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Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Toronto Sun
Should you let pets sleep next to you?
Having a pet is good for many people's health. But dogs' and cats' natural sleep cycles aren't the same as those of humans Published Jun 12, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 3 minute read A woman and her dog sleeping in bed. Photo by Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. It turns out, our furry best friend might be our sleep enemy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Lots of pet owners let their animals sleep on the bed with them, which usually disrupts sleep. But many would say it's worth it. And researchers don't necessarily disagree. Melissa Milanak, a professor at Medical University of South Carolina specializing in sleep health, said most people at her clinic say their pets disturb them often at night. 'You can't say that hands down, it's bad for every single person, but there is a lot out there saying it negatively impacts your sleep,' she said. Generally speaking, having a pet is good for many people's health. Pets have been shown to lower their humans' stress levels, get them to exercise and more. Many pet owners also say they feel an immeasurable amount of comfort by having their pets close as they sleep. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But dogs' and cats' natural sleep cycles aren't the same as those of humans. Dogs tend to be light sleepers and wake up multiple times at night. Some display instinctual behavior like scratching at bedding, which can prevent deeper phases of sleep even if it doesn't wake you up. As many cat owners know, 'the zoomies' often happen before they are ready to get out of bed. Cats evolved to hunt in low light, meaning they are particularly active at dusk and dawn. Milanak also said allergens such as pet dander and microbes brought into the house can affect owners' breathing, preventing them from getting enough deep sleep. Brian Chin, a professor of social and health psychology at Trinity College in Connecticut, said his research has found sleeping with pets was associated with poor sleep, 'particularly those dimensions of sleep quality and insomnia symptoms.' That's even accounting for the fact that pet owners may be less inclined to report problems in a survey because they don't believe their beloved pets cause problems. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I hate to even admit that my cat disrupts my sleep at all,' said Chin, who has one cat that keeps him awake and another that leaves him alone. Moreover, a higher number of pets was associated with higher sleep disruption, he said. What should you do about it? It's not as simple as telling pet owners that they shouldn't share the bed, Milanak said. For a lot of people, it becomes part of their sleep routine, which makes it difficult to sleep without it because they have come to associate pets with sleep. Because the topic is sensitive, Milanak asks new patients several questions before getting to whether they sleep with a pet. If they're waking up multiple times a night, for example, they may not realize why. Once the association is made, she then asks whether they are open to not sleeping together. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's like if I said to somebody, you need to stop smoking,' she said. 'They're going to give me all the reasons why they want to continue smoking.' The first, most obvious solution is putting a dog bed on the floor in the bedroom, or locking the cat out of the room at night. For those who insist on having the pet in bed with them, she advises washing the sheets more frequently and perhaps adjusting their sleep schedule to match their pet's routine. 'Maybe you need to go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier to accommodate the pet,' she said. If it ain't broke, don't fix it Despite any problems, many pet owners feel that the bonding and emotional benefits outweigh minor sleep disruption. Angela Wilson, who lives in Cobb County, Georgia, said she has bought a series of ever-more plush beds for her golden retriever, Sadie. But Sadie jumps into her bed anyway. Then they usually sleep peacefully back to back. 'People complain about their dogs waking them up, but she doesn't wake me up,' Wilson said. 'She's very gentle.' For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network. World Celebrity World Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Experts give verdict on whether pets should sleep on the bed
Many pet owners allow their animals to sleep with them, which often leads to sleep disruption, though many say the companionship is worth it. Melissa Milanak, a sleep health professor, notes that most of her patients report their pets frequently disturb them at night, negatively impacting their sleep. Dogs' and cats' natural sleep cycles differ from humans; dogs are light sleepers and cats are active at dusk and dawn, potentially disrupting owners' sleep. Brian Chin's research found sleeping with pets was associated with poor sleep quality and insomnia symptoms, even when accounting for owners' reluctance to blame their pets. Solutions include putting a pet bed on the floor, locking the pet out of the room, washing sheets more frequently, or adjusting sleep schedules to match the pet's routine, though many owners feel the emotional benefits outweigh the sleep disruption.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Should you let your pets sleep on the bed? Experts say it's not that simple
Having a furry friend in bed may not be conducive to a good night's sleep. Many pet owners allow their animals to sleep with them, which often leads to sleep disruption, though many say the companionship is worth it. Melissa Milanak, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina specialising in sleep health, said that most of her patients report that their pets frequently disturb them at night. 'You can't say that hands down, it's bad for every single person, but there is a lot out there saying it negatively impacts your sleep,' she said. Generally speaking, having a pet is good for many people's health. Pets have been shown to lower their humans' stress levels, get them to exercise and more. Many pet owners also say they feel an immeasurable amount of comfort by having their pets close as they sleep. But dogs' and cats' natural sleep cycles aren't the same as those of humans. Dogs tend to be light sleepers and wake up multiple times at night. Some display instinctual behavior like scratching at bedding, which can prevent deeper phases of sleep even if it doesn't wake you up. As many cat owners know, 'the zoomies' often happen before they are ready to get out of bed. Cats evolved to hunt in low light, meaning they are particularly active at dusk and dawn. Milanak also said allergens such as pet dander and microbes brought into the house can affect owners' breathing, preventing them from getting enough deep sleep. Brian Chin, a professor of social and health psychology at Trinity College in Connecticut, said his research has found sleeping with pets was associated with poor sleep, 'particularly those dimensions of sleep quality and insomnia symptoms.' That's even accounting for the fact that pet owners may be less inclined to report problems in a survey because they don't believe their beloved pets cause problems. 