VAST numbers of people would rather share a bed with their pet than their partner, according to research by a Guiseley-based vet.

A staggering 58 per cent out of those questioned prefer to snuggle up to their pet at night than their other half, the White Cross survey shows.

Hundreds of pet owners were quizzed across the veterinary group’s 14 UK practices, including Guiseley, in research studying the sleeping habits of the nation’s pets.

It also found that 80 per cent of cats and dogs sleep in their owners’ bedrooms - with a quarter of these sleeping under the duvet, while more than half sleep on top of the bed.

In addition, 17 per cent of people report that their pets regularly disrupt their sleep with 47 per cent of those surveyed saying it happens occasionally.

Rod Beardshall, Clinic Director of White Cross Vets in Guiseley, said: “We completely appreciate how valuable a pet can be to a household but we were surprised that so many spend every night in their owner’s bedroom. The fact that well over half of people would rather snuggle up to their pet than their partner is also very revealing about how much affection people have for their pets.

“Although lots of our respondents reported having a disturbed night’s sleep from time to time due to their pets, there can also be benefits for both pets and their owners who share a bedroom. Often pets will sleep better if they are close to their owners and lots of people on their own are likely to feel safer if they have a dog beside them at night.”

He warned: “However, anyone considering whether to let their pet share their bedroom needs to think carefully about it because once a pet has enjoyed the comforts of a duvet and pocket sprung mattress, it can be difficult to get them to go back to their own bed. In this instance lots of pets will show signs of frustration, often making lots of noise at night and possibly being destructive.”