Should your cat sleep in your bed with you or not?

Most of the cat owners know what I am about to say, you love it when your cat comes in bed with you and curls by your side. We enjoy their company especially because cats have a special way of making us feel special when they are doing this, plus we enjoy feeling that fluffy furball near us, but like always, there are also some reason why your cat should’t sleep in bed with you.

# Possible allergies and asthma

“Roughly 12% of Americans have allergies to cats, often resulting in breathing difficulty which can compromise your sleep quality,” Dr. DeWire warns. “If you have known allergies, you should avoid allowing your cat in your bed.” Doctors recommend removing cats from the home if someone is allergic, but there are less drastic measures you can take to ease allergy and asthma suffering. 

# Fleas and other parasites

When you share your bed with a cat sleeping, you’re also sharing a bed with any parasites the cat is harboring. “If your cat goes outdoors, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites pose a risk to you when your cat returns home and cuddles up with you at night,” Dr. DeWire warns. Fleas can’t live on people, but they do bite, leaving behind itchy welts. Yes, that’s icky, but is it reason enough to kick Kitty out of bed? Well, that’s up to you and your vet, who can consider several different factors. For instance, the risk is much smaller if you have an indoor cat.

# Bad sleep

Cats are champion sleepers, clocking around 15 hours a day, but their sleep cycles aren’t the same as ours. A cat sleeping the day away might be ready to compete in the Kitty Olympics come 2 a.m., racing around the room and leaping off furniture. Some cats may sleep soundly at night, but others are more alert and active while you are trying to sleep, this is why an active cat may be disturbing your sleep cycles which can result in unrestful sleep.

# A possible “threat” to young children

The old wives’ tale about cats sucking the life out of sleeping children isn’t rooted in fact, but it’s still a good idea to keep cats out of the rooms where babies sleep. Cribs are attractive napping spots for cats, given that they’re protected on multiple sides, and soft. But there is a risk that that tight ball of fur could inadvertently smother a sleeping baby. So you should save the irresistible combined cat-baby cuteness for when they’re awake! 

# Getting sick or having possible diseases

Adults and children with a compromised immune system due to certain human diseases may be at a higher risk for contracting diseases from animals”.

But, no matter your health status, there are some surefire signs that the cat should be left alone because it may be having its own health issues.

“Do not snuggle up to your furry friend if they are showing any signs of illness such as hair loss, skin rashes, sneezing, coughing, lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea to name a few.”

# Waste matter

Detritus from your cat’s litter tray can end up in bed, exposing you to dirt and all manner of bacteria.

The best thing you can do is keep an eye on one or all of these factors, whether it’s an allergic symptom showing up, or a cat paw waking you up in the middle of the night.

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