Are your pets allowed on the bed? Even among pet owners, and sometimes even in the same household, opinion is divided. If you’re in the “sleeping with pets” camp, you’re not alone. More than 60 percent of households in the United States have pets, and about half of those pet owners let the pets sleep in their bedrooms. Where do these pets actually sleep? About 62 percent of cats and 45 percent of dogs get to share their owners’ beds. Globally, Americans seem the most likely to share sleeping space with their pets. But is it good for us? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

• Some research indicates that sleeping with pets can benefit your health. When you share a bed with your pet, it can give you a stronger sense of security, and your pet’s warmth and rhythmic breathing can be a source of comfort. Pets promote feelings of calm and relief, and simply touching them raises the level of oxytocin in your body, so sleeping with your pets can help reduce stress and make it easier to fall asleep.
• You and your pet may both enjoy sleeping in the same space. As owners, we bond with our pets, and they like to be near us. If you work full time, and your pets are alone much of the day, sleeping with you at night can help them feel close to you.
• There may be some health risks associated with sleeping with your pets. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, for instance, it may not be a good idea to even have pets in your room at night. Of course, unvaccinated pets or pets with fleas or other ticks can endanger your health if those pets sleep in your bed. If you have a condition that compromises your immune system, you probably shouldn’t sleep with your pets.
• Sleeping with your pet may result in broken sleep. Cats are nocturnal, so they’re likely to wake you up if they’re spending the night in your room. Dogs dream, kick, grunt, and move during sleep, and that can disturb your rest as well. Keeping your pets crated instead of in your bed may prevent them from waking you in the night.

Sleeping with a dog or cat can be comforting, but sleeping with small pets like birds, hamsters, rabbits, or ferrets could be dangerous for your pet. If you need a bigger mattress to accommodate your pet, you owe it to yourself to check out Mancini's Sleepworld. Since 1969, the Mancini family has owned and operated their store in Sunnyvale, CA, selling brand name mattresses at fair prices and treating every customer with respect. Beginning an expansion in 1989, the Mancini's now have 33 locations across the greater bay area, allowing for same-day mattress delivery in most cases. To learn more about Mancini's Sleepworld, contact us through our website or call 800-647-5337