Psychology says sleeping with your pet doesn't automatically signal anxiety or dependence, the bond can provide a genuine sense of safety, comfort and emotional security

Between the pillow and the edge of the mattress, a familiar nightly battle for sleeping space often unfolds. And in many households, the pet eventually gets the winning side of the bed.

Why Do People Assume Something Is Wrong With Pet Owners?

Sharing a bed with a pet is sometimes viewed negatively. It can be interpreted as a sign of loneliness, emotional immaturity or an inability to maintain close relationships with other people. Research, however, presents a more nuanced picture. Pets can serve as meaningful attachment figures, and having them nearby at night may influence how safe, comfortable and emotionally secure people feel.

Sleeping With Pets Is More Common Than You Think

The practice is far from unusual. A Mayo Clinic survey involving 150 patients at a sleep centre found that more than half of pet owners allowed their animals to sleep in the bedroom. While around one in five participants considered their pets disruptive, approximately two in five described them as either unobtrusive or helpful.


A broader picture emerged from a nationally representative 2024 study of 1,591 American adults. The research found that just under half of participants slept with a pet. Among those who did, around six in ten said their animals had a positive or very positive impact on their sleep. More than eight in ten also reported a positive or very positive effect on their overall health and wellbeing.

Pets Can Provide Comfort and a Sense of Security

Research also suggests that pets can play roles that resemble some functions of human attachment relationships. In two experiments involving dog and cat owners, participants experienced situations where their pets were physically present, were only brought to mind or were absent.

During one experiment involving a stressful task, having a pet physically nearby was associated with lower blood-pressure reactivity. In another experiment focused on goal-setting, the presence of the animal was linked to people setting more goals and feeling more confident about achieving them.

These findings point towards two important attachment functions: pets can act as both a source of comfort and a supportive presence that encourages exploration and confidence.

But Does Sleeping With a Pet Improve Sleep?

This is where the research becomes more complicated.

Although many pet owners perceive their animals positively, the 2024 study found that people who slept with pets reported poorer sleep quality and more severe symptoms of insomnia than those who did not share their beds with animals.

The researchers also examined whether pets could protect people from the effects of stress on sleep. They found no evidence that sleeping with an animal reduced the relationship between stress and poorer sleep.

So, while pets may provide emotional comfort, that does not necessarily mean they improve sleep itself.

Dogs and Cats May Affect Sleep Differently

The type of pet may also make a difference.

A survey involving 962 American women examined which animals shared their owners' beds and how the experience was perceived. Dogs were rated higher for feelings of comfort and security than both cats and human partners.

However, the findings from the 2024 study pointed in a somewhat different direction. Its exploratory analysis linked sleeping with dogs to poorer outcomes, while sleeping with cats was associated with slightly better perceived sleep efficiency.

The researchers cautioned that these were secondary analyses and should be viewed as hypotheses rather than definitive conclusions.

Sleeping With a Pet Does Not Mean Something Is Wrong

Taken together, the research does not support the idea that people who sleep beside their pets are displaying a psychological problem or an unhealthy level of attachment.

Instead, many people share their beds with animals because pets can provide companionship, comfort and a feeling of safety. At the same time, the effect on sleep can vary considerably depending on the individual, the animal and the sleeping arrangement.

Why the Bond Matters

Ultimately, sleeping beside a pet does not necessarily need to be viewed as a substitute for human relationships or as evidence of loneliness. For many people, the presence of a warm, familiar animal at the end of the bed simply makes the room feel safer and more comforting. The emotional benefits may be meaningful even when the impact on sleep itself is more complicated.