-4280-a1bb-56484003cc45\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Waarom geen huisdieren in bed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down open\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\">\n\n<p>It could be that you are allergic, for example, or don&#8217;t sleep well next to your pet. Then it is wise not to leave your pet in bed or in your bedroom. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-5efdf58a-f3c3-43d9-ad08-cdb2d36c9394\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-1-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Waarom komt een kat bij je slapen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down open\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-1-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\">\n\n<p>Cats like safe places, and, of course, warmth. Because you as the cat&#8217;s owner create a sense of security for the animal, they like to crawl next to you as soon as you go to sleep.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-1e59b23b-d561-467e-835d-d6fdc6ea2227\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-2-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Kan je met een kat in bed slapen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down open\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-2-69e26dd7-31b1-4b24-8526-59898b872b7d\">\n\n<p>Sleeping with your cat can make it easier to fall asleep and experience less stress. It may also be that your cat is actually keeping you awake by moving around or taking up a lot of space.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A cat, dog or &#8230; most pets like a warm place at night. Of course, they also like to be with their owner. But what is the impact on your sleep when a pet sleeps with you? Do you sleep better or worse when a pet sleeps in bed with you? In this blog, we&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-improve-my-sleep"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mindthebed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/do-you-sleep-better-with-a-pet.webp?fit=992%2C478&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"J\u00fcrgen Swinnen","author_link":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/author\/victorys\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7566,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions\/7566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindthebed.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}