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| A recent Cats Protection survey amongst
cat-owners aged 20 - 40 has revealed that 44% of respondents
enjoy a better night's sleep with their cat on their bed
rather than with their partner in their bed. |
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Twenty-six per cent of men, and 51%
of women who took part in the survey, reported their cat's
superior "bed-ability", with the principle reason
for this phenomenon relating to good old-fashioned security.
"Those who said they enjoyed a better night's sleep with their cat said
they felt safer and more comforted with their feline on their bed," said
Judy Bernstein, Head of Promotions at Cats Protection. |
The survey of single and attached working
cat-owners, aged 20 - 40, has revealed several other benefits
of cat co-sleeping for men and women, including:
- Enhancement of personal bed space (i.e.
cat takes up less space than a partner).
- Purring pleasures (23% of respondents
enjoy the sound of purring at bed-time).
- A lack of harassment at sleep-time (although
perhaps not at morning feeding time).
- Considerable relief from a partner's
snoring noise (for women only)
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The research also found that cat-owners
can be a lot more tolerant and accepting of their felines
than they are of their partners.
The survey found that there were a number of behaviours that respondents
would happily accept in their cats, but not in a partner. |
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These included:
Having bad breath. - 56% of men and 67% of women would accept their cat's bad
breath but not their partner's.
Expectation of being fed
twice a day, every day - 45% of men and 69% of women thought this OK behaviour for
a cat but not for a partner.
Making a mess.
- 58% of respondents
thought it would be OK if, for example, their cat
made a mess of their clothes but would not appreciate
their partner doing likewise.
Taking up a lot of the bed covers. - Over half of respondents
(55%) appeared willing to risk getting cold in bed for the sake of
their cat's comfort, but would not feel the same if their partner
took a disproportionate amount of the covers. |
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In fact, many people appear to
prefer their felines altogether.
The survey found that 48% of respondents
(37% of men and 52% of women) thought their cat was a better
companion than their current or last partner, with more people
in the 30-and-under age group feeling this way.
There were a number of reasons given for a cat providing better
company than a partner, including:
- Puss provided constant companionship (22% of men, 38%
of women).
- A lack of conflict with feline friends (11% of men and
31% of women).
- The cat was fun to be around (11% of men and 30% of women).
- Feline friend was non-critical and non-judgmental (15%
of men and 27% of women).
- Puss was more loving (15% of men and 27% of women).
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It all goes to prove that cats
really do offer their stressed owners a range of 'health
and happiness' benefits.
Ninety per cent of respondents
(85% of men and 92% of women) said their cat had increased
their ability to relax and de-stress after work, whilst
51% of respondents (48% of men and 52% of women) thought
their cat had given them a more positive outlook on life. |
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Partners of cat loving women need to beware! |
It's not all rosy amongst the
cat-owning population though, particularly for single men.
Fifty per cent of single male
respondents reported that their cat had caused them to
have conflict with someone close to them.
Potential partners of cat-loving
men need to be aware as, according to the research, the
most popular method of solving conflict was to get rid
of the person perceived as causing trouble!
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