Letting a pet curl up under the duvet is a familiar routine for many owners in Germany, and it may be more common there than anywhere else in a new European comparison. Around a third of German pet owners allow their animals to sleep in the bed, according to a YouGov survey conducted in summer of 2025. The study found 29% of pet owners in Germany let their pets share the bed, the highest proportion among the countries included in the poll.
YouGov surveyed 5,125 people across Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland.
The same survey suggests pet ownership varies sharply across the five countries. Italy topped the list, with 63% of respondents saying they keep one or more pets.
Among German pet owners, YouGov found a near-perfect balance between the two most common companion animals. 51% said they have a dog, and 51% said they have a cat, indicating many households either choose one over the other, or keep both. In Switzerland and France, however, the survey pointed to a clearer preference for cats.
These figures inevitably raise the question as to where people in Luxembourg stand on this contentious issue. Pets in bed, a given or absolute no-no? Let us know below!
