Sleeping alone is not natural to humans nor to cats. Just as humans originally lived and slept in tribes, cats naturally live and sleep in groups. To this day, humans sleep cuddled up close for warmth, protection and comfort. Sleeping with your cat may be beneficial to you both.
South African pet owners have over 2 million cats between them. Moreover, most of these pets spend the nights with their owners either in or on the bed. According to research, approximately 62% of cats slumber with the adults of the household. Additionally, 13% share children’s beds.
Advantages Of Sharing Your Bed With Your Cat
Enhances Heart Health
No one can blame pet owners for wanting to sleep with their cats. After all, felines are like live teddy bears. They are warm, silky soft and extremely comforting to have around at night. Moreover, scientists show that they decrease tension and anxiety. Sleeping with your cat triggers your brain to secrete soothing hormones. Consequently, this lowers your chance of having a stroke or developing heart disease by 30 percent.
Strengthen Your Bones, Muscles And Joints
Furthermore, the purrs of a feline accelerate the mending of musculature, skeleton and tendons. Scientists show that the frequency of a cat’s purr has healing effects because it vibrates at 20-140 HZ. Sleeping with your cat on your bed may be ideal for your health.
Increases Positive Emotions
In addition, your cat causes your brain to secrete oxytocin, the love hormone. Consequently, having your cat with you while you slumber enhances positive feelings and diminishes negative emotions, which helps you to stay asleep for longer. This effect can be especially useful if you tend to wake too early. Besides, the purring of your cat soothes you to deep repose which is ideal for insomniacs. Furthermore, they are cuddly company which is perfect for singles. Sleeping with your cat on your bed is great for you emotional wellbeing.
However, it is not only single people that love sleeping with their cats. Researchers in England reveal that women mostly allow cats to sleep on their beds. According to a survey done by the Mayo Clinic Centre for Sleep Medicine, 41% of cat owners find they sleep better if their cats sleep on their beds. Conversely, a mere 20% reported that sharing a bed with their cats disrupts their sleep.
Decreases the development of allergies
Interestingly, contrary to popular beliefs, young children who share their beds with their felines have fewer allergies. Putting the cat to bed with your 10-month-old will ensure your child has far less allergies in general. Interestingly, as they grow up such toddlers will be more allergy-free than they would have been otherwise. Consequently, the National Institute of Health says that it is most effective to begin night time exposure to cats before a child turns 1 year old.
Marshall Plaut of the National Institute of Allergy and infectious Diseases agrees. He says that intensive exposure early on in a child’s life develops immunity to other allergies. For example, little ones who share a bed with their cats, experience low or no sensitivities to dust mites and grass.
However, keep in mind that a human bed is no place for cat dander. Use hypo-allergenic, waterproof, pillow and mattress protectors. When sleeping with your cat on your bed you must keep hygiene in mind.
The cons of sleeping with your cat
The truth is that cats are nocturnal creatures. They love to roam and be active at night. You may wake with your cat tickling your feet for attention. Moreover, you may wake up with sharp claws raking your legs to alert you to her need to play immediately. Alternatively, she may decide that it’s time to eat at 3 am. Loud and relentless meowing will inform you of her desire. In this case, sharing a bed with your cat may not be as peaceful as you envision.
In addition, your kitty may be the type who prefers to sleep at full stretch. Although this is uncommon in cats, first check what sleeping position she tends to choose before you let her into your bed.
Decide at your peril
Furthermore, sleeping with your cat needs to be a conscious decision. Once in your bed, keeping kitty out of there at night is going to be an uphill battle. Closing the door won’t work and the paintwork will most likely suffer from her scratch marks. Furthermore, she will vocally protest until you relent. More importantly, she may also suffer from feelings of rejection and anxiety if you change your mind about letting her to sleep in your room.Rather preserve peace of mind for you both, and consider all aspects before you make your final decision.
However, once you decide to let her in, the bond you have will strengthen. Consequently, you will both feel more content and life will be happier in general.
Asthmatics And Adults With Allergies
Asthmatics and adults with allergies must not allow their felines into the bedroom. It goes without saying that the bed should be completely out of bounds. Moreover, people with allergies or asthma should use protective pillow and mattress covers for their health. Either way, keeping your bedding allergen-free is vital.
Although there are many benefits to little ones sleeping with cats, be wary. Take note of the way your cat treats your baby when she takes a catnap during the day. Does she tend to sleep close to his face or kneed him with her claws? Some say that cats ought not to sleep with babies or toddlers. Cats that are taken by surprise can inadvertently cause deep scratches on soft baby skin. Moreover, cats prefer to get very cosy and may accidentally smother a baby. The sleeping habits of your cat will help you with your decision.
How to share the bed with your cat
Keep your cat healthy
Firstly, take care of your health and hers. Keeping your cat healthy and flea-free is an easy accomplishment in modern times. Human and cat-friendly flea collars are easy to obtain. In addition, cats come with an inbuilt grooming kit as grooming is one of their favourite occupations. For pet owners that live on dusty farms, having a damp rag at hand in the evening with which to wipe your feline is ideal.
Furthermore, ensure your mattress and pillow remain clean and hygenic. Cover them with breathable, waterproof protectors. Protecting your bedding while sleeping with your cat on your bed is vital.
Having a vision of cosy nights with your kitty may lead you to forget to put some boundaries in place. Work these out carefully and be sure you know how to implement them.
Set some ground rules that guarantee a long and peaceful co-existence in your bedroom at night. Keep firm and your pet will get the hint and adjust. Most importantly, ignore any possible suggestions for play or snacks after lights out. Take heed, for giving in will bring nothing but more requests the following night. Therefore, ensure he has an abundance of playtime in the day. You may want to set a play time that he gets used to. An ideal time may be when you arrive home from work in the evening. After all, you are happy to see him and after you sit down you may feel tiredness creeping in. Ensuring she is tired at bedtime is important. Consequently, sleeping with your cat on your bed will be a restful experience.
Get Her A Friend
To tire her out, consider getting another cat to provide her with an all day playmate. That way you will resolve two issues at once. Firstly, she will be much more tired at night and sleeping with two contended cats will be calm and quiet. Furthermore, neither humans nor cats thrive in isolation. So, unless you work from home, your cat will be healthier and happier with a friend.
How To Entice Your Cat Away From Your Bedroom.
Some people discover too late that they are better off sleeping without their cats. You may not like sleeping with your cat on your bed after all. In that case, follow a thorough and meticulous plan to entice her away from your bedroom. Ensure you carry it out in a manner that is kind to you both. Create an irresistible area for your pet to sleep in away from your room. Place a perch and a special cuddly toys filled with catnip next to her basket. If possible, keep the perch in a cupboard during the day. This will make it more special for her at night. If sharing your bed with your cat is not for you, make sure her night time needs are met.
Pay For Inconsistency
Adhere to your principles on weekends, for consistency is the key to success. Moreover, never think that one night is ok. An inconsistent approach will lead to upsets for you both. Furthermore, if sharing a bed with your cat is not something you want to do, a friend for her is vital. If she is going to be spending her nights away from you, make sure she is not alone.
In addition, take further action to discourage your feline from coming to your room at night. For example, place some objects that she dislikes, outside of your door. Usually balloons or tin foil provide a deterrent. Keep putting them there at night for some weeks after she has happily settled into her new spot with her new friend.
Sleeping with your cat on the bed is not for everyone. However, most cat owners experience many benefits. The choice is a personal one. Whatever you decide, keeping your pillows and mattress fresh is important to your health. Mattress and pillow protectors are the solution.