Many people in many parts of the world often share their beds not only with human partners, but also with dogs and cats. Self-report and data data have shown that sleeping with an adult human partner has both positive and negative effects on sleep, but there is little research on the effects pets have on sleep quality. New research has collected data from 962 adult women to examine the relationships between pets and sleep. Fifty-five percent of the participants shared their bed with at least one dog and 31% with at least one cat. In addition, 57% of the participants shared their bed with a human partner.
The study found that the women who had a dog in bed had less disruptive sleep. These women also revealed that they felt more comfortable and safe when their dog slept next to them. Cats sleeping in the women's beds were just as disruptive as human partners, and were associated with reduced feelings of comfort and security by both human and dog bed partners.
Also, dog owners went to bed earlier and got up earlier than people who have cats but no dogs. The result of sticking to a sleep schedule resulted in a better night's sleep. In addition, the women got more rest because they slept well every day.
Other measures included in this study indicate that dogs and cats, and where they sleep, can indeed affect sleep habits and perceptions of sleep quality.
