Why Your Cat Sleeps On You
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Sometimes cats prefer to take a nap on a private perch or in the safety of a hidden corner, but sooner or later, most cats end up sleeping on the knees, chest or even their owner’s head. Yes, your cat can do it to bond and feel closer to his favorite human, but behavior is mainly the result of organic instincts – for example, socializing kittens with their mothers and sisters or adult cats interacting with each other in nature.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your cat sleeps on you.
Why this counts for Treehugger
At Treehugger, we are defenders of animal welfare, including pets and other domestic animals. The better we understand our cats, the better we can support and protect their well-being.
Mark their territory
Cats have perfume glands that release pheromones all over the body. Marking humans with these pheromones means that their humans are part of the cat group; Cat groups in nature learn this behavior to distinguish members from the non-member pack. When a cat sleeps on you, it marks you with its perfume to reassure that you feel familiar and safe. Even cats that like loneliness can rub and their owners’ heads as part of the same process of marking perfume.
Stay warm
Many cat owners have seen their cat sleeping in a sunny patch on the bed, or even overthrowing the plants and everything on the way to get a cake position at the ideal window. Heat induces relaxation and sleep in cats. And, few spots in the house are warmer than being directly at the top of a person. The heat can also contribute to the initiation or maintenance of restorative sleep in cats, which means that the search for hot spots for sleep can help them stay healthy.
Feel safe
Animals are more vulnerable to attacks during sleep, and cats are no exception. Consequently, cats who see their owners as a sign of security and security may like to sleep or near them. In the minds of your kittens, sleeping with you means that they will not be attacked although inconscious because they trust you to keep them safe. Sleeping with your back – even if it looks like a rejection – is actually another sign of confidence.
This cat behavior can also be traced in the kitten. When young cats develop, they are generally in large litters with other cats, treat their mother and sleep together in a group, sometimes stacked on each other. In particular without other cat cats, humans can have a substitute role in this cat dynamic.
Bondage with you
In the experiments to prevent cats from scratching and urine marking behaviors, the marking of perfumes has proven to be a powerful means of preserving Chathumanes’ links. When your cat sleeps on you and marks you with its perfume, it creates a powerful olfactory reminder that you both belong to the same group. Being close to humans also allows cats to hear and feel familiar and comforting sounds, such as a beating heart or rhythmic breaths during sleep, recalling safe sleeping spaces with a cat and brothers and sisters.
Cats are the most active at night and early during the day, but some will adjust their habits to reflect those of their owners, to maximize the time spent together. You see, cats care, even if they like to act in standoffish!
Show affection
A recent study on the link of human cats has shown that cats are not the solitary creatures that they are often described. In nature, cats live comfortably in matriarchal societies and have group liaison behaviors, including mutual grooming, allorubbing (when two members of the same species rub against each other) and slept together. Sleeping with their owner is one -sided cats have affection and benevolence.
Why cats sleep on different parts of your body
Cats are known to sleep in various places on and around their owners, including the head and neck, chest and knees of their human.
Head
It has long been supposed that cats like to be close to the head of their owners because this is where the most heat escapes, but the human head frees roughly the same amount of heat as the rest of the body. That said, the head moves less when people throw and turn into their sleep, so that cats can stay near the top of the bed for safety. In addition, cats use their eyes to communicate with their owners and other cats, so kittens may like to be close to their owner’s eyes.
Chest
The kittens spend a large part of their period of formative development sleeping on or near other kittens, leading veterinarians to theorize that regular breathing noises and a beating heart nearby can comfort cats and help them sleep more easily. You could also be a calm sleeper, which makes your chest a perfectly comfortable space for a night nap.
Knees
Most cat owners know what their cat wants when he jumps on their lap to sleep – to be caressed and receive attention – although there is no definitive research to testify. The towers are the ideal place to stay warm and be easily accessible by the owners; What cat lover did not spend a completely annoying time sitting in a single place to let a peaceful cat continue to rest comfortably?
Are there any reasons not to sleep with your cat?
Your preferences will be quite personal, of course, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking of letting your cat sleep with you. If you sleep light, the presence of a cat in your bed could disturb your sleep and make it more difficult to fall into a deep restorative sleep. In addition, some cats follow the cat in the bed, which raises hygiene concerns. And, you don’t want to inhale cat fur, especially if you have respiratory problems. Do not forget either that it is not sure to let a cat sleep with a child under the age of five, and a child of all ages could surprise a cat and have it scratched.



