What is the most resilient bedding for dogs and cats that sleep in your bed?

Sleeping with your pets particularly cats and dogs isn’t such an unusual occurrence. But this begs the question: What’s the best bedding for dogs and cats when they sleep with you on your bed instead of on their beds?

Consider the risks and rewards

On one hand, you may feel more secure, relaxed, and contented when your pet sleeps on your bed especially since the quality of sleep is largely dependent on the level of physical and mental relaxation. On the other hand, you may be at higher risk for a wide range of health issues including but not limited to severe allergic reactions and bacterial infections, many of which can be fatal for humans.

You have to decide whether the rewards of sleeping with your pets on the same bed outweigh the risks. You should, for example, avoid sleeping with your cats and/or dogs when your doctor recommends it because of your allergic reactions. But if you’re a relatively healthy individual without allergic reactions to your pets’ fur, then go ahead and do so. You must, nonetheless, take a few safety precautions to ensure optimum enjoyment of your sleeping arrangements, such as keeping your pets out of the bedroom for a few hours to give your nose a chance to recover, using a HEPA filter in your bedroom, and getting allergy shots in order to build up tolerance against allergens.

Go for convenience

While there’s no hard and fast rule in choosing bedding products that will satisfy both humans and their pets, keep in mind that convenience is the key consideration here. You have to look for dog and cat bedding materials that provide these following benefits:

• Affordable price especially when you foresee a higher frequency of disposal of damaged bedding (i.e., stubborn stains, several tears and holes).
• Washable and durable material since it will likely be washed more frequently than other types of bedding (i.e., blankets and duvets used by humans only). Machine-washable fabric is a must.
• Easy cleaning of dirt, dust and stains, among other detritus left behind by even well-groomed pets.

Washable synthetic fibre

Based on these qualities, bedding experts recommend washable synthetic fibre filled duvets that can be thrown over the lower layers, such as the foam mattress pad, waterproof mattress pad, bottom fitted sheet, top sheet, if you choose to use one, and a top cover. If you want more protection from possible pet leaks (e.g., urine, saliva, and bodily discharges), you can place rubber-backed fuzzy bath mats over the washable duvets and/or bedspreads, but this can 'spoil' the look of your bed in terms of décor and style.

Polyester/cotton bedding such as these duvet covers are inexpensive and easy to launder making them a good choice. On the other hand fine fabrics such as silk, satin can be harder to launder and cats' and dogs' claws can easily pull the threads, making the bedding look unsightly in a short space of time. Likewise, pure wool may keep you snugly warm but doesn't make for practical cat bedding - cats in particular will love kneading and pawing wool which will pull the fibres and ruin the item fast. Pet hairs will also adhere to wool easily, making it virtually impossible to remove, polyester or cotton doesn't have this adhesive quality, again making them or a blend of the two far more practical.

Embellished bedding also isn't a good choice, again the delicate embroidery threads can easily be pulled by your pet's claws. Small beads and fancy embellishments aren't a good idea either. Not only can they be easily damaged, they can also pose a choke hazard when chewed or ingested by your pet.

Throws and bed runners are another option worth considering, although typically throws don't have a moisture proof backing, they are still good at keeping pet hairs at bay and will give your bed a more natural look. Basically, you should use the standard bedding products normally used on your beds, but add top layers chosen for their abilities, so to speak, to prevent “accidents” from soiling the bottom layers. opt for materials that are easy to machine wash and those that can be tumble dried, such as polyester/cotton.