You might be wondering, “Why is it that my cat loves to sleep with me?” Well, this is a common experience among many cat owners. Some cats prefer to sleep in your bed rather than theirs. In fact, some complete ditch their own bed to share your bed with your everyday.
The question is, “do cats really like to sleep with you?” We shall discuss that in details in this article to help you understand why you always find your cat nuzzled up to you in bed all the time.
Let’s get to it quickly.
Do cats really like to sleep with you?
Cats are very vulnerable pets and most of the time they are always looking for a space or person that they trust to sleep on. They tend to trust their owner and caregiver the most and that’s why one of the reasons you always find them curled up close you in bed during the night.
You should know that not all cats love to do sleep with their owners. Yeah, some cats are people’s cat, some are a cat’s cat, while some love to walk alone. However, it always depends on how they’ve bonded with you, their mood, their level of socialization, and how you behave when they come around you at night.
To make it explicit, let’s discuss the many reasons why cats behave in this manner.
Why your cat likes to sleep with you
From physiological to psychological, there are many reasons why your feline friend loves to snooze with you. These reasons include:
They seek Security
As we stated earlier, cats are very vulnerable, and even though they are small predators, they find themselves to be at risk of being hunted by bigger animals. So your feline friend tends to be wary of being attacked by a predator, so they come hide under your blanket.
Sleeping with you gives them assurance of an extra defense even if a predator hunts for them during nighttime. Your kitty trusts you and they know you’re not in danger, so they feel safer with you in your bed.
They see your bed as their Territory
You would have known by now that cats are territorial creatures. They love to mark their territory and because they’ve bonded with you so much, they may consider your bed to be part of their territory.
Most times, cat walk on objects or rub their heads on things to clearly mark their territory. Their feet and head have glands that secrete pheromones which are used to mark an area as their own.
So do not be surprised when your cat starts walking all over you bed and bump heads with you. They are simply marking their territory.
They desire warmth
Cats do not like staying or sleeping in a cold environment. They prefer to stay in warm areas, and that one reason why your cat occupies any warm patches they find in your home.
Cats have a normal body temperature of 102 degrees. This is a little bit higher than that of human – around 3-4 degrees more. Hence, they have more desire for warmth and your body seems a perfect place for them to spend the night, especially your feet or head.
They see you as a trusted companion
Your cat may love to sleep with you because they like and trust you. They know you’re their caregiver and would always take good care of them. So they consider you the best sleeping companion.
You’re not completely wrong if you think cats are independent creatures. Of course they love to enjoy their own company, but sometimes, it gets lonely, and they only want to interact with someone they trust.
When cats interacts with their owner and share their space, it helps enrich their lives and even yours.
So when next you wake up in the morning and you find your kitty curled up next to you on your bed, it may simply be because they enjoy your company and want to spend more time with you.
Why do cats sleep on your head in bed?
Have you ever been told to keep a hat on to ward off cold? The reason for that piece of advice is that you lose a lot of heat from your head.So whenever you see a cat curling up around your head, they are simply trying to catch some heat coming off from your head.
Also, your head moves the least at night, so your cat finds it to be the safest place to stay while on your bed. You have a higher tendency to move your legs and arms during the night and this may potentially disturb your feline friend.
Are there any benefits of sleeping with your cat?
There are a few benefits of sharing your sleep time with your feline friend. These benefits include:- You also enjoy warmth when your cat sleeps next to you. So in colder climates or winter, it is not a bad idea to welcome your cat to share your bed space with you.
- Cats purr when they are content and these purrs are beneficial to your health. The frequency of your cat’s purrs can help promote the repair of broken or fractured bones as well as muscles and ligaments. It also helps you relax better.
- The more time your feline friend spends with you, the stronger the bond they form with you.
What about the downsides of sleeping with your cat?
Here are some disadvantages of welcoming your cat to sleep with you:- Your cat may disrupt your sleep, especially if you’re a light sleeper.
- Cats do not actually sleep much at night, they are nocturnal in nature, and love to take naps at night, wake up, and go about their business all through the night.
- Cats can make an absolute mess of your bed sheets, especially when they are coming from outside the house where it is wet and muddy.
- Your cat may leave hair on your bed which can cause allergies.
Should you allow your cat sleep with you?
It’s all a matter of choice whether you want your cat to snuggle up with you in bed. Some people do not like the idea, while others don’t see anything wrong about it.
Well, looking at the benefits and downsides highlighted above, you can easily decide which option works best for you and your kitty.
However, if you do let your cat sleep in your bed, ensure you don’t play with them there. Don’t try to wiggle your finger under your duvet as a sign to encourage pouncing, or else your cat might launch an unexpected play attack on your fingers or toes in the middle of the night, thinking its playtime.
Conclusion
Cats are lovable pets to have around, and it is not a bad idea sharing your bed space with them. Whenever you see your cat coming to share your bed space with you, know that it might be for safety, warmth, territory claim, or companionship.But if you do not want them to sleep with you, there are many ways to discourage it, but ensure you provide a safe and warm space for them before shunning them off. You can get a heating pad and place it where they can easily gain access. Remember, cats are heat seekers, they’ll naturally gravitate towards the source of heat.