What Kind of a Person Are You...Really?

[House Cat]

While laying in bed with my little girl dog I realized that I will lay in the most contorted positions just to keep her comfortable. I’ve been this way since I was a young child. My animal’s comfort has always been more important than mine.

Then I humorously thought this might say a lot about a person. What do you think? Does it? If you disturb your pet are you selfish? Are you meeting your own needs? If you don’t disturb your pet are you caring or a doormat?

Did the drink I had last night cause me to think too deeply on this subject?

 

[stracci2000]

I will be totally uncomfortable, and cater to my older cat, who is my special baby. He has hip pain, and other health issues. I would lay on the tracks for him!
The younger cat, who is healthier and is sometimes a *jerk*, might get pushed aside so I can get out of bed!

 

[Turbodoug]

Ferrets need there sleep too so if they come to bed in the middle of the night i reposition so they can curl up under my arm.
Like i have a choice, moogie scratches at the door til i let him in. Only for 5-10 seconds EVERY half hour

 

[jordyonbass]

I voted other as it depends where I am in my sleep;

#1 occurs when I first get into bed or first wake up, usually because we can pet them or get some cuddles from them.

#2 occurs when it's the middle of the night, I am surrounded by Mrs Jordy, one or more cats and I can't find a comfy spot. Sorry boys but either come up to the head of the bed or go away, I have to get up at 4am for work to feed you little rat-cats

 

[lyra]

Only Murphy sleeps with us. I call him The Tumor. He attaches to one of us all night. Usually mid back region. Sometimes near the feet. He's not tiny, he's about 10 lbs. That 10 lbs can exert an incredible amount of pressure at times. He knows the phrase "Move over!". He doesn't quite execute the command very well, he just plops back down somewhere else along the spine. He is never warm enough.

Edit: Doh, I/we let him do his thing, and we sleep however we want, to answer the question. It's hard to call this relationship selfish, because it's win-win for him, not so for either of us.

 

[missy]

Other. It depends. More often it's choice A unless I really have to pee then it's choice B.
I mean I love my fur babies but I don't want to wet the bed.

 

[Calliecake]

You are not alone House Cat! I also lay as still as possible not to bother her. My husband thinks I am crazy as I have been known to give him a hard time for moving so much in his sleep that he disturbs her. Our dog is very much like @lyra dog. She is glued to us. Often kicking my husband while her head is on my shoulder.

 

[tyty333]

I usually dont move because I dont want them to leave but if something starts hurting me because I've been still for too long then I'll move.
If they get up and leave...so be it. I do sleep better without them but I really like it when they sleep with me/us.

We have cats...if I had dogs I'd probably move freely because according to the ones we had growing up they would always readjust to fit around
you (it was almost impossible to get them to leave the bed).

 

[sonnyjane]

When I'm awake, definitely the first option, but I would love to have a night-vision camera film our antics each night. I move around a ton (A TON!) in my sleep, but every morning my cat is always right there beside me. I would love to see what he has to deal with (or what I deal with!)

 

[doberman]

My cat is always ready to move into the warm spot I've just vacated. He's a power sleeper so he falls right back to sleep....until he hears the breakfast bowls clinking. My dog hears the slightest sound and she's up. But she doesn't sleep in the bed lol.

 

[TooPatient]

Our almost 16 year old cat is the only one to sleep with us. This is in part because she demands her own room free from any other animal and in part because we had tried sleeping with the other cats allowed in the bed. 25 pound mainecoon pushing both of us out of bed was a bit much. Plus the other two running and wrestling at all hours of the night on top of us... Yeah.
So the old kitty seemed like she would be mellow (adopted at almost 14 years old). She was for the first few months!

I get comfortable (making sure to leave half of my pillow for her to lay on next to me) then try not to move until morning. When I have to move because the pain is too much not to, I turn over slowly so she can shift with me and make sure she has her half of the pillow on the other side. She likes to be against my front.

On top of not bothering her, I also don't want the dogs to think I am awake. That starts a whole ugly thing where they whine no matter what time it is.

Yes, I have held motionless while awake needing a bathroom for more than an hour.

 

[dk168]

I often find myself sleeping diagonally across the double bed, with the dog at one side and the cat the other.
Why can't they sleep on the spare side of the bed together is a mystery to me!

DK

 

[LJsapphire]

The first one to a point, but if I'm too hot or too disturbed I will have to sit up, move the extra cover, plonk the cat back down and settle down again

 

[Maria D]

I chose "other" because I sleep pretty still whether or not there is a cat on the bed. I am down to one cat (the most I've ever had at once was four) and she has never slept on the bed with us. She won't even cuddle on the couch, preferring instead to be at arm's length unless it is super cold (this week!), in which case she'll get close enough that her fur barely brushes my leg. This cat won't even walk across a lap, she'll only leap over.

