One of my cats woke me up entirely too early this morning. It’s a normal occurrence in my house, where two cats rule. I often wonder how such small creatures can cause such chaos at night. I love them, but must admit that from time to time they’re why it’s hard to drag myself out of bed in the morning. Even with the oxytocin I get from cuddling them, sometimes it’s a struggle to sleep well with them on my bed. If it feels like you have to pick between your pet and your sleep quality, you’re in luck. I rounded up the top advice from CNET sleep and wellness experts that just might save your sleep.
When my cats were younger, they slept anywhere their little bodies would fit. It was cute, until I found myself contorting my body to avoid them and waking up just to make sure I didn’t accidentally kick them off the bed. I never knew where they’d be on it, which ended up having a big impact on my ability to sleep. Kicking them out of the room wasn’t an option — they’d join forces to try and break the door down. If this sounds familiar, try putting a blanket at the end of the bed just for your cats. I folded a fleece blanket (we all know cats can’t resist them) and laid it across the edge of the bed. They immediately gravitated towards it and now always sleep at the end of the bed. The blanket isn’t even required anymore. Establishing which part of the bed is for them has greatly improved my sleep quality.
However, when it’s not bedtime, they roam everywhere. When it comes to pets on the bed, there are generally two camps: they’re either allowed or they’re not. There are plenty of good reasons not to let your pet sleep on your bed. Besides the sleep interruptions, they expose your bed to dander, allergens and potential parasites like ticks. That said, if you’re like Dillon Payne, director of video production, you may start with the best intentions, but your dog will still end up on the bed. “Hershey, our adorable golden retriever, loves laying on the bed with us. When we first trained her, she was supposed to be a ‘no couch, no bed’ kind of dog. But alas, her cuteness cut me down and I folded,” says Payne.
Among the many quirks of cats is their natural preference for high places. It comes from their instinct to protect themselves. A high position allows them to spot any danger before it gets too close. “My cat Jessica would lie just above or on my head every single night and steal my pillow,” says sleep writer Aly Lopez. “I started scooting down in the bed and putting an extra pillow above my head specifically for her to lie on, and it’s helped quite a bit. It still wakes me up when she bathes enthusiastically at 3 a.m., but at least it’s no longer directly on my face,” Lopez adds.