Cats on the bed. Dogs on the floor beside the bed. Not all of them. Some of the dogs go in a dog pen at night and some cats sleep in the barn or other outbuildings and a few on the porch if the weather is nice.

I don't sleep with any of my family dog or human.

Cynic Then what is a negligent parent that doesn't nurture their child? That is a whole different topic.

Yes, my four dogs sleep on my bed. One down on the opposite corner, one on the other side toward the top, and two right up against me. I like it that way.

If it's hot we all scatter, trying to get a breeze over us. If it's chilly, then Dh snuggles on my left, my cat on my right. Peeka hangs his paws on my shoulder, stares at me and purrs until he gets sleepy, then curls, poking his nose into the crook of my elbow.

Good point , Lucille. I don't sleep with anyone either. If I kicked the human out, I'd be a hypocrite if I allowed pets. Husband's snoring and getting up to use the bathroom always woke me. He now has the most beautiful bedroom in the house overlooking the garden with a huge greenhouse window filled with plants and three other windows , so don't pity him.

The Sunday paper we get always has a so-called "magazine" insert, entitled "Parade". The cover story in today's issue is about sleep disorders. The article presented information the writer gleaned from interviewing sleep medicine specialists.

One of the findings noted was that nearly 2/3rds of people who have animals in their bed suffer poor sleep quality (and of course, resulting health problems) as a result.

For those of you who follow this practice, no matter whatever other feelings you have about it, the chances are two out of three that your health is being adversely affected. Some will say "this doesn't apply to me", or "I don't notice any difference", but facts are facts and it's something to consider.

And if it's in print, it's a fact.

If it's from a doctor who's a specialist, it's science. Are you a supporter of those who suggest there are "alternative facts"?

I guess you're either in denial or think you're in the "it doesn't apply to me" group.

Neither. My sleep does suffer. It always has, pets or no pets. But unless you're in denial, you will admit that for a large number of studies done, there are studies whose findings are in direct opposition to them. Eggs are good for you. Eggs are bad for you. Caffeine is bad for you. Caffeine is good for you.

2/3 of people who sleep with animals in their bed suffer poor sleep quality????

What's the percentage of people who suffer from poor sleep with another human in their bed??

Rather than neither, it sounds like it's both.

Sleep problems can cause severe and mortal health consequences but most are easily treated these days. I hope you find the way to see a sleep specialist, you will be surprised with the outcome. Best wishes.

The fact is an article appeared in the paper. The doctor reported his findings based on his research.

There is probably a study that shows some pet owners have decreased levels of stress because of the relaxing effect of their animals. In our case, we formerly owned two cats, adopted because they were homeless. They lived for many years and could sleep with us if they wished, but rarely did so. I wasn't a big fan of their wake-up calls early in the morning disrupting my sleep. I am pleased that they had a good home with us and were lovingly cared for despite their unexpected arrival. We have no more pets but I still think I spot them sometimes until I remember that they're gone.

Stacey it was my understanding that is common knowledge. A similar result is shown when one takes care of plant.

Check out the sleep article in today's Parade magazine. 64% of people who sleep with pets have poor sleep quality.

I will check it out. Planned to after Elmer's post.

I sleep the same now as I did before we had a dog at the foot of our bed, probably even better since my feet are warm. It cracks me up when she and my husband snore in unison...

One of my dogs sleeps at the foot of our bed the other generally prefers the floor. If I could find a dog bed that would not get eaten and destroyed I'd be happy to tell all dogs not to sleep on our bed. I'd be happy because the duvet would be cleaner (I keep a "dog protector sheet" on top of the duvet now and it is some help). I love my dogs of course, but they are not as clean as I'd wish.

ELmer..have you any idea how many **studies** are done using less than 10 people. Everyone wants their study in print.

Yah. I'm dying to see how well that 64% sleep with their spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends or children.

As Sophia from Golden Girls would say, "In Sicily, only 4 to a bed was a vacation!"

That 64% also needs to sleep with my ex & see how many hours of sleep they get. Had to sleep with the TV on. Snoring. Coughing. Choking & farting. No thanks.

It may be that sometimes family members also disrupt sleep, that doesn't change the fact that for some people their pets make a good night of sleep difficult.

