Where Your Cat Sleeps
Your cat may sleep on different parts of your body for different reasons, too. Some cats delight in sleeping on their humans head. This might be uncomfortable for you, but your cat might prefer it because your head doesnt move often as you sleep. Your head also radiates heat, so your cat might curl himself up on your pillow to stay warm during the night.
Some cats prefer to sleep on your chest. As you sleep, your slow and steady breathing could be appealing to your cat. Your chest also creates a broad, relatively flat area where your cat can soak up a lot of your body heat.
Its A Bonding Exercise
Cats have earned an unfair reputation as being aloof and unfriendly. But as cat owners, we know this couldnt be farther from the truth. Our cats are as affectionate as they are social. They want to bond with us.
Cat behavior consultant Mikel Delgado, PhD, told Catster that its not unusual for cats to engage in pillowing at bedtime. This is when they use another cat as a pillow If theyre the only cat in the house, they love to use you as an alternative.
This tactile component to the feline/human bond is your cats way of saying, I love you. I want to be near you and spend time with you.
Its hard to argue with that.
The Clingy Cat Long Goodbye
Honey, Im home that moment you grab your keys, your bag, or simply the sound of the front door knob turning causes your cat to come running towards you. Brushing up against your leg, seemingly trying to hold you in place. That probably means you have a clingy;cat. Over time they begin to associate the tell-tale sounds of you leaving with affection time. Other cats associate it with your actual departure and realize that they will be alone,
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How Cats Choose Who To Sleep With
by Union Lake Pet Services | Apr 8, 2020 | Blog
Many cats are particular about their behaviors. They have specific ways they groom themselves, what they like to do for entertainment and yes, where they like to snooze. Cats are infamous for napping and you may have noticed that there are many rituals about how they do it. One of the more common questions we get from cat lovers is how do cats choose who to sleep with.;
There are a few reasons why cats choose specific people to slumber with. Your friends at Union Lake Pet Services are here to tell you all about it.
Why Do Cats Sleep On Your Chest
Dr. Satchu explains that cats may be drawn to the sounds of your body. Cats likely find some benefit to our very slow and calm respiratory patterns while we sleep, she says.
This is when we are at our most calm and most cats tend to echo those same sentiments, even though they get to sleep for a good 18 hours each day!
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Why Do Cats Like To Sleep With Their Owners
Cats are very vulnerable when they are sleeping and like to find a place, or person, that they trust to sleep on. When they sleep with their owner they are confirming to you that they trust you.
While your cat does trust you they also want to keep warm and they love the heat from their humans. They also love your duvet and blanket that provide extra warmth. Your cat loves that you are a human hot water bottle for them.
There is no doubt that your cat loves you and wants to spend time with you, but they also want to tell you they love you by spending time with you. Cats dont like to be alone despite what people think about cats being independent.
Often an Igloo style bed like this one can help your cat feel more comforted and safe at night.
Feline Survival Instincts: Escaping
Kitties of all sizes, shapes, and ages feel the desire to be close to the one who provides the most for them.
Felines tend to favor the person who feeds and waters them, cleans their litter box, and gives them the most affection and attention throughout their day.
Being near their caregiver at night gives them a feeling of security and safety.
But this only goes so far, as your cats survival instincts also kick in they also do not want to be rolled on in the middle of the night or caught up in blankets that they could not escape from.
Because of this innate survival instinct, your cat will most likely curl up at the foot of the bed near your feet the area with the greatest chance of escape in an emergency but still close enough to you to be a protective shadow
which leads to the next reason why your cat may be sleeping at the foot of your bed.
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Is This A Sign Of Affection
Holland looks at cats sleeping with you as a bonding signal. If you let your cat sleep with you its a bond. Were part of their colony, she says.
Since its not uncommon for cats to sleep on one another, theyre simply treating you as one of their own. If you have a loving relationship with your cat, theyre going to come to you for pets and to snuggle, says Koski. Its a rewarding behavior.
But what about snuggling up on top of your head, against your face, or on your chest? Is your cat trying to tell you something when sleeping in these positions?
Your Clingy Cat Has A Hard Time Letting Go
Please dont go!;Their eyes focused on you, scratches on your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Do you wonder why your cat gets so affectionate all of a sudden? Well, Cats love to get attention when youre asleep or busy watching TV. A kittie that scratches and kneads its owner repeatedly to get;attention might be a bit too clingy.
