Sleeping with your cat or dog in the same bed

[strngrnrth]

My cat used to sleep under the covers with his head on my shoulder and his forepaw over my shoulder. What a sweet way to wake up!

 

[Just_wondering]

Ha! Before we were married, my DH stubbornly proclaimed that we would never have cats, because he “hated” cats. He was a dog person. Period. So…we got married and soon had a baby. For Mother’s Day, guess what he bought me? A kitten! Every cat we have ever had, my DH has brought home. (we currently have 3).

I’m more of a dog person myself, but I won’t keep a dog in a studio apartment. The cat was a stray that a former colleague picked up and had to abandon when her working visa expired. I moved into her apartment so I got the cat. I was originally planning to get rid of her when I leave Korea, but since it’s been five years I can hardly get rid of her now. And since my boyfriend has been making coochie-coo noises at her when he visits, I don’t think he gets to claim to hate cats anymore!

 

[puzzleannie]

I have owned dogs and cats, as well as other misc. pets of the family, and for one don’t believe animals belong in the home at all, so I probably don’t belong in this discussion. To let a pet that roams outdoors all day or night into the bed seems the height of irresponsibility. Having dealth with ringworm, fleas, allergies and other such afflictions I speak with heartfelt feeling.

However, no animal lover who has come to depend on the presence of a pet in bed is going to listen to me, so as the politician says, if you lie down with the dog, be prepared to get up with the fleas.

 

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Our Dog has his own “couch” in the living room & a Doggy bed that goes back & forth from the bedroom to the family room. He is not allowed on our couches in either room. As far as sharing Ice Cream, I don’t. Then again, he has his own Ice Cream called Frosty Paws !

My dogs never got into the doggy ice cream (though I bought some). I love to pet the “girls” and need them on the couch. It is too hard to crawl on the floor to reach them (they are both little things - smaller than my sister’s cat - fat cat, though). So, on the couch it is!

They do have their own bed and crate and use them quite often, but they are also welcome to sit next to me and snooze (which is what they do most of the day).

 

[IrishBrigade]

My take on this is that you don’t have enough to do that you spend time worrying about how other people treat their pets

…exactly…imagine spending one millisecond on such an inconsequential topic…also, this nonsense about elevating animals to human status, simply because one chooses to offer said animal, one of God’s blessed creatures, by the way, a small measure of worldy comfort…
…I’m sure the OP could, with some effort, find a worthwhile topic to expound upon…one can hope, at any rate…

 

[tapiocapudding]

Our kitty sleeps at my feet sometimes. I don’t see how it’s gross at all
My DH lets her drink out of his water glass, now that I find gross! I just try not to look.

 

[RandA]

Well said.
A lot of dog clothing is for very old small dogs, who lose heat pretty easily, so the owners and dogs can get enough exercise in winter without the dogs freezing. A dog needs to go outside unless there’s a run in the house (not likely).

Oh yes, I totally agree. I know that sometimes short-haired breeds or dogs who lack fur for some other medical reason can need a sweater or jacket for going outside for the winter. My mom’s puggle needs a “coat” in the winter! I’m talking about the vanity-type doggie clothing! Or other weird activity that equates animals with children - the one that comes to mind is having a bday party for a pet (as much as I love both pets and kids and have both in my home, they are in no ways equivalent! And though I have had and loved pets all my life, I would honestly be hard-pressed to tell you when the actual birthday of any of my pets are or were!) I mean, my pets, for the most part, have been of the “humane society” breed - no way to know the date of birth!

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

I have owned dogs and cats, as well as other misc. pets of the family, and for one don’t believe animals belong in the home at all, so I probably don’t belong in this discussion. To let a pet that roams outdoors all day or night into the bed seems the height of irresponsibility. Having dealth with ringworm, fleas, allergies and other such afflictions I speak with heartfelt feeling.

However, no animal lover who has come to depend on the presence of a pet in bed is going to listen to me, so as the politician says, if you lie down with the dog, be prepared to get up with the fleas.

This is very presuming of you.

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A pet owner who actually cares about their pet, not to mention their own self, will not have a flea ridden, worm laden, roaming the outdoors all day and night animal. Whether they sleep with it or not. All my current pets are indoor only animals. Except when the dog needs to go out to do his business and comes right back in. he is almost never outside without us. Even when I had outdoor pets, they were not like that. Ever.

