Here’s a debate that probably goes back to the earliest days of pet ownership: Should dogs and cats be allowed to sleep in their owners’ bedrooms, or even in their beds?

For some people, the answer is an unqualified yes. Pets are family members and their presence provides additional security and contentment.

Other pet owners draw the line at bunking with their furry friends, citing concerns about hygiene, propriety or potential impacts on their own sleep.

The naysayers have a point, judging by a brief report published recently in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

It showed that one in five people who allowed pets in the bedroom paid a price in reduced sleep quality.

To produce the report, researchers queried 150 consecutive patients entering the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Sleep Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Almost exactly half the respondents owned at least one pet, a figure that’s consistent with national statistics.

Fifty-six percent of the pet owners reported allowing their animals to sleep in the bedroom or on the bed.

Of that group, one in five said their sleep was sometimes disturbed when the animals moved or made noise.

The researchers also suspected that participants may have underreported sleep disturbances.

To help pet owners who aren’t sure whether to open their sleeping quarters to Fido and Fluffy, the authors provide a list of factors to consider. It begins with one overriding principle: A good night’s sleep trumps loyalty to our pets.

But there’s also a potential compromise — you can banish pets from the bedroom during sleeping hours but let them in for a cuddling session first thing in the morning.

After all, there are worse ways to start your day than with a dose of unconditional love.