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Why Does My Cat Turn His Back To Me
Let me be clear: its not a sign that your cat is cross with you. Instead, this is yet another sign of deep trust.
Turning his back to you means that your pet trusts you . To interpret further, this behavior may even indicate that your cat is going to protect you. By facing outward, hes going to be on guard duty for any incoming dangers.
Getting a new kitty? Check out my guide to How to Look after a Kitten, 6 Best Kitten Wet FoodOptions and 8 Best Kitten Dry Food Options
Cats Have Saved Lives
We so often hear about the fantastic work dogs do for firefighters, paramedics and other rescue groups, but did you know that cats have been known to do a lot of the same work?
There have been multiple reports of cats waking up family members when another family member is experiencing medical difficulties. Some of these medical difficulties have included seizures, heart failure, and choking/trouble breathing.
Some reports even claim that cats were aware of the symptoms even before anything drastic happened, and cats who wouldnt typically bite or meow would yowl and bite their owners to make them aware of the danger they were in.
Weirdly enough, some reports have even claimed that their cats were aware that their blood sugars were too low, and their cats kept them awake until they had taken their pills and done their second reading. Interesting, eh?
Cats have even been known to wake up their owners when there is an increase in carbon monoxide and fires.
The fantastic thing about these stories is that there arent just a few of them, the internet is flooded with them. Not only that, there is plenty of documentation of these events from law enforcement officials, medical experts, animal support organizations as well as credible news sources. All of these proving how amazing cats are.
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Your Experiences With Cats Comforting Owners
Have you ever had a cat who comforted you when you were sick, unhappy, or unwell? Have you had multiple cats? Did all of them do this?
What form of comfort did you get? Did your cat sit next to you? On you? Sleep with you the whole day? Provide soothing purrs? Give you love licks & bites?
Have you any theories on whether some cats can read human emotion better than others? Have you any experience in this department with particular cats being better or worse than others at interpreting humans?
I would really love to hear what you have to say in the comments down below!
Dig KittyClysm? Check out all the other blogs I pen & photograph.
Elises Favourite Tip
One of the most frustrating problems Ive had to deal with as a pet parent is staying on top of my cats desire to play. While this is typically hard to do, toys like these that allow cats to play by themselves make the job one heck of a lot easier.
The hits in my household are ridiculously affordable: cat springs, ball track toys, &kick sticks. I have a slew scattered around the house, so when my cats get bored, even if Im busy or not even home, my furries are able to actively play.
Why Do Cats Roll On Their Backs When They See You
A big reason your cat might roll on their back when they see you is to get your attention. Its almost like theyre saying, Look how cute I am. Dont you want to pet me? Of course, you want to pet them. They look adorable!
It can also be a way for your cat to show you how comfortable they are with you. This is their little way of showing how much they love you. So next time you walk in the room and your cat is on its back, be sure to take a few minutes to give your cat some extra attention. A little will go a long way!
Another reason they may be on their backs that is a bit less loving is because theyre itchy. Much like a dog sometimes rubs their back all over the floor, cats can do the same. Theyre typically pretty good at reaching their itchy spots with their feet or even by licking, but sometimes they need the assistance of some nice carpet to hit the spot.;
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But How Can All Of This Be Possible
Well, not only do a number of these medical experiences have visual ailments such as dizziness, fatigue, etc. A number of them cause the chemicals to shift in your body.
Since cats have a much stronger sense of smell than we do, it is assumed that they can tell when these chemicals switch in our bodies. The simplest example, being blood sugar.
It can be assumed that if your cat catches wind of these chemical changes, they will relate it to some of the symptoms above, even if you are asleep.
Blood sugar drops? My owner always stumbles when I smell this. They always ingest something. They always use a machine twice. Theyre not doing it. Maybe I should wake them up to remind them!
Your Cat Plays Favorites
It could be that you move less in bed while asleep than other family members. Or, your cat may feel particularly safe from harm around you. Whatever may be the reason, your cat loves sleeping on top of you, so cherish the moment while its here. Cats are known to switch up their routine, so they may look elsewhere for some other warm, comfortable pillow on a bed that is not you!
Want to learn more about your cat? Discover 21 Amazing Facts About Cats That You Never Knew, How to Tell If Your Cat Likes You, and How To Tell A Cats Age at Cuteness.com!
