Got a kitty that likes to lounge on your lap 24/7?
Does he always need to crawl into bed with you?
Find out the secret behind the cat behavior that drives some kitties to lay on their people all the time!
Why Do Cats Like to Lie on Their Humans?
Sometimes cats will put their main focus on your head. You could wake up to your furry friend’s belly on your face!
We hear all the time how independent cats are. They like their own space and they enjoy spending time by themselves.
Right?
If that’s completely true, why are most cat owners able to commiserate about not being able to lie down without their cat coming over to lie down too?
Contrary to popular belief, cats are not uncaring little beings who are only looking out for themselves.
They do create and strengthen relationships with their people, and most cats enjoy spending time with the humans in their lives.
There are a few reasons cats like to lie on their humans, and it’s not all about affection.
Cat Behavior Explained: Why Kitty Likes to Lie on You!
1- Although you may not enjoy the extra body heat your cat provides you, he may feel nice and cozy snuggled up against you.
Cats’ normal body temperatures range from 100 to 102 degrees, and while their bodies do a pretty good job of keeping them cool when it’s warm outside, they have a more difficult time staying warm when they are chilly.
Their little bodies need to work extra hard to generate enough heat during a cold winter day.
So why not just gravitate towards their human for extra warmth?
If you don’t have a heater turned on 24/7, then their best bet is to curl up into bed with you.
You are like a custom-made heated mat for your cat!
2- Cats sleep a lot and go through different sleep cycles while they snooze.
Much of the time they sleep, they are really only dozing so they can leap up at any moment if there is danger.
As you build a trusting bond with your cat and he’s comfortable in his home environment, he may sleep with you more because he trusts that he can let his guard down when he’s with you.
It’s a huge compliment to the relationship you’ve built with him! Your bed may also be a comfortable nest.
If you find him constantly kneading and purring, then your kitty might be ready to takeover your sleeping space!
3- Okay, I said it’s not ALL about affection, but that’s definitely part of it.
When your cat comes over to lie on you, how do you react?
Do you reach out and scratch her behind the ears or place an arm around her?
If you push her away, this article probably isn’t useful for you since she is probably already stopped trying to lie on you.
For those cats who do get affection by coming over and lying on their humans, they keep doing it because they know what the result will be.
If you’re not as fond of your cat lying on you while you sleep, consider creating a special bed for him in your room so he can be near you if he chooses but not directly on you.
If you are comfortable with your cat lying on you, now you know why he does it and can continue giving him the love and scratches when he ambles over to settle down for a rest.
4 – Not only do your cats love you, but it’s also about security and trust.
Kitty owners know that their cats are quite high-strung and on high alert a lot of the time.
As you can imagine, that takes a toll on your feline and sometimes they just want a good snuggle.
Cats might be untrusting at times, but as their owner, you are a comforting presence.
You keep them feeling safe and security when they are most vulnerable.
This includes when they sleep, so naturally they want to sleep on you or at least somewhere close.
However much they sleep with you or on you is how much they trust you!
5 – It’s not only dogs who love smells, but cats do too!
We’re sure you can relate to this as well on some level. Certain smells can trigger emotions to arise.
The smell of an individual can have a calming affect and an overwhelming sense of security could wash over you.
Kitties might knead their tiny paws, purr, and rub on you a few times before finally curling up into a cat loaf ready for a good long nap.
This is done in hopes to capture some of your scent, which in turn keeps them feeling safe and secure.
6 – Animals have a territorial instinct, and in your cat’s mind, you belong to him!
Actually, to your cat the whole house belongs to him and you should consider yourself lucky to be allowed to be in his presence.
As hard as it is to believe, this is actually a good thing. You can see it as a form of trust. Your cat trusts you enough to allow you to be his vicinity.
As they exchange scents with you, they are effectively marking you as their “property.”
Also, it makes it much more convenient for him to wake you up when its feeding time!
7 – We have deduced that your cat loves you, that much is obvious when he wants to sleep near you.
As we all know, love takes time and effort to maintain, and your cat knows that as well.
To foster and cultivate the love that he feels for you.
To further strengthen your bond your cat wants to share his warmth and affection with you.
Plus, hearing their soft put is comforting and could help those with insomnia fall asleep much more easily.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about this cat behavior! Do you love when kitty snuggles with you? Share below!
