Do you sleep with your pet?

When I had them I allowed them to sleep on the bed. I wish I could do that now and have cat envy, but this apartment is not suitable for a cat. Perhaps I could rescue one that's old like me and doesn't want to go outdoors.

I've always had dogs and cats in the past. None ever came upstairs and didn't expect to.
I'd love a dog now I'm on my own but the vets bills frighten me off getting one.
However, before Covid I looked after a friend's two border collies for an hour each day and sometimes did a weekend sleepover with them. They're used to sleeping on their owners bed but I didn't want that so I'd leave the owners bedroom door open and they'd start off in there but then come into my room. One would flop down on the floor beside me and the other would go under the bed.
Even if I was asleep I'd know I had company because I'd get a whiff of dog! They are both bathed regularly and brushed all the time but there's no mistaking that doggy pong.
I think if you live with them you don't notice it.
My son called on me once whilst I was there and as soon as he entered the house he said "dogs". They were outside at the time so it does linger.

No, the thought makes my skin crawl, even without the potential existence of fleas.
My DD and SIL do let their cats on the bed though. So whatever keeps you and your pets happy is a good idea.

Adult cats are solitary predators. They are quite active during the night and like to hunt at dawn and dusk. However humans use pet animals to meet their own needs whatever they may be, to act as substitute friends, children, sleeping partners or whatever. I wouldn’t worry about the cat feeling emotionally rejected if you keep him out of your bedroom. That is a projection of human feelings onto another species. Do what suits you best.

I think Wiggy my cockatiel would be very upset if I tried to climb in her cage. And the thought of her in my bedroom!!
No thank you!
I'm longing to get a cat (don't tell Wiggy!) and when I do
I will definitely let it sleep on my bed.

I came back from brushing my teeth to find this little beauty keeping my space warm ?❤️

If Trold isn't out hunting at night, he usually chooses either to sleep on the landing or in one of the cushioned cane chairs in the kitchen. He regards it as his job to protect us at night, I think (when he is in that is).

He sometimes comes up for a cuddle when I go to bed, and always comes for one when he wants me to get up.

When I was convalescing in the spring, he did sleep in my bed, at the foot on top of the bedclothes to keep an eye on me.

When he was a kitten, he crept in under DH's duvet, once DH was asleep.

My dogs sleep in their own beds in the kitchen with a safety gate across the doorway. No way are they sleeping on my bed no matter how much I love them. I wouldn’t sleep in their beds either! We all need our own space,

Our cat is very placid & affectionate so he always goes to sleep either on the landing near our bedroom doors or he slinks into my 2 sons rooms to get on a bed (he's 'grown up' with the 17yr old, we got kitty when son was about 3) but he knows hes not allowed in my room & when doors open he sits at doorway peering in, looking very forlorn! I do try to discourage the lads from letting cat on their beds but they dont listen! He mainly lays beside them though especially if theyre ill, but he creeps to nudge the older one awake to feed him early in mornings ??

Our cat does nick my place on the sofa though if i leave it too long? My GD once tried lying in the cats (newish) bed on the landing (before first lockdown) and he never would use it after that! Even though i washed it! Now hes adopted just a cardboard box ??

Well, I had thought that when I am too old for a dog I might manage a cat - not any more after reading all those messages!

Our dog started off in the kitchen downstairs when we first got him and he became very poorly so we brought his bed upstairs into our room and all of a sudden his bed was empty and he was on our bed. Sadly he dies 6 months ago and still miss his little bedtime routine

Yes i think thats what our cat (Thomas) is doing on the landing- protecting his humans- he waits (mostly) till i go up and i tell him its time for bed,& a few minutes after i go up he comes padding up the stairs & lays on landing (or in his box on landing) if hes in sons rooms already its cause hes gone up early or cause one of thems ill??

I have had a lot of pleasure out of reading about everyone’s pets and their habits. Beautiful photo’s too. So kircubbin what will you do tonight? Will kitty sleep with you, or not?
Thank you for starting this thread.

If I slept with my pet I'd currently be in a hibernation box in the garage!!!

Owlfred- depends on your cats personality- ours is very placid hes no trouble really- hes very good with the GC (when they used to come visit) hes let them get away with picking him up all the time& pestering him over the years & never scratched them or anything- they all adore him! He loves to be out in good weather & hes no bother. Aside from some some cats hes lovely? My GD said "i wish i could come see you grandma- so i could see Thomas"??Nuff said!

Trisha57

If I slept with my pet I'd currently be in a hibernation box in the garage!!!

That made me laugh!

Trisha57- that might not be a bad idea at the moment?

My dog's have their own bed in my bedroom....however every morning I wake up with the biggest (a real gentle giant) fast asleep across the bottom of my bed with his head on my legs!!
He's obviously very stealthy as he weighs over 9 stone.
Mine all have the run of the house , I actually feel safer that way.

Our dog was a rescue dog and would howl and defecate if left downstairs, but was fine in her own bed in our bedroom - but not on the bed. I've read since that our autonomic nervous system is more calm and relaxed if we have a dog in the bedroom and we sleep more deeply (it senses it as being a Guard) but not on the bed itself (they can disrupt our sleep when they move in the night). I do miss her (but not her snoring!)

Kircubbin- maybe you could do as i do & teach him your rooms out of bounds to him? Put him a bed or box outside your room so he can be near you though.Our cat sleeps there or in boys rooms but he goes under older sons desk mostly but he often wakes up to find him next to him staring at him.or he nudges him awake to go feed him early on.He doesnt bother to do that to youngest as he knows he wont touch the catfood!?(gives him cat treats though)

nonogran,, back on page 2.. I see you wash your dogs bedding, do you wash your own? LOL I really am just teasing.

I so love this thread, wish I had found it earlier, not I have to go back and read them all..

I just love and have loved all my pets, all had free access to house, and bed, as they wish..

now I am on my own, have a 3 year old rescue cat, who I taught how to eat, now she likes me to touch her, pet her when eating, but I so wish she was more cuddly.

has the run of the house (small) litter tray downstairs, food and drink upstairs and downstairs... she sleeps on my bed , part of the night, I think I fidget too much for her, so then she goes into the "spare " room, and sometimes I guess she patrols around the house..

well cats are nocturnal creatures aren`t they? she likes me to groom her, tickle her, wish she would come sit on my lap sometimes, but then, I don`t sit still for long..

she sometimes bites me and I speak to her about that,, didn`t know it was a sign of affection, so thanks for that.. sometimes she licks me, not keen on that, again, didn`t realise that is a sign of affection

I just could not live without a pet,, wish I could have more..
how is it bringing another cat into the house with established cat?

always had 2 dogs, and several cats, but then I had more energy.

love my pets...

Yes, two dogs with me and they are not ours - dogsitting. The first night they ran up to my bed and I live it. Non shredders thankfully. Our late cat left black hairs around.

Love it...