One in two pet owners say they regularly lose up to 90 minutes' sleep because of their pets mewing, barking, scratching or nuzzling them awake - with many saying their pets 'caused them lots of stress'.

A survey of 1,000 cat and dog owners from around the UK found that 54 per cent often lost up to an hour-and-a-half's sleep from being woken up early by their pets.

The most common interruption to a good night's sleep was 'incessant' barking or mewing in the early hours, with 47 per cent saying it was a 'common problem'.

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Pet owners often lost up to an hour-and-a-half's sleep from being woken up early by their animals

In second place was 'scratching at the bedroom door', with 28 per cent saying their pet regularly tried to claw their way in so they could 'cuddle up' to their masters - or beg for food.

A total of 22 per cent said they were often roused from the land of nod by a cat or dog leaping onto their bed in the middle of the night.

In fourth place, with 3 per cent, some unlucky owners said that they were woken by their pets 'biting or nibbling' them.

Among various other 'annoying pet behaviours' cited by respondents, included scratching around in the litter tray, racing around the living room or sitting on their faces as they slept.

A total of 22 per cent said they were often roused from the land of nod by a cat or dog leaping onto their bed in the middle of the night

The survey. for mattress firm memoryfoamwarehouse.co.uk, also found that - contrary to popular belief that pets help up relax - a total of 34 per cent said the antics of their pets left them feeling 'stressed out'.

Cat lover Alexandra Blakelock, of Leeds, West Yorks, said that her cat Boris often gave her a rude awakening during the night.

The accounts worker, who is in her 20s, said: "I love Boris to bits, but he has had a huge impact on my sleep and I'll often be tired the next day because he's woken me up.

A survey of 1,000 cat and dog owners from around the UK found that 54 per cent often lost up to an hour-and-a-half's sleep from being woken up early by their pets

"He wakes up any time from 2am because he wants to play or go out, and will do anything from licking, biting or jumping up on top of the wardrobe in the middle of the night.

"Most nights I'm up at least once, letting him in when he stays out late or shutting him in another room so I can get back to sleep"

Another cat lover, Lucy Ellis, 31, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, said: "My cat Rosie usually wakes me up by jumping on my head around 5am.

"If I close the door she just scratches and scratches until I eventually let her in.

"I don't have to be up for work until 7am, so I'm often woken up two hours before I actually need to get up.

"The most annoying thing is when she decides to go in the litter box in the middle of the night and spends 10 minutes kicking the cat litter around the place - it drives me mad!!"

Thomas Lord, of memoryfoamwarehouse.co.uk, said: "As a nation of pet lovers we're often told that owning one can improve our general health and lifestyle.

"But with us now spending more time and money on our beloved pets, we wanted to see what sort of impact they are having on relationships, stress, and most importantly for us, sleep.