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You seem to think anyone who owns a pet indoors lives in filth and this is simply not true for most. Anymore than non-pet owners are always keeping clean and tidy homes. Most people don’t even know I own a cat until I tell them and forget I own a dog within minutes of being here. Many people find a pet gives them purpose are actually more clean and careful than without one. This is especially true of the elderly. Living in filth and certainly a disregard for fleas, ringworm, and such is filth - is a sign of serious depression, and pet ownership has long been proven a depression reducer.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

I have owned dogs and cats, as well as other misc. pets of the family, and for one don’t believe animals belong in the home at all, so I probably don’t belong in this discussion.** To let a pet that roams outdoors all day or night into the bed seems the height of irresponsibility**. Having dealth with ringworm, fleas, allergies and other such afflictions I speak with heartfelt feeling.

However, no animal lover who has come to depend on the presence of a pet in bed is going to listen to me, so as the politician says, if you lie down with the dog, be prepared to get up with the fleas.

I think that most people who have pets who they allow in their beds are indoor pets. I can’t imagine letting a big shaggy farm dog who has been who knows where doing who knows what all day into my bed at night! But I am sure there are those who do and like it just fine:shrug:
**
As for thinking that animals don’t belong in the home, my dad was much the same way. He thought animals didn’t even belong in the city (he grew up on a farm) nevermind in the house! But over the years we wore him down, lol. He turned into the biggest softie. He now can be found sleeping on the recliner after a hard week of work with one or two cats curled up on his lap**
**
And I convinced my parents to get me a dog for my 15th birthday… we had a HUGE yard. When he started to get old and arthritic my mom brought him into the house permanently… my dad was upset at first but quickly grew to love having Buck around the house. He cried (he didn’t think we saw) just as much as the rest of us when we had to put him down because he broke a leg and we discovered he had terminal end-stage bone cancer. Still makes me cry… but now I’m just rambling…sorry…**

 

[RandA]

This is very presuming of you.

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A pet owner who actually cares about their pet, not to mention their own self, will not have a flea ridden, worm laden, roaming the outdoors all day and night animal. Whether they sleep with it or not. All my current pets are indoor only animals. Except when the dog needs to go out to do his business and comes right back in. he is almost never outside without us. Even when I had outdoor pets, they were not like that. Ever.

---

You seem to think anyone who owns a pet indoors lives in filth and this is simply not true for most. Anymore than non-pet owners are always keeping clean and tidy homes. Most people don’t even know I own a cat until I tell them and forget I own a dog within minutes of being here. Many people find a pet gives them purpose are actually more clean and careful than without one. This is especially true of the elderly. Living in filth and certainly a disregard for fleas, ringworm, and such is filth - is a sign of serious depression, and pet ownership has long been proven a depression reducer.

Indeed, in many places and through much of human history (up through the early part of the last century) people shared their homes with animals, and I’m not talking just dogs and cats. I’m talking goats, sheep, cows, pigs… And, I think there is scientific evidence to show that children who grow up on farms or with pets have less allergies, because they develop immunities early. All that being said, my cat licking my face in the morning DID seem to make me break out!

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

All that being said, my cat licking my face in the morning DID seem to make me break out!

ug. I hate being licked and esp being licked in the face. Although it’d be nice to have something simple to remove my breakouts! My pets aren’t allowed to do it. They might lick arms and legs, but they don’t lick the face. The cat hasn’t even wanted to since she was an itty bitty thing that could crawl under closed doors.

 

[JustAnotherThou]

My cousins are big dog lovers, and I’ve had many heated discussions on this topic with them…

Why are you jeopardizing your human family relationships by having heated discussions with what they do in their own home on an issue that is not harming them, you, nor anyone else?? If you don’t like that they talk or interact with their dogs politely let them know that it creeps you out and change the topic.

I had a priest once say, if you TRUELY want to see unconditional love, own a dog. Honestly it is sooo true!!!

 

[Sierrah]

I find the whole controversy amusing frankly. Who cares if someone lets their cat, dog or other animal sleep with them. It’s personal preference really. As long as the animal or human doesn’t get injured what’s he big deal. My cat sleeps with me sometimes. He has his own little space at the end of my bed. He’s usually there for a short time then moves on to prowl the rest of his territory. My first cat would never do this so I find it kind of nice. While I love my cat I would never choose him over a human being but neither would I just cast him aside lightly. I took him on as a responsibility to care for so I consider us to be a package deal. As to a dog I probably wouldn’t let a dog or any other animal share my sleeping quarters but cats are very clean and usually aren’t nagging you for attention while you sleep. I’m also not much for dogs. Unless they belong to other people. So if you want your dog to sleep with you I don’t see the the problem. Up until not so long ago people shared their houses with their animal and both lived in the same space. Cats where initially kept around for rodent control and dogs for hunting purposes so maybe some of this all boils down to old habits dying hard. Who knows.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

Why are you jeopardizing your human family relationships by having heated discussions with what they do in their own home on an issue that is not harming them, you, nor anyone else??

