Around 68 percent of U.S. households, which is equivalent to about 85 million families, own a pet, according to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). At the same time, at least 10 percent of all Americans suffer mild to serious allergies from pet dander and pet hair. As all pet owners probably know, it can be close to impossible to say no to a beloved pet who sits at the base of your bed and stares longingly at you with those puppy dog eyes begging for a chance to cuddle up around your feet. Sharing your bed with a cat or dog, however, comes with some specific concerns that need to be accounted for in order to protect your health and prolong the life of your mattress.
Health Considerations when Sleeping with Pets
About half of all pet owners in the United States share their bedroom with their pets. About 45 percent of dog owners let their dogs sleep in their bed with them while that number increases to 62 percent for cat owners. Co-sleeping with animals brings both benefits and disadvantages. On the plus side, sharing a bed with a pet can lead to an increased sense of security that can actually improve your sleep patterns. Furthermore, people who suffer from stress and anxiety that can lead to insomnia, might benefit from the extra security that comes with sharing a bed with a dog or cat.
However, co-sleeping with a pet also comes with potential negative effects. A study from Queensland University in Australia found that people who slept with pets took slightly longer to fall asleep than people who slept without animals in the bed. The extra four minutes that it took to fall asleep, however, might be comparable to sharing the bed with another human.
A more potentially serious effect of co-sleeping with a pet has to do with allergens that can lead to respiratory diseases and infections. As we mentioned at the outset, at least one out of every ten people suffer from pet allergies, and these allergies can be seriously aggravated when pet hair and pet dander permeate your bedding and mattress. The problem with pet dander and pet hair is that they can continue to affect people with a strong allergic reaction even after the pet has left the room. While HEPA air filters attached to your home HVAC unit can certainly help remove airborne allergens from pets, certain types of bedding and mattresses will trap pet allergens and can lead to long-term health problems. Thus, finding the right type of bedding and mattress for pet owners who simply cannot stand to spend a night with their furry friend by their side should be a top priority.
Sit ‘n Sleep Giana Memory Foam Mattress Highlights
Brand: Sit 'n Sleep
Mattress Firmness: Soft/3
Mattress Construction Type: Memory Foam
Mattress Thickness: 10"
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full, King, Queen, Cal King
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: 60 days
Warranty: 1o years
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.2/5.0
Essentia Energie Opus Latex Mattress Highlights
Brand: Essentia
Mattress Firmness: Medium/5
Mattress Construction Type: Latex
Mattress Thickness: 8″
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Cal King, King
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: 120 nights
Warranty: 20 years
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side,Back, Stomach sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.5/5.0
The Best Type of Mattress for Sleeping with Pets
To reduce the potential negative effects associated with co-sleeping with a pet, pet owners should search for mattresses with some of the following features.
- Low Motion Transfer: While we might initially think that our pets will graciously accept their spot at the foot of our bed, over time cats and dogs might demand more space. Mattresses that offer superior motion transfer will allow you to not notice when your pet is moving on the bed. Memory foam mattresses tend to offer the best motion transfer capabilities because the foam will conform to your body shape.
Sealy Conform Performance™ Memory Foam Mattress Highlights
Brand: Sealy
Mattress Firmness: Plush/3.5, Cushion Firm/5, Firm/6.5
Mattress Construction Type: Memory Foam
Mattress Thickness: Varies
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Twin, Twin XL, Queen, King, Split King, Split Queen, California King
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: 120 nights
Warranty: 10 years
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Cool Bedding Alternatives: The average body temperature for a dog is between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considerably warmer than human body temperature. If you share a bed with a dog, heat issues can present a problem. While Memory Foam mattresses do help with motion transfer, they also tend to sleep a bit warmer than other mattress types. If you suffer from a night sweats or are looking for a cooler sleeping alternative, natural latex mattresses and foams that are made from 100 percent natural materials such as soy can actually keep you cooler. Also, cool mattress technology, such as copper mattress toppers can pull away excess body heat to keep you cooler. As an added bonus, natural latex mattress are also naturally resistant to dust mites, allergens, bacteria, and fungi which your pet can inadvertently bring into the bedroom.
Cariloha Bamboo Mattress Highlights
Brand: Cariloha
Mattress Firmness: Medium Firm/6.5, Medium-Soft/4.5
Mattress Construction Type: Bamboo and Foam
Mattress Thickness: 10″,12″
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full, King, Queen, California King, Split King, Split California King
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Back, Stomach sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.6/5.0
Bloom Hybrid Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding Highlights
Brand: Bloom by Brookly Bedding
Mattress Firmness: Soft/3, Medium/5, Firm/7
Mattress Construction Type: Latex and encased coils
Mattress Thickness: 13 1/4’’
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: 120 nights
Warranty: 10 years
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side,Back, Stomach sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.6/5.0
- Choose the Right Size: It might feel unnecessary to purchase a queen or king size mattress when you live alone. However, if you are sharing your bed with a cat or dog, the extra size will certainly help and will allow you to have plenty of personal bed space.
The Best Type of Bedding for Sleeping with Pets
Along with the right mattress, the right type of bedding can also help to alleviate some of the potential downfalls of sharing your bed with a beloved pet. In general, there are three types of bedding that can be helpful for reducing problems with pets in the bed.
Hypoallergenic mattress covers can help to reduce allergy symptoms and will actively prevent dust mites, bed bugs, pet dander, and other allergens from infecting your mattress. These cover also play an important role in extending the life of your mattress as they will protect the mattress from any scratching that may occur. Washing a mattress cover is certainly much easier (and less expensive) than trying to clean a mattress with pet hair deeply embedded into the fibers.
Furthermore, investing in a pair of pet hair friendly sheets should also be a priority for pet owners. Most types of dogs and cats will shed hair and fur. Sheets that are made from tightly woven cotton (sateen, percale, and linen-cotton microfiber are some of the best types of fabrics for pet owners) can actively resist pet hair. When searching for the best sheets for your bed, look for fabrics that’s have higher thread counts. The extra thickness will serve the double function of resisting pet hair while also reducing vulnerability to tears and other damage from pet claws.
Lastly, if your dog or cat has is still not 100 percent house trained, investing in waterproof sheets, pillows and duvet covers is essential. These will not only protect your mattress and bedding from accidents, but are easy to clean and are extremely resistant to stains and pet odors. Even if your pet doesn’t wet the bed, a waterproof mattress cover can protect your mattress from dogs who tend to drool while dreaming.
Sleeping with a dog or cat often brings an enormous sense of safety and security for pet owners. Finding the right type of mattress and bedding will allow you to protect your bed and avoid some of the common health issues that can arise from co-sleeping with y our pet.
