Cats are natural predators, and they know that the safest place to sleep is between your legs. If you’re a cat owner, it’s likely that at one time or another, you’ve awoken to find your furry friend snuggled up in bed with you. This behavior might seem strange to some people, but there are actually quite a few benefits for both cats and their owners when cats choose this spot as a sleeping location!
Why do cats sleep between your legs? Cats sleep between your legs because they love tight, warm spaces to keep themselves safe. Your cat could be feeling stressed and anxious, so she might have decided to sleep between your legs.
Moreover, sleeping near humans is something that cats typically do when they’re feeling a need for extra security or if they sense the human requires emotional support. According to Dr. Marci Koski, an expert in Feline Training and Behavior, your cat might be seeking warmth and affection from you while you sleep. Moreover, the cat may want to keep an eye on your breathing to avoid letting anything happen without her knowledge. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why cats sleep between their legs.
Why does my cat sleep on my bed?
There are several reasons why cats sleep on your bed or between your legs. Cats may choose to sleep at the feet of humans, for example, because it feels more secure or comforting than sleeping elsewhere in the room.
- The cat receives warmth from the owner’s body, which will help them stay warm in winter and cool in summer. It also provides a place for your pet to be close to its primary caretaker (you!) without being on a hard surface or next to something that it might consider dangerous, like an electrical device.
- Your lap is relatively free of things that could potentially harm your animal; you can freely move around with less worry about getting tangled up in cords, strings, or other objects that might otherwise cause injury.
This location offers protection against dogs who may want to take over this prime real estate! And if their prey catches scent nearby? Cats instinctively know when they’re at risk and can escape danger by climbing over you quickly.
- Several animals, including cats, have been known to sleep in the same bed as their owners. Some people say this is a social interaction boost, and it leaves them feeling safer.
- Cats are territorial animals by nature – it’s instinctive for them to feel safe and comfortable being near you because then there can’t be any threats coming at them undetected.
The following chart outlines what actual cat owners indicate is the favorite sleeping place of their cats:
| Where does My Cat Sleep at Night | Percentage of total results |
| cat sleeps on bed | 33 |
| my cat sleep on my sofa | 25 |
| cat sleeps on bedroom floor | 8 |
| my cat always sleeps on my pillow | 16 |
| my cat only sleeps on its cat bed | 18 |
Why do cats sleep on your chest?
- It is likely your cat views you as their protector, and they want to be close, ensuring that should anything happen, they will wake up. Cats are natural hunters who instinctively look for the highest point in a room to sleep on, so it would make sense that when sleeping with humans, they might gravitate towards our chests where we can’t reach them easily.
- Moreover, they also like being able to see what’s going on around them without having to move too much.
- According to Dr. Paul, Ex-President of the American Animal Hospital Association, cats sleep about 16 hours per day. It means there may not be enough time or energy left over during the night for an adventurous climb up all those stairs into bed!
Cats often make their way up to your chest when they’re looking for a good place to sleep. The reasons cats choose this particular body area are unknown, but one explanation is based on the sounds your body produces. Cats may be comforted by hearing and feeling the beat of your heartbeat or by watching as you breathe slowly and steadily.
According to Dr. Satchu, Bond Vet’s Chief Veterinary Officer, cats are attracted to how humans breathe while they sleep and their slow breathing pattern.
It may also be that the cat is seeking warmth. Cats are naturally attracted to heat sources (the sun), so they might think you’re a warm spot in an otherwise cold environment. You should try turning off any heating vents or fans when letting the kitty nap between your legs!
If your cat is searching for some heat sources, it might be a worthwhile investment into a heated cat bed; check out this listing from K&H Pet Products on Amazon, here!
Why do cats bother you when you sleep?
There are a lot of reasons why cats might bother you when you sleep. When they are looking for food, your bed can provide warmth and a source of comfort not found elsewhere in their home. Cats also like to mark their territory by rubbing against objects with strong smells, including the smell of humans and other animals living in the space.
Here is a video depicting exactly how a cat tends to interact with their owners and each other through the night.
They may want to show dominance over us or perhaps just get our attention as an act of love; they’re most likely trying to tell us that we need more cat toys!
One thing is for sure if it happens often enough, there’s probably a good reason why cats bother people while sleeping: whether it be because they’re hungry, stressed out from being alone all day long, or simply wanting some love.
Here are a few more reasons why cats bother you when you sleep at night:
- Firstly, cats bother you because they want to be near you. They enjoy your warmth and the calm sound of your breathing while you sleep.
- Secondly, cats may see a sleeping person as being vulnerable and an easy target for predators or prey in their minds. Cats might also associate waking up with getting fed, so it’s possible that this is what drives them to wake people who are asleep more often than not.
