The CDC reports that more than 60% of Americans have pets, and roughly half of those people share their bed with their dog or cat. They're just so cute, how can you say no?
Will my pet affect my sleep?
A survey found that people who were sharing a bed with their pet took about four minutes longer to fall to sleep and felt tired when they woke up, although the drowsiness didn't last all day. But four minutes seems insignificant compared to the cuddles and bonding time sharing a bed allows you and your pet, right?
Right. A pet usually won't affect your sleep enough to kick them out. As long as you and your partner don't have allergies (think of the potential pet hair in your bed) and clean your sheets and pillows often, sleeping with your pets shouldn't have much of an impact on your quality of sleep. (It's important that every once in a while, you clean your foam mattress, too!) Now that we've established that, let's talk about the mattress itself. Is there a "best mattress for pet owners?" Is one mattress type better than the rest for you and your dog or cat to share?
Should we get a new mattress since we got a dog or a cat?
This may seem like a crazy question and by no means do you have to get a new mattress just because you got a new pet, but certain mattresses are better if you plan to sleep with your furry friend. Why? Think about it. Just like a partner, animals move around on the mattress, get up in the middle of the night, and jump in and out of bed. Chances are, if you can feel the mattress moving every time your pet moves, you aren't going to get much sleep. If you're planning to let your pets share your bed, you may want to consider getting a mattress with low motion transfer. Memory foam mattresses are great for this, with very little motion transfer.
At Leesa, our mattresses pass the wine glass test, where a glass of wine sitting on the mattress won't spill if you get on the mattress with it. While you probably won't jump into a bed where a glass of wine is just sitting on the mattress (although you may get in bed with a glass of wine), it shows you how little motion transfer the mattress offers.
What are some risks and benefits of sleeping with our pets?
Benefits
- Sleeping with your pet can make you feel safer and more secure.
- Petting your cat or dog releases oxytocin in the brain, so sleeping with them has a similar effect. You may feel less stressed and more relaxed with them in bed with you.
- Sleeping with your pet, just like sleeping with your partner, strengthens your physical and emotional bond. Plus, if you get the best mattress for sleeping with a pet, you can bond when you want to and sleep when you don't.
- If you haven’t noticed, your pet is probably really good at napping. In bed with you, they’ll fall to sleep quickly and their rhythmic breathing can be therapeutic.
Risks
- A pet may snore or twitch in their sleep, which can be a problem for light sleepers.
- Just like your partner, your cat or dog may hog the bed. Like snoring or twitching, this could keep you from getting the sleep you need. This can be especially true on a twin mattress size since there’s less room to start with.
- If you have allergies or asthma, letting your pet in your bed may aggravate that. While they may be cute, it's not worth it if sleeping with them makes you sick.
- Consider how much time your pet spends outside and make sure they're clean before they get on your mattress.
What kind of mattress is best for people with pets?
Like we said before, a foam mattress is going to give you the least amount of motion transfer and allow you and your pet to sleep better. So, as far as the best mattress for pet owners goes, it's probably a foam mattress.
What about mattress size? While your puppy or kitten may be tiny now, you need to think about how big they'll get. If you're planning to share a bed with your pet, especially a dog, a twin or twin XL size mattress probably won't cut it. For most adults, a twin is tight just sleeping alone, but add a 20, 30, or 50-pound animal and it's going to be really hard for both of you to sleep.
A full, queen, or king-size mattress is probably the best mattress for sharing with a cat or dog. This gives you plenty of space to sleep and allows your furry friend to spread out, too.
Pro Tip: It's smart to invest in a good mattress protector for your foam mattress, whether you let your pet in your bed or not. A mattress protector provides a barrier between your mattress and life, so the dust, dirt and pet hair doesn't ruin your favorite mattress.
If you are going to let your pet sleep with you, you're in for a constant nap companion and a lot of cuddle time. Just make sure you make the right changes, updates, and choices so that you're both getting the sleep you need. Ready to get a good night’s sleep? Let Leesa guide you to the best mattress for you and your furry family members.