Source: French to English Tester Published on: 2026-04-01
Source: The Conversation – in French– By Renata Roma, Research Associate – Pawsitive Connections Lab, University of Saskatchewan
For some pet owners, these animals are an integral part of their lives, from waking up until going to bed.
This can be explained by the fact that cats, dogs and other pets are increasinglyconsidered as family members. I am not speaking here of a distant cousin, for example, but of those who truly are part of our daily lives.
In some cases, this includes quieter and more intimate moments, such as bedtime. Sleeping with one’s cat or dog can be comforting, even essential.
Indeed, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,nearly half – 46% – of the people surveyedsleep in the same bed as a pet. As a clinical researcher specializing in interactions between pet owners and their companions, I work with many people who describe a close relationship with their animals and share various moments with them.
The benefits of this connection are supported by science. Research shows that daily interactions withpets can improve well-being.
But research also suggests that the potential benefits of sleeping next to a pet are not obvious: it can be comforting while quietly disrupting sleep quality.
The emotional logic of co-sleeping with pets
The impact of co-sleeping can be measured using self-assessments and questionnaires, as well as with objective tools, such as watches that measure what happens physiologically during the night.
In somestudies using subjective measures, many pet owners report sleeping better when their pets are with them.Other benefitslinked to co-sleeping include an increase in feelings of comfort and emotional security.
In this context, sleep places us in a state of perceived vulnerability. Sleeping with a pet, particularly one with whom we have a close bond, can reduce this feeling of vulnerability while enhancing the sense of security.
Emotion regulation is another possible mechanism in this context, asfeel safercan reduce emotional arousal.
In other words, the presence of a pet can help pet owners feel connectedsecurity and comfort. Waking up with a pet by your side can provide a feeling of happiness, which can give them the impression of having slept well.
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At the same time, somestudies using standard questionnairesto assess insomnia and sleep quality suggest that sleeping with a pet is not linked to a reduction in stress and may increase insomnia and decrease the perceived quality of sleep.
These mixed results suggest that the effects of co-sleeping are more complex than they appear – that the way we perceive our sleep does not always correspond to what is happening in our body.
Co-sleeping from a physiological point of view
We can also study the effects of co-sleeping with pets more objectively, using tools to evaluate sleeping habits, night awakenings, and overall sleep quality.
Research suggests that even when pet owners report sleeping better, thephysiological measures often show more fragmented sleepwhen they share their bed with their animals. In a study, researchers used a device similar to a wristwatchto measure people’s movementsduring the night while they were sleeping with their pets.
They found that even when people felt they had slept well, their sleep tended to be more disturbed.
In some cases, these disturbances were linked to the animal’s movements during the night. The researchers observed a synchronization in which the animals’ movements influenced their owners’ movement patterns, and vice versa.
Sleeping with a pet can therefore affect both the person’s sleep and the animal’s sleep. And although these disturbances are not uniform, they can depend on the type of animal you share your bed with.
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Why do dogs disturb sleep more than cats?
There are also someevidence that the impactmay vary depending on the type and thenumber of pets. The people whosleep with dogsmay experience more disturbances, while those who sleep with cats often report mixed results.
Although the reasons for these differences are not clear, they could be related to dogs’ greater sensitivity to external stimuli, such as car noises, neighborhood barking, and other environmental sounds.
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Given the influence of these experiences on mental health and well-being, it is important to note that long-term poor sleep qualitycan have an impact on emotional regulation.
This can result in a lower tolerance for frustration or a reduced ability to manage emotionally difficult situations. Fatigue, depression, difficulties concentrating, anda whole series of other symptomscan also be linked to poor sleep.
Overall, these results challenge the idea that co-sleeping is simply either good or bad.
Rethinking the “good or bad” debate
Sleeping with a pet seems to be both comforting and disturbing.
It is a complex behavior, and it is important to understand the motivations that drive people to share their bed. In some cases, for example, co-sleeping with a pet can be very meaningful, in line with people’s needs and potentially linked to comfort and well-being.
At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that our perceptions do not always fully reflect what is happening in the body.
From a practical point of view, a more nuanced understanding of bed sharing can illuminate how it shapes daily experiences, sleep, and overall health. Paying more attention to how pets integrate into our lives can help owners make decisions that take into account both physical and mental health, without neglecting the potential impacts of these decisions on the animal.
Rather than wondering whether co-sleeping with your pet is beneficial or harmful, a better question to ask yourself is the following: do you prioritize emotional comfort or uninterrupted sleep? Recognizing this compromise can help pet owners make an informed choice.
Renata Roma does not work for, advise, hold shares in, receive funds from an organization that could benefit from this article, and has declared no other affiliation than her research institution.
–ref. Do you like to sleep with your pet? Science reveals that there is a delicate compromise to find –https://theconversation.com/do-you-like-sleeping-with-your-pet-science-reveals-that-there-is-a-delicate-compromise-to-find-279420