Article updated August 2019
Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS is a locum veterinary surgeon who has worked in London for the past 8 years. She graduated top of her class in small animal medicine from UCD, Dublin. She is currently a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Linda is the resident vet for Woman magazine and a frequent contributor to People’s Friend Magazine, the Dogzone website, Vet Help Direct and Wag! Linda also writes content for the CVS veterinary group, Vetwriter and a number of other establishments.
I don’t have a cat, but I love it when my dog sleeps on me. It’s probably for pretty similar reasons 🙂
I love my cat (loki) and he’s such a love bug and he loves to snuggle into me all the time
I have a three year old Norwegian Forest Cat (still a growing boy for two more years). I got Jinx at Pet Welfare on Eglin AFB for $100 (which covered the usual shots, exam, neutering, etc.). And no one knew…… Normally, Wegie kittens will run $1000–$2000. Having said that, if you’re looking for one of the most loving, loyal, and gentle cats, you want one. The males do grow up (over five years, not just one), to be VERY large—look up “Norwegian Forest Cat”, but they’re gentle giants, safe even with kids. They love their human family, but may run and hide when strangers show up. And they are the ancestors of Maine Coons. Read up on how to tell them apart….
Every night my cat sits and waits for me to go to bed if I am late he gets in bed without me. When I get in bed he then climbs up on my chest and I pet him. He doesn’t stay there but eventually gets off and goes to sleep curled up at my side I love our routine and it is a routine.
My Blue comes and sleeps on the bed, he is a gorgeous British Blue
I adopted a young cat from humane society. She has taken over the house. She loves to cuddle next to me but not to be picked up. She sleeps on my chest a little longer as time has gone by. She is a live wire and her toys are all over the house like a two year old child. Between me and my husband I am her human. She will walk on him in bed. But not lay on him. Her name is Sabrina and we call her our little witch…lol
I hVev4 cats 1 10 1/2 2 1/2 yrs. and 1 22/2 yrs. My older female does not care for the young ones, so she has decided to get in my lap everything I sit In my recliner, lay on the table in front if me a d I wake up in the night to find her on the pillow beside me. The younger ones want to walk on me early morning, purr and continue until I get up, let them out or feed them. Not the 2 yrs old. Whom did not like being held when little decided to jump in my lap when he comes in the dog door several times a day for a10 min pet and ear rub. He has bonded well with one of the 1 1/2 yrs Olds. He also sleeps with me and the 2 standard poodles. He was raised with them. They all have cool and interesting personalities. You can see how they feel .
I really want a cat for that reason. I have been graced by the cat gods many times to have kitties snuggle up to me and curl up on my lap. In my opinion it’s one of the most magical experiences.
I feel the same way about why they want to lay near or on you…I love it!!
I prayed my cat in and for all intents and purposes she’s the purrfect companion. She wakes me in the morning and once I’m up, off she goes to take over my bed. She curls up with me often. She also comes for cuddles and snuggles every night. She purrs and I purr back so we sing sleep songs into the night. She then gets up and goes to sleep on one of her many beds. Trust is key for a loving cat.
My dogs are actually the same way – super snuggly! It is good to know where it comes from.
I had a lot of cats in my life time but I had to put my best bud to sleep last year. He was an orange cat named Cheddar. He was a rescue & lived with me for about 12 years. We were one on one. He was more than a pet to me. He was the best cat that I have ever had. It broke my heart when I had to put him to sleep. I miss him deeply. Cats are the best!
I know how you feel. My orange boy Chester was 14 and wes with me from 3 months.
I was with him when he tool his last breath. I miss him so
Really? It wasn’t necessary to name call. If you have nothing to contribute then just don’t comment. Kindness is a virtue.
I have rescued 4 kittens, and 1 had 4 kittens when she was about a year old. Several take turns laying on me or next to me at night, and sometimes take their afternoon nap on my lap. I stroke them and talk to them. Love when they are affectionate.
Yay! This is such an amazing info. Now I know why cats do that!
Cats are so interesting! I didn’t know that their body temperatures ran so high. I like to snuggle with my pets from time to time.
Adorable little kittens! This is very fun to know. Our pets really need to be understood to.