- Thirdly, the reason why your cat might be bothering you while sleeping is because he’s just not getting enough love from his humans! Cats don’t like being left alone too often, so if a cat feels neglected by its owner, it will look for any way to get some extra affection—even if it means waking them up in the middle of the night.
- Finally, some cats don’t trust dogs – even if they’re on the same bed! This could mean that having humans around provides them with protection from other animals, such as canine intruders looking for food scraps left by careless pet owners.
Should I let my cat sleep between my legs?
Interestingly, few people seem to ask the question of whether it is healthy for a cat to sleep with you. But while some people might worry about health risks, we also wanted to know what this means for the cats themselves.
According to Dr. Lynn Bahr, a Feline Veterinarian, it is normal for cats to sleep with their owners. Newborn kittens will often stay close to other kittens when they are young, especially when it comes to staying warm and feeling safe. Many cats retain this close relationship into adulthood and sleep between their owner’s legs.
Moreover, sleeping with your cat benefits both parties and has actually been shown to be good for the health of cats.
By sleeping between your legs, a cat is showing affection and gratitude in the form of warmth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research has shown that cats can have a noticeable positive impact on the moods and morale of their owners.
If you only have one cat, it is likely to attempt the same bonding behavior with you. Although most cats generally sleep with other felines, they might need to curl up next to you due to hesitation or disinterest in the others.
However, more than twenty percent of patients surveyed in a Mayo Clinic “Pets and Sleep” study reported that their pets disturbed their sleep.
What should I do If I don’t want the cat to sleep between my legs?
If you often want your cat to sleep between your legs, that’s great! However, it may mean difficulty sleeping or cramps in the owner’s legs for other cat owners. Additionally, an owner might also wake up when needing to turn over and not have the ability to fall back asleep again.
If your cat continues to sleep on you, consider getting a new cat bed with a heating pad. You may place a t-shirt with your scent on it to make your cat feel more comfortable in the space without actually sleeping on you.
James Randolph, Veterinarian at Animal General Hospital, says that you should put a carrier bed in a place where your cat feels safe. Also, it would be prudent to leave a treat in your cat’s carrier bed.
This strategy by James will surely help you train the cat to sleep in its bed instead of sleeping between your legs.
If you’re happy to have your cat sleeping on top of your bed, but you don’t want them getting too comfortable and sleeping between your legs, try using clicker training to encourage them to sleep closer. They’ll quickly realize they get treats for staying next to you!
Moreover, rewarding your cat’s good behavior with something like a small treat or petting can go a long way towards getting them to stay in their bed instead of sleeping between your legs. Reward your cat with treats, his favorite toy, or catnip when he enters the bed. When he sits down in it, you should give him that treat.
To keep cats in their beds, pet them as they rest and leave treats to entice them. If your cat just so happens to be sleeping between your legs, pick him up gently, then move him back into his bed.
In order to get your cat to use his bed instead of sleeping between your legs, you have to train him repeatedly.
For those interested in further pursuing a potential option for your cat’s comfort, I recommend this pet bed from Love’s Cabin. Click here to check out this highly-rated cat bed here!
Why does my cat sleep between me and my husband?
Your cat might have its own sleeping preferences, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong. For instance, some cats like to sleep between you and your husband, which may seem odd to you because they have their own beds.
Below are several reasons why cats like to sleep between you and your husband:
- Separation Anxiety wants them to seek attention
According to Arnold Plotnick, DVM, Cats may become distressed due to separation anxiety when you are away from them. This can cause problems where cats develop the tendency to follow you around the house or sleep between you and your husband to seek attention.
It is just an extension of their separation anxiety. Cats feel an intense need to be with their owners at night, and sleeping between you and your husband helps them continue feeling safe.
To stop your cat from sleeping between you and your husband, train the cat. To treat your cat’s separation anxiety, you will need to spend some time with him in separate rooms so he can become more comfortable.
- Cats Seek Safety by Sleeping between you and your husband
When cats feel unsafe in their environment, they will often seek a more comfortable space. This is common if the cat feels like he is too far away from his owners.
When your cat sleeps between you and your husband, it means that he wants to be safe and sound.
“Cats sleep between you and your husband for protection and security. Since they are predators, having family members nearby while sleeping provides a sense of safety, ” says Marci Koski (Certified Feline Behavior Consultant).
- Your Cat might be scared of his usual sleeping spot
A cat may become restless when it lives in a noisy area, making it more difficult for them to get to sleep.
Cats change where they sleep due to specific sights and/or sounds near their bed. As a result, you will see them try to sleep in your bed between you and your husband.
This means they sleep between you and your husband because they would want to rest without being disturbed by the noises coming near his usual bed.