This isn't saying either that the pets or their people have a bad relationship, they may really love each other.

Wasn't me that brought the study up. I'm saying humans are more difficult to sleep with than a pet. Go study human on human sleep before blaming pets for ruining our sleep.

Our pets sleep with us, we only have two now. A very large boxer and a medium mutt. We lost two boxers and our indoor cat last year. The bed feels almost empty. I see a boxer puppy in our future!

I feel the same way about humans disturbing my sleep as I do with pets which is why I sleep alone.

Scott/Pawprint

Wasn't me that brought the study up. I'm saying humans are more difficult to sleep with than a pet. Go study human on human sleep before blaming pets for ruining our sleep.

This isn't an adversarial discussion, there are no winners or losers. Some pets do disrupt sleep for people, some people disrupt sleep as well. Elmer was saying a bit about how there are clinics that study sleep disorders and that they can negatively affect health, so it is a worthy topic of conversation.

We aren't trying to criticize pets, or criticize them sleeping with us, it is a choice all are free to make.

Amen sista!

Lucille you said it well.

Scott Who forced you to sleep with your snoring, coughing, farting ex. It was your choice. The 64% didn't make that choice.

Are we talking about the 64% that had sleep problems d o to sleeping with pets? Ahh didn't they also make that choice to sleep with a pet just like Scott made the choice to sleep with a snoring, coughing, farting ex. Lol

I think I have slept with a cat my entire life. I don't have any trouble sleeping. I have trouble staying awake. If a cat starts kneading me, and I want them to quit, I growl at them. It works. Don't laugh. I train all of my animals. I sleep in a double bed with my husband of 51 years. He takes up most of the space. One cat sleeps in my arms and the rest at the foot of the bed. How many? I'd have to count. Probably half a dozen or so, depending on who is on the bed and who is in a chair across the room.

Coralee, I didn't tolerate it for long and moved into the spare bedroom for my sanity.

I'd wait til I thought he was asleep & I'd sneak and turn the TV off. That would wake him & he'd say "turn that TV back on". Ugggggg. Glad that's over and done!!

Also, it's NOT a choice. We're "expected" to sleep with our partner, spouse or significant other.

I've never understood how we sleep alone our whole lives growing up but on our wedding night we have to now learn to sleep with someone else in the bed.

I know it's way off the original topic. But it crossed my mind.

Mama did you read Scot's post between yours and Lucille's?

Scott you made a bad choice and good for you getting out. That was your choice. My reference was to the part..... That 64% also needs to sleep with my ex. Had to sleep...............
Nobody in the study needs to sleep with anyone unless they choose to. That applies to pets as well. It is a freedom we have.

As far as couples go there are many happy couples that do not share a bed,

Perhaps we should follow the British upper class example where husband and wife always have separate rooms. If you don't believe me, read what Pamela Mountbatten Hicks has to say on the subject.

"In England, the upper class always have had separate bedrooms. You don’t want to be bothered with snoring or someone flinging a leg around. Then when you are feeling cozy you share your room sometimes. It is lovely to be able to choose."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2071325/Why-Queen-Prince-Philip-separate-bedrooms.html#ixzz4boj9JzSs
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

My parents had separate bedrooms. But it was a "family secret".

When I was growing up, my parents - British - had twin beds but shared the same room. Later, as I became a teenager and we moved to a smaller house, they each had their own room with one of the twins. My dad's snoring was atrocious!! I'm sure the neighbors could hear him next door! Oddly, they were perfectly comfy in those narrow little beds - I was the one that had the double!!

Even in those days, the pets slept with me....at least the cat did. And I credit her with saving my life. I woke one night to find her pouncing on the bed. The electric blanket was malfunctioning and she was pouncing on little streaks of electricity that were shooting through it. I might have been electrocuted without her activities bringing this to my attention!

I sleep very soundly and I cannot recall my pets disturbing me when I sleep, even the cat. I tend to wake pretty early and once awake, I am up and that suits the cat fine. The dog on the other hand likes to sleep in and we may not see him for another hour or two. What does disturb my sleep cannot be blamed on my pets but rather on advancing age........I no longer make it through the night without at least one trip to the restroom.

