When you share your bed with a cat sleeping, you're also sharing a bed with any parasites the cat is harboring. “If your cat goes outdoors, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites pose a risk to you when your cat returns home and cuddles up with you at night,” Dr. DeWire warns.
Cats and dogs have been known to transmit parasites and serious diseases like meningitis to the people they sleep with. There is even a case where a boy contracted bubonic plague from his flea-infested cat. The obvious solution is to make sure your cat is healthy. Talk to your vet about flea and parasite prevention.
Position your cat's sleeping spots away from any noisy appliances (such as washing machines) and busy areas of the home (such as the hallway). A quiet corner of a bedroom or living room is ideal, and once your cat is snoozing, make sure you leave them alone to avoid startling them awake.
And unlike dogs, cats actually prefer smaller spaces and tend to find hideaways and corners to retreat when they need their space. Although cats may need a little less, a cat can happily live in one room only if they have everything they need.
Should I keep my cat in at night? Cats Protection recommends that you keep your cat in at night to keep them safe. Increased risks during night time include: Road traffic injuries and fatalities.
As long as fresh water is available, some cats can be left alone for up to 24 hours. However, longer or more frequent periods of time away, such as full days or nights away from home can be more disruptive. Your cat should not be left alone for long periods of time.
In addition, with their barbed tongues, they are usually capable of keeping their own coats clean without any help from their humans. That said, even indoors, your cat can encounter dirt or debris, whether from their litter box, food or drink spills and other messes.
If daytime changes don't work, shut your bedroom door and keep your cat out of your room. Set up a cozy sleep area with a litter box as far away from your room as possible. Put a towel at the bottom of the door to stop any door scratching or rattling. Medications may help.
Fleas, mites, roundworms, and hookworms are just some of the nasty parasites that you could be exposing yourself to by sleeping with your pet. Roundworms are the most common gastrointestinal parasite affecting cats, infecting 25 to 75 percent of them.
Lying next to you, but not on you, doesn't mean your cat is not bonded to you. In fact, sleeping next to you means your cat trusts you enough to be in a vulnerable position while sleeping. Some cats are not comfortable sleeping on their cat parent because they prefer the security of a small buffer zone.
PetMD also points out that cats are territorial creatures. They claim their turf by marking it with their scent. So when they sleep on top of you, they're actually marking you—and your bed—as theirs. We should be flattered by this behavior, apparently.
As such, at any point in time, a cat's mouth may be no dirtier than ours. However, cats contain certain other bacteria in their mouths, which cause gum disease. As predators, they also eat animals and insects that may harbor diseases. To be safe, avoid kissing your cat on the lips.
However, it is not advised that you kiss a cat who is sick, nor do I recommend kissing cats on the lips. Many diseases can be passed on from cats to humans (zoonotic). Cats and humans can become infected with common bacteria such as Pasteurella, staphylococcus, E-Coli and salmonella. All of which are highly contagious.
The Advantages of Kitty Zzs
Reduces stress – Petting a sleeping cat has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Strengthens the bond – Cats who sleep with their humans are closer to them. This comfortable snuggle helps them feel more trust and safety with their owners.
In other words, they do love you ... even if they don't show it. The research, published in the journal Current Biology, found that cats form attachments to their owners that are similar to those that dogs and even babies form with their caregivers.
According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite. People who communicate with their cat by getting to know their cues and motives are more attractive to their cat companions.
Cats do love their humans, even if sometimes they have a funny way of showing it. In fact, they form strong attachments to their owners and display their emotions very similar to humans. Just like people, cats can show their love through understanding and concern for others.
It's especially important for young kids, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems to wash hands regularly because they're more likely to get seriously sick from germs animals can carry. In a perfect world, you would wash your hands after every time you touch your pet.
In general, cats should be given a bath once every 4-6 weeks, depending on how often they groom themselves, and the environment they're usually in. If your cat is more outdoorsy and soils itself while playing, it's a good idea to help with the grooming process as they alone won't be able to properly get cleaned.
Overall, cats are generally considered to be cleaner than dogs because they groom themselves more frequently. However, it is important to remember that both cats and dogs require regular maintenance to stay healthy and clean.
Cats might not know how many hours you leave them for, but they do know when you're away. They can get lonely, bored, and anxious. There is also a study that shows that smaller animals with higher metabolisms may process time more slowly. This means that cats may perceive time differently than people.
In general, a happy, healthy, well-adjusted kitty shouldn't need nightly crating. If your kitten or cat is having difficulty making proper use of its litter box, it might be best to keep your cat in a crate at night while you train her to use the litter box.
In general, you should never close off an area unless it's for their safety. They have instincts that motivate them to search all nooks and crannies of their environment and when they are unable to their brain may respond via anxiety or frustration which is not relaxing for the cat to have to process.