'I hate to even admit that my cat disrupts my sleep at all,' said Chin, who has one cat that keeps him awake and another that leaves him alone. Moreover, a higher number of pets was associated with higher sleep disruption, he said. What should you do about it? It's not as simple as telling pet owners that they shouldn't share the bed, Milanak said. For a lot of people, it becomes part of their sleep routine, which makes it difficult to sleep without it because they have come to associate pets with sleep. Because the topic is sensitive, Milanak asks new patients several questions before getting to whether they sleep with a pet. If they're waking up multiple times a night, for example, they may not realize why. Once the association is made, she then asks whether they are open to not sleeping together. 'It's like if I said to somebody, you need to stop smoking,' she said. 'They're going to give me all the reasons why they want to continue smoking.' The first, most obvious solution is putting a dog bed on the floor in the bedroom, or locking the cat out of the room at night. For those who insist on having the pet in bed with them, she advises washing the sheets more frequently and perhaps adjusting their sleep schedule to match their pet's routine. 'Maybe you need to go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier to accommodate the pet,' she said. If it ain't broke, don't fix it Despite any problems, many pet owners feel that the bonding and emotional benefits outweigh minor sleep disruption. Angela Wilson, who lives in Cobb County, Georgia, said she has bought a series of ever-more plush beds for her golden retriever, Sadie. But Sadie jumps into her bed anyway. Then they usually sleep peacefully back to back. 'People complain about their dogs waking them up, but she doesn't wake me up,' Wilson said. 'She's very gentle.'
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Should you let pets sleep next to you? (Does it even matter what the experts say?)
It turns out, our furry best friend might be our sleep enemy. Lots of pet owners let their animals sleep on the bed with them, which usually disrupts sleep . But many would say it's worth it. And researchers don't necessarily disagree. Melissa Milanak, a professor at Medical University of South Carolina specializing in sleep health, said most people at her clinic say their pets disturb them often at night.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Should you let your pets sleep on the bed? Does it even matter what the experts say?
It turns out, our furry best friend might be our sleep enemy. Lots of pet owners let their animals sleep on their bed, which usually disrupts sleep. But many would say it's worth it. And researchers don't necessarily disagree. Melissa Milanak, a professor at Medical University of South Carolina specializing in sleep health, said most people at her clinic say their pets disturb them often at night. 'You can't say that hands down, it's bad for every single person, but there is a lot out there saying it negatively impacts your sleep,' she said. Generally speaking, having a pet is good for many people's health. Pets have been shown to lower their humans' stress levels, get them to exercise and more. Many pet owners also say they feel an immeasurable amount of comfort by having their pets close as they sleep. But dogs' and cats' natural sleep cycles aren't the same as those of humans. Dogs tend to be light sleepers and wake up multiple times at night. Some display instinctual behavior like scratching at bedding, which can prevent deeper phases of sleep even if it doesn't wake you up. As many cat owners know, 'the zoomies' often happen before they are ready to get out of bed. Cats evolved to hunt in low light, meaning they are particularly active at dusk and dawn. Milanak also said allergens such as pet dander and microbes brought into the house can affect owners' breathing, preventing them from getting enough deep sleep. Brian Chin, a professor of social and health psychology at Trinity College in Connecticut, said his research has found sleeping with pets was associated with poor sleep, 'particularly those dimensions of sleep quality and insomnia symptoms.' That's even accounting for the fact that pet owners may be less inclined to report problems in a survey because they don't believe their beloved pets cause problems. 'I hate to even admit that my cat disrupts my sleep at all,' said Chin, who has one cat that keeps him awake and another that leaves him alone. Moreover, a higher number of pets was associated with higher sleep disruption, he said. What should you do about it? It's not as simple as telling pet owners that they shouldn't share the bed, Milanak said. For a lot of people, it becomes part of their sleep routine, which makes it difficult to sleep without it because they have come to associate pets with sleep. Because the topic is sensitive, Milanak asks new patients several questions before getting to whether they sleep with a pet. If they're waking up multiple times a night, for example, they may not realize why. Once the association is made, she then asks whether they are open to not sleeping together. 'It's like if I said to somebody, you need to stop smoking,' she said. 'They're going to give me all the reasons why they want to continue smoking.' The first, most obvious solution is putting a dog bed on the floor in the bedroom, or locking the cat out of the room at night. For those who insist on having the pet in bed with them, she advises washing the sheets more frequently and perhaps adjusting their sleep schedule to match their pet's routine. 'Maybe you need to go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier to accommodate the pet,' she said. If it ain't broke, don't fix it Despite any problems, many pet owners feel that the bonding and emotional benefits outweigh minor sleep disruption. Angela Wilson, who lives in Cobb County, Georgia, said she has bought a series of ever-more plush beds for her golden retriever, Sadie. But Sadie jumps into her bed anyway. Then they usually sleep peacefully back to back. 'People complain about their dogs waking them up, but she doesn't wake me up,' Wilson said. 'She's very gentle.' EDITOR'S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about wellness, food and travel. Find his work at
