Pets sleeping in bedrooms disrupt owners' sleep
08 March 2002
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center found more than half the number of people who sleep in the same room as their pets have sleep disruptions every night. And in a few extreme cases, sleep is disrupted for more than 20 minutes a night.
A total of 300 patients who presented to the centre over a 6-month period were included in the study.
More than half (52 per cent) had one or more pets, most of which were cats or dogs.
Cats were more likely to be allowed in the bedroom than dogs, but when dogs were allowed to sleep in the bedroom, they also had a 57 per cent chance of being allowed to sleep on the bed.
Almost a quarter of dogs (21 per cent) snored compared to only 7 per cent of cats.
Among pet owners, 53 per cent felt their sleep was disrupted every night but of these, only 1 per cent said their sleep was disrupted for more than 20 minutes.
Lead author and medical director of the clinic Dr John Shepard said he believed patients experienced a significantly greater degree of sleep disruption than they admitted — he just didn't have the objective data to prove it.
'Every patient has to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of sleeping with pets and make a personal decision about the sleeping arrangements in the household,' he said.
'Some people are very attached to their pets and will tolerate poorer sleep in order to be near them at night.'
Last Reviewed: 11 March 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 08/03/02