This article is provided by Cutenessthe go-to destination for passionate pet parents. Cuteness has answers to all of your health, training, and behavior questions as well as the cutest, funniest, and most inspiring pet stories from all over the world.
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Why Is My Cat Always On Top Of Me
In the moment, you might firmly believe your cat is lying down on your chest in order to keep you from moving or doing literally anything at all.
But there are actually a couple of different reasons why she feels the need to blatantly invade your personal bubble.
Cats may choose to sit on top of you, your laptop or really any external heat source in search of warmth, Dr. Spano told The Dodo.
So it turns out shes not trying to mess with your workflow when she declares she must sit down right on your keyboard. Shes just treating your computer like her own little space heater!
Cats may also just want to be physically near you for your attention and love, Dr. Spano said. This can be a good thing!
Just the thing an obsessed pet parent wants to hear!
And while its cute to think that your cat is lying down on you and following you everywhere because shes obsessed with you right back, theres also a chance she might be hyper-attached, or even have .
How Do I Get My Cat To Sleep With Me
If your cat used to sleep with you but isnt any longer, there are some ways you can make that spot on your bed more appealing to them.
After all, its comforting having our fluffy friends nearby at night. I know I like it. I find their purring really soothing, and a little extra warmth is always welcome.
Looking at the reasons I outlined above, if you can pinpoint a reason why theyre not sleeping on your bed, you can then do something about it. If youre not sure of the reason, here are some things you can do;
- Try and get them into a bedtime routine and bring them up when you go to bed
- Place a blanket on your bed for them to sleep on. Cats are attracted to different textures.
- If they have a favorite toy, place it on the bed for them to play with.
- Put a perch in your room near your bed, this gives them some of their own space up high
- If you want to be really persuasive, reward them with treats when they are on your bed
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Chase Turns His Back To Me All The Time But He Still Loves Me
My cats do this all the time. At night, Chase will hop up on the bed, cuddle on me for awhile, and then go down toward my feet and make himself comfortable with his back to me. Hell angle his ears at me if I say his name, or if I do more than turn over, but he keeps his back to me, even if hes listening to what Im doing.
Chase does this because he trusts me, not because hes through with me and wants to go to sleep. Cats are both predator and prey, and as such, must always be on the lookout for potential danger. Allowing something to sneak up behind them is something cats simply dont do. A cat turns its back to you because he knows that youre not going to hurt him.
He might even feel like youre a type of protection behind him.
They Want To Feel Secure
Because cats are natural hunters in the wild, they look for secure places when they can rest and recharge in between hunting. In the domestic setting, you are that safe haven for them. Cats are vulnerable when sleeping, so this behavior suggests that they trust you and feel secure when youre there.
This behavior can also be traced back to kittenhood when litters would pillow on each other and on their mothers as they sleep. They are raised this way during their peak development weeks as they learn about social skills and other skills that they bring with them into adulthood.
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Why Does My Cat Doze Off On My Chest
The owners chest is another popular naptime spot for felines. This is mostly because this is where they can feel our breathing and heartbeat.
Just as we are comforted by a cats purring, they find our breathing soothing. When we sleep, we are at our most relaxed, and our breathings slow and steady pattern is comforting to our pets.
A Study On Cats Reading Human Emotion
The study Mans other best friend: domestic cats and their discrimination of human emotion cues by;Galvan and Vonk tested whether cats could read facial and body-language cues related to posture those that depicted happiness and anger in their owners. The study then went on to test whether cats were able to interpret vocal cues of human emotion, through having the owners pretend to be happy or angry with another human in a positively or negatively charged conversation.
Upon analyzing the behaviours of the cats in their study, the researchers concluded, Domestic cats were only modestly sensitive to emotion, particularly when displayed by their owner, suggesting that a history of human interaction alone may not be sufficient to shape such abilities in domestic cats.
Now, to my knowledge , only 12 cats were studied, and its not necessarily true that the conclusions the researchers made based on their study were accurate. Maybe their experiment was flawed, that it wasnt the best way to study the topic at hand, and maybe a different conclusion wouldve been arrived at with a different experiment on the topic, or using different cats.
Obviously, there is absolutely no way this one small study tells us everything we need to know about cats and their ability to interpret human emotion. But at the same time it does tell us that cats do at least have the capacity to be modestly sensitive to our way of showcasing emotion.
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