Fur babies are fantastic! According to the ASPCA, 44% of all households in the United States have a dog and 35% own a cat. That’s a lot of fur babies. No wonder the age-old debate of cat versus dog is never-ending. More importantly, we are faced with another age-old question: do you let your pet sleep in your bed?

Surprisingly, 79% of pet owners allow their pets to sleep in their beds. Is it the right thing to do? There is no right or wrong answer and both sides of the debate have valid reasons to answer with a yes or no to sharing. It’s really up to the pet owner to make the decision that best fits their lifestyle. Discover some reasons for sharing, or not, that will help inform your decision to share your bed with your fur baby.

Reasons to share your bed:

1. Pets help us relax. The rhythmic breathing of your cat or dog can be very relaxing.
2. Pets are good for brain chemistry. Touching your cat or dog raises oxytocin level that make you feel safe and calm. There’s a good reason for oxytocin to be known as the cuddle chemical.
3. Pets make us feel safe. This is especially true of dog owners and goes along with pets being good for our brain chemistry and oxytocin. One of the many medical benefits of having a pet in your bed is feeling safe and calm.
4. Pets keep us warm. Besides having an extra “body” in the bed, cats and dogs body temperatures are three to six degrees higher than a human. Cuddling up next to your pet will really warm you up on those cold winter nights.

Reasons to purchase a cat bed or dog crate for your pet:

1. Pets in your bed can cause allergies or asthma to worsen. Pet dander can really cause a number on your allergies or increase the frequency of asthma attacks. The Allergy and Asthma Foundation recommend leaving pets out of your bedroom.
2. Pets can disturb your sleep. There is nothing worse than sleep deprivation and that is why we take mattress buying so seriously! It can cause memory issues, decrease in alertness, and many other health issues. Some pet parents have said that pets have disturbed their sleep. In this instance, have your pets sleep outside of your bedroom.
3. Pets with dominant or aggressive behaviors may worsen. Pets, especially puppies, which are more prone to demonstrate aggressive behaviors, may develop behavioral issues when they’re allowed to sleep in your bed.
4. Pets take up too much space. If you own a large-breed dog, you are very familiar with space issues. Some breeds can reach up to 100+ pounds, the size of a human, so adding a third “body” to your bed can be troublesome for you and your partner.