{"id":31475,"date":"2024-01-15T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=31475"},"modified":"2023-12-28T15:51:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T15:51:03","slug":"do-dogs-cats-like-to-sleep-in-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/do-dogs-cats-like-to-sleep-in-dark\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Cats and Dogs Like to Sleep in the Dark?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you go to sleep at night and you have a pet, oftentimes, that pet sleeps somewhere nearby and you strive to create a comfortable environment<\/a> so they can get their best sleep too. Having just the right atmosphere is key in helping your pet get the sleep they need to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA good night’s sleep is important to ensuring our pets have the energy required to live a happy, fulfilling life,\u201d says Rebecca Greenstein<\/a>, veterinary medical advisor for Rover. \u201cWell-rested [pets] are energetic and playful when they are awake, instead of sluggish or sedentary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One factor to consider when going to bed alongside your pet? Light. Perhaps you\u2019ve wondered whether your dog or cat prefers to sleep in the dark or light. Ahead, we\u2019ll explore just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do dogs like to sleep in the dark?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, do dogs like to sleep in the dark or light? As Greenstein notes, dogs can be surprisingly apprehensive about a lot of everyday experiences, like car rides or loud noises, but most dogs aren’t afraid of the dark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDogs actually have more visual acuity than we do at night,\u201d says Greenstein. \u201cPlus, they rely on their other super-keen senses like smell and hearing to help them navigate proficiently when the lights are out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not so much whether or not your dog \u201clikes\u201d to sleep in the dark\u2014it\u2019s whether they can tolerate it. If they have no or low anxiety and have good vision, then they should do fine in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you notice that your dog is\u00a0newly anxious at nighttime<\/a>, then it\u2019s always wise to check with your vet to make sure there isn\u2019t an underlying medical concern like decreased vision or a neurological condition, says Greenstein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do cats like to sleep in the dark?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While preferences of any kind depend on the individual pet, in general,\u00a0studies<\/a>\u00a0have shown that cats often enjoy a cozier refuge, says Greenstein. That’s because having a hiding spot (as basic as even a simple box) is linked with lower stress levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cats do indeed enjoy dark, cozy spaces\u2014so they may like and even prefer sleeping in a dark room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do some dogs and cats hate sleeping in the dark?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, dogs and cats don\u2019t<\/em> enjoy sleeping in the dark. For example, Greenstein says some pets with poor vision are more likely to bump into things or fall in low light, which might make them a little more apprehensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, some pets with a history of confinement or trauma in dark places may also have negative associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to help your dog or cat feel safe in the dark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you have a pet who’s fearful of sleeping in the dark? To help them feel safe, just like with humans, it\u2019s important to make sure their sleep space is conducive to relaxation, says Greenstein.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means a soft, comfortable spot to curl up and a quiet environment without loud noises. Greenstein also says calming words and positive reinforcement with treats are \u201ctremendously helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good sign if your [pet] is sleeping soundly or showing signs of deep REM slumber, like twitching or moving or making faint noises, while fast asleep,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do dogs need a light on at night?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor elderly pets<\/a> or those with poor eyesight or mobility issues, I would recommend providing a nightlight and keeping them in familiar rooms whose layout they are used to,\u201d Greenstein advises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where should my dog sleep at night?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Greenstein says a dog\u2019s bed should be kept away from high-traffic or noisy areas of the home so they don\u2019t always feel like they have to be on high alert. This could translate to a quiet bedroom where you sleep for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do dogs know to sleep at night?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that dogs have circadian rhythms<\/a>, similar to people? That\u2019s what alerts them that it\u2019s time to go to bed. Also, Greenstein says age, health status, activity level, daily exercise, and day length can all impact their level of sleepiness at a given time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I let my cat sleep in the dark?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy and large, there\u2019s no reason cats can\u2019t sleep in the dark, especially given how well they can see in low light,\u201d Greenstein says. \u201cIn fact, many cats prefer dark and cozy hiding spots to cuddle up for naps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do cats like sleeping with lights on or off?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered, \u201cDo cats like to sleep in the dark or light?\u201d Greenstein says studies have found that cats do enjoy sleeping in the dark and prefer to tuck into dark, small spaces to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give your pet the gift of comfortable sleep with the Saatva Dog Bed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saatva offers a dog bed<\/span> to help ensure pets (and yes, cats can sleep on the small size!) get the best sleep possible. As the first dog bed with responsive micro-coils, your pet will benefit from proper spinal alignment and being able to move easily. The cozy feel will help them drift off to dreamland in no time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you go to sleep at night and you have a pet, oftentimes, that pet sleeps somewhere nearby and you strive to create a comfortable environment so they can get their best sleep too. Having just the right atmosphere is key in helping your pet get the sleep they need to thrive. \u201cA good night’s sleep is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":31476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,391],"tags":[],"coauthors":[418],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-31475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-family"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31475"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31479,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31475\/revisions\/31479"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31475"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=31475"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=31475"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=31475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}