Good point! The OP is upset when animals are placed above humans. In this case he is placing the importance of the animals’ living conditions over the importance of his human relationships… interesting.

 

[Catholic90]

I have owned dogs and cats, as well as other misc. pets of the family, and for one don’t believe animals belong in the home at all, so I probably don’t belong in this discussion. To let a pet that roams outdoors all day or night into the bed seems the height of irresponsibility. Having dealth with ringworm, fleas, allergies and other such afflictions I speak with heartfelt feeling.

However, no animal lover who has come to depend on the presence of a pet in bed is going to listen to me, so as the politician says, if you lie down with the dog, be prepared to get up with the fleas.

All of our cats are strictly indoor cats. We don’t let them outside, because we have owls, hawks, and a coyote near our neighborhood, not to mention the cars that zip by. The cats are most content to lie in the sun patches on the floor and chase the occassional spider or ant that enters the house.
Our dog only goes out to do his business or for walks on a leash with one of us. He has also been known to lie on the deck chewing his bone when we sit out there. We’ve NEVER had our pets suffer from ringworm, fleas, ticks, worms, etc. EVER. They are very clean, well-groomed critters.

 

[b_justb]

This thread is so funny …

DW, 2 Shelties, 2 cats, 25 fish, and Me.

I tried having the fish in bed with us but it didn’t work out too well.

The cats wonder where they like, when they like. Those of us CAFers with kitties know there is nothing to be done about that other than acceptance and enjoying the experience of being a Cat’s Slave.

The Shelties sleep between us; Rascal is up top and Bandit towards the bottom. They have designated spots.

Since no one else is allowed to be in my bed I don’t really care if you do or don’t like it. You’re not invited in there so it’s none of your business. If it’s a breaking point in our relationship and you won’t come to my birthday because I let my dogs sleep in my bed then: Oh well, more birthday cake for me. Hey, maybe I’ll give your piece to the dogs, just before lights out

 

[SeekerJen]

We have two housecats. One sleeps at the foot of the bed every night. The other comes and goes, but will often curl up next to one of us for a snuggle. Our house rabbit is in a cage during the day and while we’re sleeping, but in the mornings and evenings we let her out to run around and often she will jump up on the sofa with us while we’re watching TV.

We like our critters. It doesn’t bother us to have them on our furniture.

 

[Nanny_PK]

This has been some interesting reading

I have a dog and two cats. My dog (a schnoodle – half poodle, half schnauzer) does sleep in my bed. She usually sleeps at the foot of the bed but sometimes comes up and sleeps up next to me.

The cats are declawed so they are exclusively indoor cats. I do not let them in my bedroom because of my allergies, it’s a cat-free zone. I also keep them out of my guest room so that if I do have guests over, they’re able to enjoy a cat-free zone as well – if they want it. I have had friends who wanted the cats in the room and the cats slept with them. However, when the guests left, I laundered the linens and closed the room off again.

I fully respect others who have a different view of pets. I have a friend whose husband is definitely not a pet person. I know he has horrible allergies so he wasn’t raised with a pet However, he can take it a bit too far. In one instance my friend told me that she wasn’t sure her husband was going to LET her come visit me because I had pets and she might bring some pet hair home with her. Luckily he’s loosened up a bit about ALLOWING her to visit me.

Paula – proud momma to Dixie the dog, Charlie the amazingly petite girl kitty, and Canopy a/k/a Catzilla.

 

[Della]

Well, we’re one of the terrible households puzzleannie was talking about. Three of our 4 cats go outside and they go wherever they like, and sleep wherever they like, as well. We don’t have fleas or worms or any other such problems. Of course, we live in town, so they are less likely to contract the things they would in the country. Still, we and they are bug free and quite content with one another’s company. Besides, there are medications for such things, if needed.

As for the MRSA, I’ve never had that, but I have had a light rash from being licked on the chin by my cats. It’s the cleanser in their saliva that makes that happen in my case. As long as none of them licks my chin, we’re golden.

 

[lizaanne]

This thread is so funny …

The cats wonder where they like, when they like. Those of us CAFers with kitties know there is nothing to be done about that other than acceptance and enjoying the experience of being a Cat’s Slave.

We actually call ours Catraception - if ya know what I mean. They will go where they like if you don’t close the door and lock them out!


~Liza