Do you sleep with your pets?
By littlemoo
@littlemoo (317)
Australia
March 10, 2007 4:34am CST
Personally, I could never sleep with an animal in my bed. I just couldn't handle the thought of having a dog or cat sharing my bed, with all their germs, licking my face and waking me up, etc. I think I could handle sleeping with them in the same room, as long as they don't climb on the bed.
However, my old boss, who was one of the most paranoid persons I've ever met when it came to infection control and keeping things clean, lets his two dogs sleep on his bed, and is happy for them to sit on his pillow and lick his face. He refuses to to believe that it's possible either of his dogs can possibly lick their nether regions. Or for them to have any germs in their mouths. He's slept with dogs ever since he was a kid, and is quite happy with that arrangement.
What are your thoughts? Would you, or do you sleep with your pets? Would you let your child sleep with their pet? And what are the benefits, if you do?
13 people like this
93 responses
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I sleep with my cats, I even have a few that lick my face - but I don't like my mouth or eyes licked - gee, I wonder why.... They have actually determined that a big part of the allergies that many kids have today is because of the germ-o-phobes they have for parents. Germs aren't all bad, exposure makes the body stronger & more resistant to worse germs. Kind of like cowpox prevents small pox - thank GOD that desease is gone! If you are already allergic that is another matter, but don't over coddle a child are they might very well not be as resistant to things later in life!
Oh, part of the reason I don't like my mouth or eyes washed is because cat's tongues are so rough!!!
2 people like this
@dreamr802 (985)
• United States
11 Mar 07
Personally I love sleeping with my puppy. She curls up at the bottom of the bed between my legs. Whenever I'm home it's a comfort just having her in the same bed with me, especially when I'm home alone for the night. I can't wait to have a puppy where I am now so that she/he can sleep with me. I don't like dogs licking my face, it's just something that I've always had a problem with.
@MissBrittBC (209)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
Well all sugar coating removed, who wants something licking their face after they have just licked thier own a** ???? or other genital areas. I mean, dont get me wrong i loke dogs, i just dont want them licking me, particularly not in the facial region lol
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
10 Mar 07
i am much of a pet lover. and i do let my pet puppy sleep with by my side. i find it cute and i feel relaxed when she's beside me sleeping. weird, huh? but i am happy to have my puppy by my side. and i don't think there's anything wrong with it. but i don't allow my puppy to lick my lips. but i am happy to give my puppy the "nose to nose" thing. it's a kind of a game for us two.
1 person likes this
@ladymoonstone143 (1507)
• United States
11 Mar 07
Yes, our miniature daschund sleeps with me and my husband. He loves to go underneath the covers but stays at the foot of the bed. He doesn't want to be near us especially summer season. He is so small and just weights 11 lbs so he doesn't take a whole lot of space. I bathe him every week and wash the sheets every week too. Daschunds are clean dog and they hate to be dirty so I don't mind him sleeping with us. Plus, we consider him a part of the family already. My daughter got her own bed and he does the same...guard her but just staying at the foot part. He doesn't lick your face or nothing like that. My daugther feels secure with him coz he is very alert and wakes up even with little noise.
@cubnchub (43)
• Singapore
11 Mar 07
It is a heart warming experience to sleep with ones pet. Thats my experience. I used to have a persian cat and she would sleep quietly by my side when I'm on bed at night, curled up like a ball and lie there contentedly. She's not with me now. I miss my cat. I pray shes fine.
1 person likes this
@Lorna_Eleanor (130)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
As a matter of fact, this is one problem I have. I don't know how do you call this kind of phobia, but I do fear dogs, cats & other animal pets a lot. I have this kind of problem eversince I was a kid. So, I'm sorry, littlemoo, I can't imagine myself sleeping w/ a pet. :-
@MissBrittBC (209)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I am soo sorry that this is a phobia of yours, you are missing soooo much love and tenderness!! Animals are great for comfort, for fun, and they are friends!
