Why Do Cats Sleep On You? Cool Facts About Your Cat's Sleeping Habits!

Cats are very fond of taking naps and can do so anytime and anywhere.

So, your cat falling asleep near you isn't really unusual behavior. If you and your cat share a strong emotional bond, it will consider you like family, and sleeping with you or walking all over you at night is just another way of it marking its territory!

Cats are very affectionate creatures, and your cat snuggling in with you for the night is just a form of some well-earned cat love. If your cat sleeps in close proximity to you every night, it is a sign that it feels safe and protected with you. So, cuddle up with your kitty and keep reading!

If you enjoy this article, check out our pages on why cats like boxes and why cats stick their tongue out.

Why do cats walk on you while you sleep?

As cats are asleep during a large portion of the day, it is very likely that they forgot to sleep at night in favor of exploring the house and indulging in other nighttime activities. Traditionally, cats slept during the day to conserve their energy for hunting at night, and these behaviors have seemed to pass over to some household cats as well.

One reason your cat may walk all over you is to mark its territory. Cats mark territory with smells, and by walking over you they are marking you with some of their scents. Another more heartfelt reason is that they simply want to be near you and want to spend time with you. By being near you, they are showing you that they love and care for you, and want to be with you even when you are asleep. They may either cuddle with you if they are sleepy themselves or walk around you during their late-night shenanigans. However, for a light sleeper, this may disrupt your eight hours!

If you do not want your cat waking you up at odd hours of the night or early morning for food or just for the company, then there are a few measures you can take to prevent this. Setting up a bird feeder right outside your window is very effective, as come early morning, your cat will be by the window watching the birds flitting about. You can also set up an automatic feeder, which will dispense food for your cat at the times when it needs to eat, saving you from making a trip to the kitchen.

Why do cats climb on you when you sleep?

If you are a cat owner, no doubt you've experienced your cat climbing on you or cuddling up next to you when you retire for the night. Why exactly do they do this?

Though cats sleep for an impressive amount of time each day, they are very alert sleepers and can spring into action in a second if need be. Even when they are awake, cats are always on the lookout for danger or predators and very nimble in the way that they respond to attacks, making the time they're asleep the most vulnerable part of their day for them. So if your cat is snuggling up to you at night, it is looking at you, its owner, as a provider of security and extra protection.

If you've ever observed your cat sleeping during the day, you'll see that it's always curled up near a source of warmth - either in a patch of sunlight, in front of the fireplace, near a warm radiator. If there's a source of heat in your house, that's most likely where you'll find your cat. You'll even find them curled up tightly or crammed into small places to access that little bit of warmth! As humans give off a lot of natural body heat, cats curl up to us at night to help preserve their body temperature without much effort and stay toasty and cuddly throughout the night.

Cats can also be very territorial, which is why they're always roaming around the house and sleeping in obscure places - to leave behind their scent and warn off any other cats. As cats love their owners, it's only natural that they'd mark your bed and you as theirs by climbing all over their bed and you! As they think of you as their territory, cats like to stay close.

Cats actually have a very unfair reputation of being cold and ignorant of their owners. But in reality, it's quite the opposite. Cats may see cuddling as a bonding exercise with their owners, as they usually cuddle with each other in pairs or use each other as a furry pillow. As you are the next best thing to another cat, they'll replicate this exercise with you instead, showing how much they want to spend time with and bond with you. And for humans, well, who would ever say no to snuggling up with a cute, cozy cat? Cats also have a favorite person, who they prefer to sleep with at night.

Cats may also sleep on different parts of your body. The most popular body part is for cats to sleep on your chest, where they come into contact with your rhythmic heartbeat and the sound of your breath. These sounds may be soothing for your cat and help it to feel secure and fall asleep easily.

Similar to your chest, your belly is a cozy place to rest on as well. The belly usually has a soft layer of fat, which cats find very comfortable to snooze on. If you sleep on your back often, you may wake up to see your cat sleeping soundly on your stomach.

If your cat sleeps near your head, it may be enjoying your natural scent or the smell of your shampoo. Your head is also usually the most stationary part of your body while you sleep, staying in one place, while you may flail your arms and legs about. Your pillow is also a very warm place to sleep on, as your head radiates heat during the course of the night, transferring it onto your pillow, which cats will find desirable.

Cats also love napping in their owner's lap, as it is a warm and trusted location, and conveys security for them. If you're sitting in an armchair and just enjoying your afternoon, chances are that your cat will climb into your lap and join you for a little siesta.

If your cat is sleeping with its back against you, then it is a sign that it has accepted you truly as a friend and not a predator. Your cat loves and trusts you enough at this stage to let its guard down and relax completely, which is why it is exposing its back to you during the most vulnerable part of its day. So if you feel like your cat is ignoring you by facing away from you at night and not wanting to snuggle, then be assured that it is completely the opposite!

Why do cats push on you in their sleep?

You may have observed your cat making a kneading motion while it's asleep, or as some call it 'making biscuits'. When cats sleep, they tend to have vivid dreams, which may affect their physical behavior at that time. If a sleeping cat makes pushing movements, rest assured that it is having a nice, comforting dream.

Kneading is an instinctive, comforting behavior for cats who would knead during nursing on their mothers. So, they may knead on pillows, blankets, or on your legs or lap in order to enter a comforting, relaxing state of mind and simply drift off as a consequence. They may also knead on you to infuse their scent into your clothes or onto your skin, as their paws contain scent glands. Smells are a way of marking territory, which is what your cat is claiming you, its human, as.

Sleeping with cats is beneficial for the owner as well. Having your pet sleep near you helps to reduce stress and anxiety, and helps to calm you down. It also helps reduce blood pressure, keeping you healthier and happier.

For how many hours can cats sleep on you?

Cats usually spend most of their day sleeping and can be seen taking a number of cat naps in warm, sunny spots.

Though cats usually sleep for between 12-20 hours a day, the bulk of this is done during the day, when humans are active. The only time cats will snuggle up to their human is if they decide to take a cat nap at night as well, as they spend most of the night engaging in other activities, these habits being ingrained in them since birth.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why cats sleep on you, then why not take a look at why worms come out when it rains or why bees make honey.