01Sleeping with Pets: Does It Help or Hurt Your Sleep?

About half of all dog owners and more than half of cat owners let their pets sleep in their beds. If you're one of them, you already know the appeal: there's something genuinely comforting about a warm, quiet animal nearby when you're winding down for the night.

But is it actually good for your sleep? The honest answer is: it depends on you, your pet, and how you set things up.

03The Real Sleep Disruption Risk

This is the most common complaint — and it's legitimate. Pets don't share your sleep schedule. They move, shift, stretch, scratch, and sometimes bark or meow in ways that pull you out of deeper sleep stages without fully waking you.

Studies have found that roughly 30% of pet owners who share their bed report being woken by their pet at least once a night. For light sleepers, this can compound quickly. Repeated micro-awakenings fragment sleep even when you don't fully register waking up — meaning you're getting the hours but not the depth.

Larger dogs tend to cause more disruption simply by taking up space and shifting weight. Cats are often more active at night than dogs, since many cats are naturally crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk).

Bottom line: If you're a light sleeper or if you're already dealing with sleep issues, a pet in the bed is likely making things worse, even if you don't feel it.

04Allergies and Breathing

If you have pet allergies or asthma, sharing a bed with a cat or dog is a real problem. Pet dander accumulates in bedding, and you spend 7–8 hours per night breathing air directly above where it collects.

The symptoms — runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, sneezing — don't just feel unpleasant. They actively fragment sleep. Nasal congestion in particular forces mouth breathing, which worsens snoring and can aggravate sleep apnea.

Even people who don't consider themselves allergic to their own pets can experience gradual sensitization over years of exposure. If you're waking up congested and the congestion clears up after you're away from home for a night or two, your pet (and their dander in your bedding) may be a factor.

If you have allergies: A HEPA air purifier in the bedroom, frequent washing of bedding (at least weekly), and keeping pets out of the bedroom entirely are the most effective options. If complete separation isn't realistic, allergy shots (immunotherapy) can help build tolerance over time.

05Disease Risk: How Serious Is It?

The CDC has noted that pets can theoretically transmit zoonotic pathogens — diseases that pass from animals to people. In rare cases, this has happened through close contact, including bed-sharing.

In practice, the risk for a healthy adult with a healthy, vaccinated, parasite-controlled pet is low. Veterinarians consistently note that keeping up with regular vet visits, vaccines, flea and tick prevention, and basic hygiene (washing hands after contact with pet waste) manages most of this risk effectively.

The risk profile is higher for immunocompromised individuals, young children, and elderly people — for whom a doctor's guidance is worth seeking before making the bed-sharing call.

06The Genuine Benefits

The case for letting pets sleep in bed isn't just emotional — there's real data here.

  • Reduced anxiety and stress. Physical contact with a pet lowers cortisol levels and promotes oxytocin release — the same calming effect that comes from physical closeness with another person.
  • Sense of security. Many people, particularly those who live alone, report sleeping more soundly with a pet present. The feeling of not being alone has a measurable effect on how easily people fall asleep.
  • Lower blood pressure. Pet ownership is associated with lower resting blood pressure and heart rate, and these benefits extend into the sleep environment.
  • Improved mood going into sleep. The pre-sleep period matters. Winding down with a pet that provides warmth and comfort can make the transition into sleep more relaxed.

A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that many pet owners perceived their pets as beneficial to their sleep, with some objective data supporting that a dog in the bedroom (though not necessarily in the bed itself) was associated with acceptable sleep efficiency.

07Who Should Probably Keep Pets Out of the Bed

  • People with pet allergies or asthma
  • People with diagnosed insomnia or other sleep disorders
  • Light sleepers who are easily disrupted
  • People who share a bed with a partner who doesn't want the pet there
  • Immunocompromised individuals
  • People whose pets are untrained, very restless, or nocturnal in their activity patterns

08Tips for Better Sleep When Pets Are in the Mix

  1. Establish a pet sleep spot on the bed. A designated pet bed or blanket in one corner trains your pet to stay in one place and reduces how much they roam across the mattress during the night.
  2. Tire them out before bedtime. A walk, play session, or active interaction in the evening reduces how restless pets are overnight.
  3. Use a HEPA air purifier. Reduces airborne dander even if you can't keep the pet out entirely.
  4. Wash bedding weekly. Dander accumulates in fabric. Regular washing significantly reduces allergen load.
  5. Try the bedroom compromise. If in-bed disruption is a problem, having your pet sleep in the bedroom (on their own bed on the floor) often preserves the comfort benefits without the worst disruption.
  6. Be honest about whether it's working. Track your sleep for a week with and without your pet in the bed. If you feel meaningfully worse with the pet there, that's your answer.

09Your Mattress and Pet Co-Sleeping

If pets are sharing your bed, your mattress takes on extra importance. Motion transfer becomes more significant — both your pet's movement and your response to it. A mattress with good motion isolation (memory foam or hybrid constructions with individually pocketed coils) reduces how much one person or pet's movement disturbs the other sleeper.

Durability also matters. Pet claws, extra weight, and a higher rate of activity on the mattress surface mean a low-quality mattress will show wear more quickly.

At LA Mattress Store, we can help you identify mattresses that hold up well and provide the right feel for your sleep style — and your household. Visit any of our five Los Angeles showrooms, explore our full mattress collection, or browse memory foam options known for motion isolation.

Every mattress includes our 120-night comfort guarantee.

10Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad to sleep with your dog or cat?

For most healthy adults with healthy pets, the evidence is mixed — there are real benefits to comfort and stress reduction, but also real risks around sleep disruption and allergen exposure. Whether it's bad for you specifically depends on how your sleep is affected and your allergy status.

Can sleeping with a pet cause health problems?

For immunocompromised individuals, young children, or those with pet allergies or asthma, the risks are more meaningful. For healthy adults with well-cared-for pets, the disease transmission risk is low when basic hygiene is maintained. The main health concern for most people is sleep fragmentation.

Do pets disrupt sleep?

Many do. About 30% of pet owners who share a bed report being woken at least once nightly by their pet. Larger dogs and cats (who tend to be more nocturnal) typically cause more disruption. The disturbance isn't always enough to fully wake you, but it can fragment deep sleep stages.

What's a good compromise if I want my pet nearby but sleep better without them in the bed?

A pet bed in the bedroom — on the floor or at the foot of the bed — often preserves most of the comfort benefits (sense of presence and security) without the movement and space disruptions that come from sharing the mattress surface.

What type of mattress is best if my pet sleeps in the bed?

Look for good motion isolation (memory foam or pocketed coil hybrids), durable cover materials, and a medium to firm feel that holds up well under variable weight and movement. Our team at LA Mattress Store can help you find the right option for your specific situation.