According to the CDC, over 60% of Americans have pets. Of these, roughly half sleep with their furry friends.  Cats being slightly more welcome in the bedroom than dogs. If you’re among this special sect of pet owners, you’re in good company. The Egyptian pharaoh Ramses, Alexander the Great, Queen Victoria and Peter the Great all appreciated the comfort and companionship of sleeping with their dogs.

So many of us sharing beds with our pets, researchers have begun studying the potential effects of this time-honored tradition. Furthermore,turns out, sharing a bed with your dog or cat can come with a range of wonderful benefits. From drops in anxiety to forging a stronger bond with your pet, read on for a list of benefits of sleeping with your furry friend. 

   1. Comfort

Many pet owners who sleep with their dog or cat take comfort in having a loving and loyal companion to sleep next to. This sense of kinship can be particularly important to those who don’t regularly sleep with a human partner.

   2. Companionship

Nights can feel especially lonely to individuals who live or sleep by themselves. As such, inviting a dog or cat to share your bed with you can provide a calming and reassuring presence in the wee hours. For people who suffer from night terrors or sleep disorders, pets can offer extra support when trying to catch Z’s.

    3. Security

For people, women in particular, who otherwise live and sleep alone, having a dog can offer a much-needed sense of security. With their super-sharp sense of hearing and smell, many dogs will alert their owners to anything unusual in or around the house that would normally go unnoticed by humans. Sharing a bedroom with Fido can thus provide peace of mind and a sense of protection to ward off intruders.

4. Warmth

Because the body temperature of dogs runs nearly 6 degrees hotter than humans, they also provide warm cuddles on cold nights. Coupled with their soft fur, sleeping with your furry friend can create a cozy bedtime atmosphere. And here’s a fun fact: the phrase “three dog night” is a reference to the ancient tradition of sleeping with not just one, but three dogs on winter nights.

     5. Better Sleep Hygiene

Dogs have finely tuned internal clocks, which means they love routine. This can be a huge help if you need a little nudge when it’s time to get up in the morning, or a reminder to hit the hay at the same time each night. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is vital to overall health and hygiene and sharing your bedroom with a dog can definitely help.

6.  Morning Exercise                                                  If you don’t normally wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, your pet will help get you going. Dogs need their morning walks and will ensure you’re up ready to go at the same time each day. Exercising regularly provides extensive health and wellness benefits, including better sleep and mental health.

While sharing a bed with your pet may result in slight losses in sleep, it’s a minor issue when compared to the many positive benefits cohabiting with your furry friend. From warmth and comfort to protection and reduced stress, it’s no wonder sleeping with pets is such a popular pastime. Remember to find out first before letting your dog or cat in bed with you they have the Right Pet Temperament.

Contributed by Christine Huegel at Mattress Advisor

September is National Happy, Healthy Cat Month. The best way to celebrate this month is to make sure that your feline friend is as healthy and happy as possible. Fortunately, cats are easily contented.  A healthy cat is the result of hefty care and attention but it is well worth it. Happy, Healthy Cat Month should really be all year. But, let’s take this time to let everyone know what they can do for their fuzzy friends.

Happy cats are healthy. Don’t wait for your cat to be sick before you go to the vet. Cats are secretive about their pain. Take Kitty to the vet for preventive treatments and check-ups. Keep creepy-crawlies from consuming cute Kitties! Even indoor cats can have trouble with fleas and ticks. Learn about helpful prevention means. Is money a concern? Health insurance for pets is available. 

Food for your Cat

You will have no problems getting your cat to eat, especially if the meat is on the menu. Cats need their diet to be  high in protein and low in carbs. Your feline friend  is an obligate carnivore. This means she  needs meat. Your cat’s food must list some variety  of meat as the number one  ingredient. There should not be any fillers, artificial colors,  or additives in your cat’s food. Every cat has a unique nutritional need. Ask your veterinarian about what would be best.

Don’t overdo it, though! Many cat owners make this dangerous mistake. They express love with food  and give their beloved  pet more food than what’s healthy. Certainly, Kitty happily  eats it. The unfortunate result is a flabby  little tabby with a high risk of diabetes,  arthritis, and cancer. Make sure that your cat is getting an ample amount of exercise as well.

Play Time

As all pet lovers know, the best way to keep  your cat happy is just to let her have fun. Provide  her with scratching posts and climbing trees. That way,  she can have her fun without destroying your belongings. Join in with the playtime.  Show her affection. Let  her have toys that she can stalk as she would prey.

