Nothing is better than cuddling with a cat, but is it a good idea for your cat to sleep in your bed? There are many factors to consider, including your cat’s behavior, your sleep habits, and your health.
Why Cats Like to Sleep with their Humans
Companionship - Who wouldn’t want nonstop sleepovers? Cats sleep with their humans because they like them and enjoy spending time with them. Some cats like to lay on top of their humans, especially on their chests, where they can hear them breathe and feel their hearts beating. These can be really comforting sounds for cats just like how the vibrations of their purrs are so calming and relaxing for us.
Routine - Cats are creatures of habit and if they will get used to sleeping with you. They will learn that after dinner and the evening routine, they go to bed with you.
Safety - a sleeping cat is vulnerable to being attacked by a predator. Sleeping with their humans gives them a sense of security. When your cat sleeps with you, they trust you and know they can rely on you for protection.
Territory - Cats are territorial and sleeping in your bed helps them mark it as “theirs” and also mark YOU as theirs. It helps them strengthen the bond between you.
Warmth - From laying in sunbeams to cozying up in a pile of warm laundry, cats love being warm. Cuddling up to their human helps them keep warm - especially if they nuzzle up near their head or feet where most body heat escapes from!
Benefits of Sleeping with Your Cat
Bonding - Sleeping with your cat gives you more time to bond. Cozying up with your cat for eight extra hours a day lets you spend more time together. Particularly if your cat is an only cat or you are out of the home for a good portion of the day, this is a great way to give them some more interaction with you.
Stress Relief - Being around a cat is very calming. Their presence and their purrs are known to help ease stress and anxiety in people. Sleeping with your cat can help you relax, wind down, and fall asleep more easily.
Warmth - While cuddling helps your cat stay warm, since cats’ body temperatures are higher than humans’, sleeping with your cat helps keep you warm too! You’re basically sharing body warmth back and forth.
Disadvantages of Sleeping with Your Cat
Health Concerns - If you are allergic to cats, having their fur on your bedding can cause health problems. Similarly, allowing a cat to sleep cuddled up on your pillow or close to your face can lead to breathing issues or even asthma attacks. Washing your bedding often, especially pillows and pillowcases, and grooming your cat frequently can help with allergies.
If your cat has access to the outdoors, they may bring dirt, germs, or disease not only into your home but into your bed. Even if your cat is indoor only, they can carry litter box debris on their paws and into your bed. Make sure to keep their litter box clean and schedule regular vet visits to keep them healthy.
Sleep Disruption - Cats are crepuscular so they are active in the evenings and the mornings. Cats typically don’t sleep through the entire night. If you are a sensitive sleeper, their activity throughout the night may hinder the quality of your sleep. To encourage them to sleep soundly, play with them for 15-30 minutes before bedtime to tire them out.
Territorial Issues - If your cat begins to think of your bed as part of their territory, they may be unhappy with a change in the routine, like not being allowed in the bed anymore or having someone else sleep in the bed. They may expect to always be welcome in the bed and become upset or confused if things change. This can lead to behavioral issues such as vocalizing or scratching. Cats' routines are very important to them.
Alternatives for Sharing a Bed with Your Cat
If you don’t want to share your bed with your cat, you should provide them with equally cozy and inviting places to sleep. Cats like to sleep up high where they feel safe from predators. Offer beds on cat trees, shelves, window perches, or on top of dressers. Make their bed cozy with warm blankets and bedding - some cat beds are even heated! Remember that cats like their bedding to smell like them so no need to wash their blankets too often. For an added sense of protection try a covered bed, a cubby, or a box. Being enclosed can help them feel less vulnerable and sleep more soundly.
Conclusion
As with most things, there are pros and cons to sharing a bed with your cat and the choice to allow your cat in your bed is up to you. You should consider their impact on the quality - and quantity! - of your sleep as well as any health concerns you may have. Sleeping beside your cat can give you both a sense of security, relieve stress, help you fall asleep more easily and sleep more soundly, and strengthen the bond you share.
Love, Nala