I miss having bed sleeping cats! I had one that used to tuck me in by sleeping on my chest until I fell asleep, then she'd go down to my feet. RIP Samantha....

 

[Queenie60]

I don't allow my pets to sleep in my bed.

 

[monarch64]

Good grief, a pet would never extend the same courtesy! LOL
I have never avoided action to save a pet some precious sleep. This thread reminds me of a few weird habits former pets of mine had. One cat liked to attack my feet with claws and teeth at 4 a.m. One dog used to sleep almost on top of me and if I'd roll over or disturb him IN ANY WAY he'd growl and snarl at me in his sleep. He was such a dick. I loved that dog, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't in love with me!

 

[MarionC]

Queenie. I’m with you, but then, too often there are extenuating circumstances.
For instance one of my dogs just went into the dementia stage and whines at odd hours all night.
At five pounds I can’t just chuck him out in the cold, and I can hear him four rooms away, so the only way to get sleep is to tuck him in with me.
Ah...maybe it’s not dementia, just stepped up manipulation in his wise old age.

 

[Gabbycat]

It's "other" for me and hubby. In general I have no qualms with moving them out of the way at any given time, unless they have been hurt or are otherwise upset. For instance, my 16 yr old dog HATES fireworks, so last night when the neighbors were celebrating with fireworks (all night!) she got to come into bed and pick her spot first. Or when my dachshund had attacked my cat, the cat got to sleep with us during recovery to comfort and reassure her, and we went to great lengths to keep her settled. But if it's just a nap or they joined us in the early morning, they have to move when we do.

 

[Arcadian]

She dosen't sleep with us. her beds are way better than ours...lol before all the crazy fireworks, we went on a beach hike to make sure she was gonna be good and tired. then some yummy treats and fun music while mommy was making dinner. (she likes Earth Wind & Fire...lol) By the time it got going really good, she had her dinner, icecream, and a little melatonin. out like a light.

She's my only (who will be 8 Jan 3!) Unlike some, I can't do more than 1 pet at a time. I work way too much for that. I had to be convinced when we got her as it is!

But she's got 2 houses, 9 beds, and 2 cars (with beds) she's a spoiled girl for sure. Oh and next car will be with her in mind. This one was too...lol

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I would always be still or accommodate the pet.

Except, I once cat sat my friends Persian cat that would creep up and sleep on your head! I recall waking up (or my DH) and saying WTH--and move the cat off. Hard to breath with all that fluff

cheers--Sharon

 

[nala]

My dog is grumpy. So I don't have a choice. If I disturb her, she bites!!! So I do wha I can not to to. Lol

 

[Tekate]

@House Cat don't worry, I say excuse me to my dog when I try to move around when cooking and she is in my way.. we just love them.

 

[KaeKae]

I voted other.
I have two pets with me most of the time. The toy poodle joined us in Sept when DD2 left for college. She is the kind of animal who just doesn't move, unless you physical move her. All 8.5 pounds of her, It's easer to get DH to move in his sleep.
The cat, however, who out weighs Rosie by 3 to 4 pounds, will adjust to my movements.
DD goes back to school next week. I'm enjoying the "freedom" from sharing the bed with Rosie for a few more days.

 

[telephone89]

I dont let my pets in bed lol. They are easy to move and adjust position quickly to get cozy again (on the sofa).

 

[House Cat]

@House Cat don't worry, I say excuse me to my dog when I try to move around when cooking and she is in my way.. we just love them.

You made me realize that I do this too!!

Then again, I talk to my dogs all of the time. Ok, ok, I confess! I actually sing to my dogs all of the time.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Other, I have two cats and one dog, none of the are allowed to sleep in the bed. I get freaked out if something touches me while I'm sleeping. The cats have learned their lesson and happily sleep in the living room in their tower next to the window. The dog sleeps in his crate with his little bed next to our bed.

 

[Arcadian]

Today is Lucky's birthday. So we wake up, do our morning thing which includes lots of hugs and kisses. She loves hugs and kisses so I give her plenty♥ Today she got a little extra.

Her being 8 makes it extra special but still a little sad. With the happiness comes the realization that the time with my baby is getting shorter, that if I'm lucky, I could get as much as 5-6 years more, but I do notice the changes. She's a little slower from, dosen't run as fast. She's also not always so eager to jump out of bed in the morning, and wants to sleep a little earlier in the evening.

Its also a wee bit harder to jump in my car though she's always up for a ride anywhere.

For now, a year at a time is what we've decided and what we concentrate on the most.

But today is all about happy, and being its her birthday, I will take her to Wendy's. I usually make her burgers but last year I ran out of time. I think she was happy about that....lol The burger's aren't bad for her, and thankfully I can remove as much stuff as needed, and they make the fries without salt on request. Then a small scoop of icecream and whipped cream (from the can of course!)