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
My fave cats aren't allowed inside the house, so they dont sleep with me. I dont think, even if my mom permitted them in, that i would be comfortable sleeping with my pets.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
11 Mar 07
I've always allowed my cats to sleep on the bed with me. They keep me company:)
@chalanash (59)
• Philippines
10 Mar 07
i do sleep w my dog beside me most of the times but i hav to make sure the dog is clean... funny... when i woke up 1 day we were face to face... cute... i'm sorry but i really love dogs..if the dog can't sleep on my bed, i let him sleep in my room atleast... he has this habit, the dog always sits beside me at all times & when sleeping time comes he goes ahead of me at the stairs. honestly, they make me feel good,it's the purest love that i've ever seen because no matter what you do to them(not harm them ofcourse) like sometimes forgot to feed them in the am(he he he) , they will still wag their tail when they see you...unconditional love it is...
@Whitelilac (67)
• United States
10 Mar 07
Our dogs either sleep with my daughter in her bed or with me in my bed.
Maggie crawls underneath the covers and Chance lays next to me. We are going to be getting a 6 week old kitten today and I am sure she will be sleeping on either bed sooner or
later .
@arnboy (357)
• India
10 Mar 07
I do not see any harm, in sleeping with the pets, its good for both the pet, as well as the master. It helps establish a nice bond between the master and the pet. However, care should be taken that the dog is groomed well, it should smell nice and of course be clean.
I see no problem with children sleeping with the pet, in fact kids love to sleep with pets and really love their furry pets.
1 person likes this
@zlesing (487)
• China
11 Mar 07
I don't sleep with my pets. In fact,I don't have a pet.Many people like to sleep with pets,and let their children sleep with pets,but I don't think I'll sleep with a pet if I have a pet in the future.I love animals.They are so cute then I always want to touch them or hold them in arms,but I won't sleep with them,even though they are my pets.Because I love sleeping alone,and I love the feeling that there is just yourself on the soft and comfortable bed,the bid bed just belong to you,the only person.
@MissBrittBC (209)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
If you like being the only person in your bed so much, what are you going to do when you get married??? where will your partner sleep, on the couch?? lol
@prashanthalva (2272)
• India
11 Mar 07
I can Never Imagine Myself Sleeping with Any Animal Some How I Have never Liked the idea. You Cannot Be Yourself when You have your pet climbing over you Licking your face doing stuff which is Unwanted.
Uff the feeling itself is making me feel terrible. I can never imagine myself doing this Sounds Terrible.
@wasimrs (1)
• India
11 Mar 07
I cant sleep with my pets at all.
As tey are so dirty,infectious,and all that.
I just need total clean room while sleeping.
But
If they are coming near to me i will avoid them calmly
just like a small child.So no one can be lonely & unhappy
After all man is also a social animal
After a duration pets become a part of our family
Animal also have feelings & we should try to understand that feelings
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
11 Mar 07
i usually sleep with a couple cats on my bed. Normally they stay at my feet, but sometimes they come up and cuddle with me. my cat used to sleep under the covers with me and it always felt so special. She almost never does that now...
my mom sleeps with my 2 dogs. i won't let them sleep on my bed in case they need to get up and use the bathroom in the middle of the night. One of them is too small to get up onto or get off of my bed.
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I personally don't allow my cat into the bedroom - but thats because myself and my partner have mild cat allergies.
I have allowed her into the bedroom before but she shoots straight under the bed and it's a nightmare trying to fish her out lol.
Not only that, when she sleeps she sometimes wakes up meowing her little head off, almost like she had a nightmare or something. I'd hate to wake up to that at like 3 or 4am.
So, she sleeps in the living room, she has a soft bed on the recliner chair that she claimed when we brought her home last December, and she sleeps either in there, or on the back of the sofa, and she always greets us when we wake in a morning.
@romel_ece (1290)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
In my whole life i've never sleep with any pet.
In fact I have my 2 pet dogs, 2 pet cats and 1 parrot.
But I never let them sleep with us in our bed.I will not recommend also sleeping our pets with our kids.
