Sharing your bed with your dog or cat might sound like the ultimate comfort, but it could be costing you a good night’s sleep.
According to sleep expert Dr. Melissa Milanak of the Medical University of South Carolina, many pet owners report being disturbed by their animals throughout the night. “You can’t say it’s bad for every person,” she notes, “but there’s a lot of evidence showing it can negatively impact sleep.”
Pets, after all, don’t follow the same sleep cycles we do. Dogs are light sleepers and often shift or scratch at bedding, disrupting sleep quality. Cats, famously active at dawn and dusk, can pounce into “zoomie” mode just as their owners are settling in or waking up.
There’s also the issue of allergens—pet dander and microbes can interfere with deep breathing and disrupt the restorative phases of sleep, particularly for individuals with allergies.
Still, many pet owners aren’t eager to give up the habit. The emotional comfort and bonding that comes from sleeping next to a beloved animal often outweighs the occasional disruption. As Dr. Brian Chin of Trinity College puts it, even pet-owning researchers like himself struggle to admit when their furry companions are the culprit behind poor sleep.
So what’s the solution? Milanak suggests compromise: a dog bed nearby, better allergen control, or even aligning your sleep schedule with your pet’s activity patterns. For some, that might mean going to bed earlier—or at least washing the sheets more often.
Ultimately, if you’re waking up tired, it’s worth considering whether your pet might be contributing to the problem. However, if you’re sleeping well and enjoying the company, experts agree: don’t fix what isn’t broken.
