Ever been jealous of how much sleep your cat or dog gets? We have.
Catnapping dogs, rabbits, hamsters, fish, birds and err … cats all sleep as well, if not better than us. You can see exactly how much shut-eye your beloved pet enjoys in our new infographic – the sleeping habits of pets.
Check out the infographic – and scroll down for sleep tips
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Tips to get you sleeping like a cat
Fortunately, we’re not just here to tell you how much sleep you’re missing out on. We’ve some tips to help you sleep to your heart’s content.
• Noise as low as 40 decibels (a barking dog is at least 60 decibels) can be enough to keep you awake. Annoying noise can be cancelled out with ear plugs.
• Try not to use smartphones, tablets or LCD televisions an hour or two before bed. These devices emit a form of light that prevents your go-to-sleep hormone from kicking in.
• We tend to sleep better in cooler conditions. In fact, simply laying down causes our body temperature to drop slightly. So it stands to reason that having a cool bedroom will help you sleep. Try turning down the thermostat, or opening the windows before bed, or using cotton sheets.
• While your dog or cat can seemingly sleep anywhere (windowsills, the floor, on top of wardrobes, in the washing basket), you’re likely to be a bit fussier.
If you lie on your side or back, then you’ll want a mattress that’s soft enough to allow your shoulders and hips to sit comfortably, while offering ample support to the rest of your body.
Meanwhile, those of us who lie on our front tend to require a firmer sleeping surface to keep our spines aligned.
• Night-time light has the effect of making your brain think it’s still day time – potentially keeping you awake. Choose blackout blinds for your windows, as these designs can help stop outside light from entering your bedroom.