Who is BU re cats sleeping on my bed

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

This is going to sound really petty but I'm going to go for it anyway.

I've been with my bf for about 18 months now. He as a bit shocked when we first started seeing each other that I let my cats sleep on my bed. He makes jokes about how he hopes they're not sleeping on "his" pillow and how he'll get pink eye from them. I don't let them in the bedroom at night when he stays over (maybe 3 times a week) but on the nights I'm on my own they come in and snuggle and my 4 year old girl does like to sleep on his pillow.

Last night we were chatting on the phone and I was just saying how cute she looked the night before and he was genuinely annoyed I'd let her sleep there, said that he wants to be able to go to sleep without cat hair going up his nose and feeling itchy. Now, I have had cats all my life and have never had a problem and surely all cats sleep on the bed.....isn't that the beauty of having a cat, the bedtime snuggles.

He was a bit of a misery and said he wouldnt stay over anymore to which I replied fine, I've had her four years, she was here first and I will not be banishing her from my room. I have however said I will cover his pillow up so she doesn't sleep directly on it but seriously, am I being slovenly letting them sleep on my bed or is he being a massive prat about it.

Wasn’t plague more to do with lack of cats to kill the rodents?

Am neither s historian or medical person but sure read that somewhere- or my cat has been slipping me doctored history books!

I have a cat and I agree with your bf, it’s disgusting to let an animal sleep on a pillow. Cats shed hair, a lot, and have been digging in litter trays or dirt and burying their own shit - why would you want that on the pillow where your face goes. Disgusting.

@whattodo
I think we have developed at least some immunity against all those dirty animals we evolved with over the years.....
You sound pretty hysterical. As in plain fucking nuts. Do you do you shopping in a biohazard suit? Shake hands with latex gloves on? Sharing a pillow with a cat occasionally or driving past a field of cows is not going to give you the plague. Grow up.

Hilarious replies. I never said you would get plague from your animals, so you need to actually read what I wrote. History appears complex for you so perhaps comprehension is too.

I was demonstrating the types of diseases you can get from cats because they can carry them, as many people appear to think they are disease free Everything I mentioned is possible to get from your animal, some more likely than others.

And no, it’s not hysteria or paranoia, it’s fact. If you want to ignore facts, that’s up to you.

My child caught ringworm from a kid in school. Cat has never had it.

I doubt zoonoses only exist because our ancestors slept with domestic animals. There are many examples of disease you can catch from wild or farmed animals.

There are also many health benefits from close contact with animals. Lower blood pressure, fewer auto immune issues, reduced incidence of asthma, excema etc.

For me, the risk of catching anything from my pet is far less than the benefit they bring...

There are also many health benefits from close contact with animals. Lower blood pressure, fewer auto immune issues, reduced incidence of asthma, excema etc.

Sure, but that doesn’t mean you have to sleep with them

Tell him he can bring his own pillow case then! Your house,your rules! Don’t do any extra work for him

I find the whole thing a bit 'ick'. I wouldn't really want to breathe in cat hair (it gets everywhere!) nor put my face where the cats' bums have been 🙈

My child caught ringworm from a kid in school. Cat has never had it

To be fair, i am far more likely to contract worms/nits/ringworm/impetigo etc from my 6 year old getting into bed for a cuddle than I am from the dog

human diseases come from when we slept with animals centuries ago. No need to go back to sleeping with them; it is disgusting and there’s a reason animals spread disease.

As far as diseases are concerned, there isn't a human vs animal divide. We're all animal species, and diseases will effect species differently. Plague is a generic term for widespread disease. If you mean bubonic plague, that's caused by a bacteria called Y. pestis which is present in the blood of various animals. It's frequently transmitted by fleas.

Living with animals won't cause diseases to jump species barriers although it may make it easier and make transition more likely. But really there are many things we now do which cut down the spread of disease, as PP have mentioned. You may want to balance the risk of disease against the various benefits of pet ownership.

@whattodo
I think you are probably far more disease ridden than any pet I have ever owned.
My comprehension of history is just fine.
It's your comprehension of sarcasm and grip on reality I'd be more concerned about.

Just have a fleece cat 'blankie' on his pillow you can whip off for visits. Mine won't sleep anywhere there isn't one now. She has one in her 3 sleeping spots. They like sleeping somewhere soft where their scent tells them its 'theirs' already.

@WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue

You have more chance of catching a disease from the human in the bed than the cat.

Humans are filthy creatures, riddled with STDs, viruses, and bacteria. An infected human can even pass their sickness on by breathing on somebody.

You're so right, @Gingerkittykat I've caught colds loads of times from my DDs/DH. But I can't think of any illness that's come as a result of having my cats on my bed.