{"id":510474,"date":"2026-06-06T16:09:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T20:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.net\/en\/uncategorized\/sleeping-with-pets-studies-reveal-emotional-benefits-but-also-risks\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T16:09:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T20:09:40","slug":"sleeping-with-pets-studies-reveal-emotional-benefits-but-also-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/style\/sleeping-with-pets-studies-reveal-emotional-benefits-but-also-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleeping with pets: studies reveal emotional benefits, but also risks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Specialists warn about the presence of bacteria, allergies, and sleep disorders associated with the practice of sharing a bed with dogs and cats<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

United Kingdom.-<\/strong> Sleeping next to dogs and cats is an increasingly common habit among pet owners, but specialists warn that this practice can have implications for health and sleep quality.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is according to a report published by Daily Mail<\/a><\/strong>, which analyzes recent research on the benefits and risks of sharing a bed with pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a survey conducted by Petplan of 1,000 pet owners, 37% claimed to sleep with their animals every night. Furthermore, 87% stated they had positive experiences doing so,<\/strong> while some owners indicated that they rest worse when their pets are not present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, experts point out that animals can introduce bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms into the bed<\/strong>. A 2022 study conducted by Utrecht University concluded that dogs and cats can carry germs through their paws, fur, and saliva.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among the microorganisms identified are bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Pasteurella<\/strong>, as well as parasites such as giardia and organisms associated with skin and gastrointestinal infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers also warn about the possible presence of ticks<\/strong> and other parasites that could reach bedding after pets have contact with the outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of cats, the report highlights risks related to the transmission of bacteria through scratches or bites and exposure to the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dormir con mascotas: estudios revelan beneficios emocionales, pero tambi\u00e9n riesgos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Impact on rest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to health risks, specialists warn that sharing a bed with pets can affect sleep quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the survey cited by Daily Mail, 88% of cat owners and 85% of dog owners admitted to having been woken up by their pets during the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Added to this are factors such as movements, snoring, barking, meowing, and the animals’ body heat, which can interrupt rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2024 study conducted by researchers at Trinity College, in the United States, found that people who slept with pets reported worse sleep quality<\/strong> and more intense symptoms of insomnia than those who did not share their bed with animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Allergies and recommendations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experts also warn that pet fur and dander can accumulate pollen and other allergens, causing sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery eyes, even in people who do not have diagnosed allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these risks, specialists acknowledge that for many people, the company of their pets provides tranquility, security, and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, they recommend maintaining regular veterinary check-ups, proper animal hygiene, and frequent cleaning of bedding to reduce the potential negative effects of this practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it worth sleeping with your pet?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experts agree that there is no single answer. For many people, sharing a bed with their pet provides security, companionship, and emotional well-being. However, those who suffer from allergies, are light sleepers, or have health conditions that increase the risk of infections might benefit from having their pets sleep in their own bed within the same room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The key lies in maintaining good hygiene, regular veterinary check-ups, and evaluating whether the presence of the pet truly improves or hinders the quality of rest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another aspect to consider is that cats and dogs are complex creatures and, just like humans, they can have mental health issues, with separation anxiety being a common problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This happens when a pet becomes very stressed, panics, or gets anxious when left completely alone or separated from its primary caregiver, which can lead to a serious behavioral problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In extreme cases, cats and dogs destroy furniture, cry and howl, and may even resort to self-harming behaviors such as biting their skin, excessive licking or grooming, or pulling out their hair.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The organization Dogs’ Trust warns that if your pet depends entirely on your presence to relax, sleeping with them can aggravate their separation anxiety<\/strong>, so it is worth making an effort to teach them to sleep peacefully in a crate or in their own bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also essential to remember that pets must have the option to choose<\/strong> whether they sleep with us or somewhere else because they might not want to cuddle with you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Specialists warn about the presence of bacteria, allergies, and sleep disorders associated with the practice of sharing a bed with dogs and cats United Kingdom.- Sleeping next to dogs and cats is an increasingly common habit among pet owners, but specialists warn that this practice can have implications for health and sleep quality. This is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":510475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[40903,41661,41632,42945,43584,41106,43805],"class_list":["post-510474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-style","tag-cats","tag-dog","tag-dogs","tag-dream","tag-pets","tag-risks","tag-sleep"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phj1q1-28Ns","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Captura-de-pantalla-2026-06-06-160630.jpg","dum_api":{"author_name":"Redacci\u00f3n De \u00daltimo Minuto","author_image":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/cropped-logo-de-ultimo-minuto-96x96.png","categories_name":["Style"],"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/cdn.deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Captura-de-pantalla-2026-06-06-160630.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=510474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/510475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=510474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=510474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deultimominuto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=510474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}