My Mimi will lay on or as near to me as possible. However, she has this built in clock that rouses her up at 10:00 pm and she will bite at the carpet or paw at the basement door until I put her in her room where she gets a treat before bed. I so want her to sleep with me all night but she will knock things off my nightstand, bat at the wreath I have above my bed or bite the carpet until I put her in her room out of pure frustration. I have tried giving her a treat and leaving her out of her room but that doesn’t change a thing. ?
My daughter’s two cats are currently staying with me until she moves. Chunk loves to sleep facing my face and will lick my hand. She is a sweetie. Bella will take her place when she gets down to eat or go in the litter box. I never push either one out of that spot – I love them both!
Me n hubby have 7 cats, 4 adults n 3 – 6 months old each. Omgoodness, we move, they move. They know what time we go to bed. They in the bed when we go in the room. If I fall asleep on the couch, at least 3 of which ever cats sleep with me. The other 4 sleep with hubby. We absolutely love the cuddles with our fur babies. We have 2 that snor, 1 who constantly passes gas , only when sleeping with us(gross) …lolol they are a joy to have and are very loving.
My cats has ear mites and I am quite poor because I raised three daughters by myself my eldest I’m putting through University unfortunately in Canada you can’t get the product for the ear mites unless you get it from the vet which charges $300 per cat every three months or they won’t prescribe the medicine which makes absolutely no sense I think it’s Call advantage have you had to deal with any of these problems or do you know any solutions
My cat likes to sit on my shoulders and rub his face in my hair and my neck
I love my Bailey so much, but have to lock him in the back room at night. As when I got him, (he was 2)
I let him come up on my bed, but at 1am he would want to play, charging round the room, & banging me on the Head. Monkey. Do feel sorry for him on his own, but
Was not getting a lot of sleep.
To keep them from chasing each other all night my boy kitty sleeps in his own room, but my girl kitty sleeps with me. I use a C-pillow that lies along my right side, and I leave my right arm and shoulder out on the covers and pillow. She flirts with me scratching her side, calls to me, then flops down on my arm, and slowly wiggles her way up until she is purring madly and snuggling in the gap, with her head on my shoulder. Sometimes she then reaches up a paw and lightly touches my cheek. Then, after a while when she is sure I have been loved up, she jumps down and goes into the living room to eat her food, and then comes back to me to sleep.
My new kitty sleeps on my right shoulder all night. And likes to lick my nose. I don’t like that! But she is a baby. 6 weeks old! And thankfully she sleeps all night!
My daughter and I have a cat each hers is a female name Hershey I have a boy name Latte my daughter had Hershey when she was little it was found latte was also found I moved then my daughter moved in with from another state the cats were left with my other daughter it’s was about 2or 3 years since I’ve seen them anyway I was always cautious about cats because of my asthma but when they arrived here maybe 3 years now it was time to catch up Hershey has been always a cool calm cat she likes attention, comfort and you can have a conversation with her she’s smart. Latte I had to give him time to get comfortable it seems he had to get to know me to earn my trust it took a awhile with me getting bitten couple of times but I learned to get to know him and how he feels that was important now they mostly great me when I come home Hershey is my best friend and Latte grew to love, trust me his my comfort love them both very much.
It’s one of my absolute favorite things when my kitty(s) lay with me! I have to share something I feel terrible about and have a question after.
I have 3 kitties. Two are brother and sister who are 17 yrs old. My 3rd is a new addition who will be 2 this October. He was rescued by my son at 3 weeks old when the mom left her 4 babies on his porch. The mom was a neighborhood stray so my son found loving forever homes for 3 of them and I kept the 4th. I bottle fed him and love him like another child. My older male cat welcomed him in; his sister just tolerated the new addition.
Anywho, my older male kitty seemed to want more attention from me than before but when I was busy I had to push him away. He still comes to me but now seems more leery as he approaches and I feel like I’ve hurt his feelings. How do I let him know he’s welcome any and every time he comes to me?
With him being as old as he is now I want to spend as much time with him as possible so he knows I love him.
Give him as much attention and love as you can. He will probably come around if you do. At his age, he might be having some health issues.
I have a orange appalachian cat named Milo he’s 4yrs & a snuggle bug he sleeps at the end of my bed @ night snuggles on my lap during the day! Luv him so much!
Mine does not leave my side unless someone comes around that isn’t familiar to him. He sleeps on my chest and wakes me in the morning because he wants to be fed.