What did that sleep study have to say about that??

No, my cat doesn't sleep with me. She gets to snuggle for a few minutes, then out she goes.

_____________________________

Yes, cats are different from a training standpoint

Completely wrong. Cats are just as trainable. If you've never tried, then make no further comments. All my cats have been/are trained.

Mine sleep with me. Always have. I find it very comforting. Of course, there are the occasional crowdings, but no more than with my husband. Ha.

My dog bothers me far less than my spouse does. I'm not kidding. The dog curls up and never moves, she's a perfect foot warmer all night long. The spouse thrashes about like he's being electrocuted. So I suppose this is just another one of those things that is going to vary in real life. My hunch is you'd find a large chunk of the adult population finds sleeping with any living being (human or animal) about the same level of annoying.

I like it. Curled up behind my legs, sharing my pillow, next to me, doesn't bother me. I guess I find it comforting. And I don't mind the snoring either LOL. Cooper is big, but surprisingly light footed on the bed. He comes and goes, prefers to sleep downstairs but visits during the night and comes back in the morning. I swear he takes less room than the smaller pug! I like when the cats cuddle and purr as well.

As for health evidence that proves it is detrimental? You could hand me evidence that PROVES this will shorten my life by several years and I would still do it. Show me that it is worse than smoking, drinking, swilling sugary drinks and eating purina people chow and calling it food, spraying bee killing chemicals on cash crops that have no real value, filling our water and air with pollution, and packing our soil with artificial fertilizers so we can suck the life out of Mother Earth herself. I'll take sleeping with dogs and cats on my bed in a heartbeat. And I am allergic :)

Dances.

You answered your own question coralee7, or do I need to state it for you? Let's save time: They're negligent parents. And that applies to people who neglect humans or claim to be "parents" of animals.

I haven't researched the Parade claims and frankly, don't intend to. But since it's the only one quoted I wonder if that's the only such "research" that's been done on the topic. If it is, then even when done by a doctor doesn't make it right or wrong. There's one study that says something is bad and the consensus among other scientists says the study is not proven science. Just because something comes from a professional doesn't by itself make it science. And I'm not passing judgment whether the claim is fact or fiction, just making a point.

rob, you're the first person I've ever heard who thinks cats are as trainable as dogs. I think there's a good reason why. I've had cats, have family members and friends with cats, and I don't think any of them would agree with you.

Because people perpetuate the myth without trying? Tough for them. I have trained cats and if they want to, they should've tried rather than listen to urban legends.

Seattle Times article addressing it

Huffington Post article addressing it.

There are others. I find it odd that dog owners are the first to say it. If dogs are so doggone trainable and cats aren't, why aren't there dog litter boxes?

I have 2 cats. Both are allowed on the bed. 1 will sleep on the bed at our feet at night but the other prefers the floor. They will both nap on the bed during the day though.

Animal trainers can train any animal, that's really not the discussion, is it?

Let's put it another way - more homes have untrained cats than untrained dogs. Let the underlying reason remain a mystery. That mysterious answer is what leads people to the conclusion that cats are difficult to train.

Why aren't there dog litter boxes? Because dogs can be easily trained to safely go outside and return inside when called. Few people find litter boxes pleasant to have around, including many cat owners who have them. They're a necessary consequence of providing cats a safe living environment by keeping them indoors, not because they're wonderful to have.

The underlying reason can be a mystery, sure!, but no need to participate in perpetuating the myth if you know it can be different

The reason why may be unknown but the consequence most experience is certainly more fact than myth.

We don't have pets no, but when we did, they slept with us. I had one Maine Coon Cat that use to get on my back on the bed and all four paws would get to kneading all up and down my back. I loved it !!!! I miss that big kitty.

Poppy

I'm a very light sleeper, toss & turn a ton, and don't want to be woken early, so no cats in my room at night. My husband agrees. My two cats have never had a problem sleeping outside our room. I have a long, fluffy/fuzzy body pillow that they sleep on in the hallway. When we open the door in the morning, they come in. We don't hear a peep from them until then, which is great!

Plus, for fire safety, we keep all bedroom doors closed at night. We don't keep the litter box in our room.

BUT, I love to nap with them! They're always welcome when I take a nap.