Having A Dog Or Cat In Your Bed Helps You Sleep Better, Science Says

Many pet owners complain about being woken by their furry friends - but having a dog or cat in your bed can actually help you sleep.

Researchers at the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona found that 41% of patients said that having an animal in bed helped them sleep better.

Of the 150 sleep patients surveyed, 56% said they shared their bedroom with a cat or dog.

Many study participants said that having an animal in bed was ‘soothing’.

The authors write, ‘A single 64 year old woman commented that she felt more content when her small dog slept under the covers near her feet, as noted in the study.’

‘Another woman, who was married, described her two small dogs as bed warmers, and a described her cat sleeping on her chest as ‘soothing’.

‘Many pet owners view companion animals as family members that they wish to incorporate into as many aspects of their life as possible.

‘Because humans spend considerable time sleeping, a pet owner's desire to have animals close at night is understandable.’

‘As more households include multiple pets, the challenge of securing appropriate sleeping arrangements is increased.’