Do you sleep with your pet?

My cat is ready and waiting for me at bedtime and like other cats makes a beeline for the bed and joins me with great affection. I think it is sweet.

I couldn’t have my dogs on the bed. Despite my best intentions one of them just smells. Everything about him smells.
We had our first cat sleep with us for years - in the middle, under the covers and head on pillows but several cats down the line my husband has said no. Current cat usually sleeps on the dog bed.

We’ve always let the dogs and cats choose where they sleep. Our current three dogs one sleeps downstairs in his bed, one sleeps in bedroom in her bed and the other seems to start on the human bed then goes elsewhere once lights go out usually to the sofa downstairs.

My rescue cat always comes to bed when I go, she has favorite areas on the top of the bed that she loves. Not a cuddly cat, she likes being close to me though. She was originally an indoor cat and locked in one room when I got her, so like mine,yours is probably loving having a human of her own?.

I have a British Blue too, Glammanana - and since we've been on our own, she's taken up residency on my bed every night (but why oh why does she have to park herself right in the middle?).

Lots of people do allow pets in bed. I considered, if big enough would I go and sleep in my pet's bed. Doubt it.

What a weird comment!

Of course you wouldn't

Yes. Three cats who like to sleep on my pillows. I sometimes have to fight for headspace. Funnily, enough, they never try it on my husband's side.

Oliver also likes to park himself on the top of the cooker to keep check on anything being cooked in the oven just in case he misses out on anything.

Our beautiful Staffy used to sleep with us and hog all of the bed, my husband and I were on the edges of the bed ? and he had the most room . Sadly we lost him 10 weeks ago and would give anything to have him back on the bed , he’s left a big hole in our bed and our lives .

No, absolutely do not shut him in the kitchen, if you don’t want him quite so close, get a nice little furry bed and put near you for him to go in, so you have your space but he is nearby.
Mine both sleep on the bed, 1 by hubby and 1 at my feet

The smelly, hairy dog isn’t allowed upstairs. He always smells like a musty old church no matter how often he is groomed.
The 3 cats sleep with me. Sometimes I wake up looking like a body with a chalk line written in cats as they all get as close as they can to me.

No ! Disgusting habit.
My dogs are not even allowed in the bedroom never mind allowed to sleep on the bed. They have their own beds and I don't sleep in theirs.

I have had cats over the years, even rescued ones.

Each has their own personality and ways of blending or not blending into human life.

There have been those who love to sleep on the bed with me and DH. And I've treasured those moments of snuggles and purrs. One even loved to snuggle under the duvet in the crook of my knees. When she got too hot she would creep out and sleep on top of the duvet.

Other cats have preferred to sleep elsewhere in the house.

I never shut them up in a room overnight. And there is a cat flap in the back door so they have freedom of movement, night or day.

I suppose it is personal preference at the end of the day.

After roaming the local gardens and his surrounding territory Oliver will make himself comfortable in the kitchen on a chair for the night he never bothers to come into the bedroom,he is very much his own man this cat and likes his own company.

Had cats and dogs in the past. When young children always tried to sneak one or other into bed. Very big NO. Always had pets in their own beds downstairs until last dog was very old. Moved her bed to bedroom but she slept in that not on our bed. Lots of people do allow pets in bed. I considered, if big enough would I go and sleep in my pet's bed. Doubt it.

We have just acquired 2 seven month old kittens and they def have their own sleeping place - in the downstairs hall. 2 beds although they usually sleep together, litter tray and water, plus they’re next to the radiator. I don’t think we’d get much sleep if we allowed them in our room at night - but they are allowed in first thing in the morning when we have our morning cuppa. ????

Iam64

Wow - geekesse, if your pets smell or have fleas etc that's down to you. My dogs live happy dog lives, out in all weathers, I've had four water retriever type dogs so long shaggy fur and undercoats. Always clean, never stinky and certainly never had fleas. Moulting yes, but daily brush n comb helps with that.
There's a lot of evidence that children who grow up with pets are healthier, less inclined to allergies. They also learn age appropriate behaviour around animals, always a good thing.

We’ve always had pets - cats, dogs, the odd hamster.

Even the best cared for pets ‘do’ smell. I guess those of you who are happy to sleep with them don’t consider it an unpleasant small. Dogs lick their rear ends, and both dogs and cats pick up stuff in their paws when they are out. If you live in the country, it’s not unheard of for animals to pick up fleas etc between treatments (I blame hedgehogs). And most dogs and cats shed hair, even with daily grooming. I prefer to keep my own sleeping area free of all these things. Each to his/her own.

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From the kennel to the bed overnight & not moved since!! I have no issue as she sleeps with my son in his bed

Lovely range of life styles on this thread - thank you all for sharing. We no longer have cats (trip hazard for DH, who can fall over a bus ticket these days) but when we did they slept downstairs with beds by the Aga. Only one slept on my bed during his last few weeks because he was so anxious if he didn’t know where I was. The change in his behaviour was a clear indication of how ill he was.

When we had a dog she slept in her bed downstairs. But our cat often jumps on our bed in the early morning and settles at the bottom of the bed usually on my feet so that I can’t move. Whether people have 4 dogs or cats on their beds is surely up to them and not for other people to criticsise.

No pets in bedrooms (and not on the beds) was a general rule for us. I've never understood why people want to sleep with pets - but then each to their own!

Not in the Biblical sense, no.

Yes I share a bed with my two terriers, we share a sofa through
the day.

My dog sleeps beside my bed on his own bed. I love having him with me although when DH was alive the various dogs and cats who passed through our lives always slept in their own beds and not in our room. He liked animals but had his limits.

Now I’m on my own I do what I want!

Wow - geekesse, if your pets smell or have fleas etc that's down to you. My dogs live happy dog lives, out in all weathers, I've had four water retriever type dogs so long shaggy fur and undercoats. Always clean, never stinky and certainly never had fleas. Moulting yes, but daily brush n comb helps with that.
There's a lot of evidence that children who grow up with pets are healthier, less inclined to allergies. They also learn age appropriate behaviour around animals, always a good thing.