Longing for a cat nap? You may not be getting a full night’s sleep, thanks to your pet

Whether you’re a cat person or a dog person (or both!), you know that pets are fun, loving creatures that become part of the family. As such, pet owners incorporate their pets into their daily routines, including nighttime habits. Pets joining their owners in bed are a common trend. According to a recent survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association, nearly half of dogs sleep in their owners’ beds. As comfortable and cute as it can be, your furry friends may be the reason you are losing sleep at night.

Here are some reasons why you should shut your door and keep your pets out of the bedroom to get a better night’s sleep.

You may be allergic…and you might not know it! Pet allergies can develop at any time throughout your life. You may outgrow them, build up a tolerance or develop an allergy to your pet over time. Congestion, itchy eyes, and other allergy symptoms certainly don’t make for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Pets may be on different sleeping patterns. Animals naturally have different sleeping patterns than humans and can easily disrupt your nighttime routine. If your pet is a light sleeper and barks or gets up at any strange sound, this could hinder your quest for a full, deep sleep.

You need peace and quiet. Noise is an obvious detriment to anyone trying to sleep well. Purring, barking, snoring, chirping, and other animal sounds can wake you up throughout the night or keep you from falling asleep faster.

You value cleanliness and hygiene. Animals are not always the cleanest creatures, no matter how often you may wash or groom them. They can bring fleas, dander, dirt, and anything else they may pick up throughout the day directly into your bed. A clean bed and bedroom is an important factor in getting a good night’s sleep.

You need your comfort. You may be in a comfortable routine sleeping with your pet but sharing a bed is not always ideal. Have you ever woken up groggy, yawning as you stumble through your morning routine, only to see Fluffy or Fido napping? Your pets have all day to catch up on sleep long after you’ve left for work. An article from Mayo Clinic suggests that “if you have children or pets, set limits on how often they sleep with you, or insist on separate sleeping quarters.” Your comfort comes first when your goal is to get a good night’s sleep.

Your pet can still be a part of your daily routine and a big part of your life without disrupting your sleep. If you have had the same pet in your bed for a long time, try slowly transitioning it to a different location other than your bedroom before you go to sleep. Or if you are getting a new pet, put it in the habit of sleeping in its own bed. By parting ways at night, you’ll likely wake up fresh and energized to interact with your pet during the day.