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.
Teach them what part of the bed is for them
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.
Train your dog when to be on the bed
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.
Payne recommends training your dog to understand when they should or shouldn’t be on the bed.
“She knows when to be on the bed to cuddle with us and when it’s time for us to separate and sleep in our own beds. Oftentimes, I walk out of my office and find her sprawled upside down on the bed, not knowing how good a life she has. And I want to keep it that way,” Payne adds.
Create a designated sleeping space for your pet
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.
Alternatively, some people take their pillow stacking a step further and install shelving or wall mounts above their bed for their feline friends.
Cover your bedding when you’re not sleeping
From disrupting your sleep to triggering your allergies to shedding all over your nice bedding, sometimes it’s best for the pups to sleep in their own beds. But that doesn’t mean they won’t get on the bed during the day, as editor Caroline Igo explains.
Igo maintains her white duvet and sheets and cuts down on dog hair from her black labs by laying an older comforter over her bed during the day. “I have two black labs and white bedding… It’s possible, I promise.”
If you’re considering trying this tactic to cut down on dog hair, Igo recommends using a duvet cover instead of a comforter because they’re easier to wash. “While I deal with less dog hair in my bed, I still end up washing my bedding once a week,” Igo adds.
Make them lie down when you go to bed
I often stress the importance of a bedtime routine if someone asks me how to sleep better. Our bodies love routine, and if you stick to your routine each night, you’ll naturally become more tired as you go through the motions. And it turns out that routines don’t just work for people; pets benefit from them, too.
“I always feel guilty shutting my cats out of the bedroom at night (which is the best tip I have for sleeping better with pets), but I’ve found that if the cats come in the room at bedtime, it’s best to get them to lay down and get comfy,” explains editorial director Erica Devaney,
“That way, they’re already set and sleeping when we are, and don’t wake me up by coming in later and walking on top of me,” Devaney adds.
Invest in an automatic feeder
Cats are crepuscular, which means they’re most active first thing in the morning and at dusk. Hence, their feeding schedule is a little different than ours. A top reason cats wake their owners is hunger.
Regularly interrupting your progression through the sleep stages can impact everything from your brain to physical health and mental well-being. So, if your cat is waking you up at night for food, it’s essential you do something about it. An automatic feeder is an easy and effective way to ensure your cat doesn’t disturb your sleep.
“My cat likes her breakfast at 6:00 a.m. every day on the dot. Naturally, she’ll meow and scratch my door in the mornings to let me know it’s time to eat until I wake up. That’s why I have some late-night snack settings for her during the night so she can get her treats without waking me up. The feeder automatically dispenses snacks for her at 2 a.m. (right when her zoomies kick in!),” says managing editor Nasha Addarich Martínez.
Tire your dog out during the day
Aerobic exercises before bed can help us sleep better because they release endorphins to reduce stress and kick-start the thermoregulation process for sleep. Light exercise before bed, like yoga, is one of my go-to recommendations for people who need help falling asleep at night.
Like how exercising can help you sleep better, it can have the same effect for your pup. How much exercise they need depends on their breed and health, though timing a walk or playtime before bed can be an effective way to tire them out before bedtime.
“I’ve found that on the days I don’t get my dog Annie as much physical activity or take her on shorter walks, she may not be ready to go to sleep when I am at night and will want to play,” says writer Jessica Rendall.
“Whether it be an extra long walk in the evening, more playtime throwing her toys if the weather is bad or even walking flights of stairs in our apartment complex (Annie loves steps for some reason), getting her sniffing and her little legs moving helps knock us both out at bedtime,” Rendall adds.
Your pet doesn’t have to wreck your sleep. With a little intention and effort, you can get all the benefits of sleeping next to your pet without accepting poor sleep.
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