Do you want to know to learn more ways to help your cat stay healthy and happy? Just take a look at this infographic. Happy Healthy Cat Month Infographic

Infographic and text provided by Mary Nielsen with FelineLiving.net

Finding Right Pet

Nothing is more exciting than searching for the right pet to fit your lifestyle. Summer winding down and the start of school is a few weeks away. This is a time when pet lovers are considering getting a new companion pet.

Getting to know and fall in love with a new, lovable companion pet and welcoming them into your life can be a rewarding experience.  Likely to go smoother if you put some forethought into it. Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment that requires us to seriously consider our needs, lifestyle, and resources.

When looking to adopt the right pet, often the first thing we notice is their appearance. We might take into account their size, coat, and any obvious physical characteristics. However, there are factors beneath the surface that can determine whether the pet will be a good match for us.

Right Pet Your Situation

Ask yourself honestly how much time, money, and energy you are ready to devote to your pet.

Being a responsible pet owner goes beyond love. It sometimes involves sacrifices or changes in lifestyle, and it is a lifetime commitment. Of course, sometimes there are factors beyond our control that may necessitate finding our pet a new home. In that case, organizations, like Get Your Pet, can help to find the perfect new home for your pet.

When it comes to choosing the right pet for your lifestyle, it’s important to consider factors such as energy level, dietary needs, required training, common medical issues, and proper environment. These can all have an impact on your pet’s health and happiness, as well as your ability to properly care for them.

Right Pet’s Energy 

Pet’s energy level can be a critical determinant of whether or not fits your lifestyles will be compatible. Higher-energy dogs are usually best suited for someone who lives an active lifestyle or is able to take frequent walks. Lower-energy dogs, however, typically do well under the care of a person who enjoys a lot of downtime or a working professional who spends daytime hours away from home. Most dogs require 30 minutes to two hours of exercise per day, though this depends on the breed, age, and overall health of the dog. While cats can spend as much as 14 hours a day sleeping, engaging them in moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes per day is usually recommended.

Right Pet Temperament

Like people, all animals have unique personalities and temperaments that are displayed in their habits or behavior. While some dogs are more outgoing, social, and crave attention, others can be more laid back, calm, or even shy. It’s important that the pet feels comfortable in its new home, so consider what your needs are and what type of environment the pet will be living in. For example, dogs or cats that are more low maintenance, patient, friendly, and gentle will usually make good family pets. On the other hand, more active, sensitive, or protective dogs usually do the best to live with one individual who understands and accepts their needs.

Dietary or Training Requirements

Also, consider dietary requirements based on age, size, and breed, as well as any formal training requirements. While many common breeds of dogs and cats require minimal or basic training, some may require more advanced or specialized training. This is particularly true with hunting dogs, service dogs, or high-maintenance breeds that have an intrinsic desire to work.

Common Pet Medical Issues

While there is no guarantee, certain breeds of dogs and cats tend to share a propensity for developing particular medical issues. When looking to adopt a pet, it will be important to research the types of medical problems, if any, that are common among the breed of dog you’re considering. You’ll also want to consider things like lifespan, cost of any related surgeries, ongoing care or preventative maintenance, or other unforeseen events that could arise as a result of medical troubles. Don’t just assume you can deal with a medical issue if and when it arrives—be prepared and proactive.

Be Honest

Ask yourself honestly how much time, money, and energy you are ready to devote to your pet. Likely be times when you need to travel and leave your pet at home. Be sure to check out Pet Sitting options in your local area.

Being a responsible pet owner goes beyond love. It sometimes involves sacrifices or changes in lifestyle, and it is a lifetime commitment. Of course, sometimes there are factors beyond our control that may necessitate finding our pet a new home. In that case, organizations, like, Get Your Pet can help to find the perfect new home for your pet.

Dogs and cats are great therapists. Ask anyone who has been through heartbreak with a pet, and she will tell you that her dog or cat helped her pull through. And it’s not just that dogs and cats are non-judgmental. Pets help us heal in a myriad of other ways, some of which are just now being discovered. It’s no wonder, then, that people with mental illness and recovering addicts place so much stock in their animal companions. If animals help with everyday sadness and despair, imagine how they help those who are mired in depression, obsession, or the craving for a fix.  Continue reading Pets Good For Mental Health →

Moving is always exciting and stressful. The joys of finding a new home can be overwhelmed by house-hunting, packing, and financial pressure. Even if you know your new place is much better, moving can create anxiety.

That’s very true for your pet dog or cat. In fact, anxiety and stress can be worse since they do not understand what moving means. Read on for some tips on how to find a new home for you and your pet, including finding the right home. Continue reading Finding Home For You And Your Pet →