Why Does My Cat Sleep on Me?

Sometimes cats prefer to nap on a private perch or in the safety of a hidden nook, but sooner or later, most cats end up sleeping on their owner's lap, chest, or even head. Yes, your cat may do this to bond and feel closer to his favorite human, but the behavior is mostly the result of biological instincts—for example, kittens socializing with their mothers and siblings or adult cats interacting with one another in the wild.

Below are some of the most common reasons why your cat sleeps on you.

Marking Their Territory

Cats have scent glands that release pheromones all over their body. Marking humans with these pheromones means that their humans are part of the cat's in-group; groups of cats in the wild learn this behavior to distinguish members of the pack from non-members. When a cat sleeps on you, it marks you with its scent for reassurance that you smell familiar and safe. Even cats who enjoy solitude may rub and head-butt their owners as part of the same scent-marking process.

Staying Warm

Many cat owners have seen their cat sleeping in a sunny patch on the bed, or even knocking over plants and whatever else is in the way to get an ideal window-napping position. Warmth induces relaxation and sleep in cats. And, few spots in the house are warmer than being directly on top of a person. Warmth may also contribute to the initiation or maintenance of restorative sleep in cats, meaning that seeking warm spots for sleep can help them stay healthy.

Feeling Safe

Animals are more vulnerable to attack while sleeping, and cats are no exception. As a result, cats who see their owners as a sign of safety and security may enjoy sleeping on or near them. In your kitties' minds, sleeping with you means they won't get attacked while unconscious because they trust you to keep them safe. Sleeping with their back to you—even if it feels like rejection—is actually another sign of trust.

This cat behavior can also be traced back to kittenhood. When young cats are growing, they're typically in large litters with other cats, nursing from their mother, and sleeping together in a group, sometimes stacked on top of one another. Particularly without other cats in the house, humans may have a substitute role in this cat dynamic.

Bonding With You

In experiments to stop cats from destructive scratching and urine-marking behaviors, scent-marking proved a powerful way to preserve cat-human bonds. When your cat sleeps on you and marks you with their scent, he creates a powerful olfactory reminder that you both belong to the same group. Being close to humans also allows cats to hear and feel familiar and comforting sounds, like a beating heart or rhythmic breaths during sleep, reminiscent of safe sleeping spaces with a mother cat and siblings.

Cats are most active at night and early in the day, but some will adjust their habits to reflect those of their owners, to maximize time spent together. See, cats do care, even if they like to act standoffish!

Showing Affection

A recent study on cat-human bonding demonstrated that cats aren't the solitary creatures they're often portrayed as. In the wild, cats comfortably live in matriarchal societies and exhibit group bonding behaviors including mutual grooming, allorubbing (when two members of the same species rub against each other), and sleeping together. Sleeping with their owner is one way cats show affection and caring.

Why Cats Sleep on Different Parts of Your Body

Cats have been known to sleep in a variety of locations on and around their owners, including their human's head and neck, chest, and lap.

Head

It has long been assumed that cats like to be near their owners' heads because that's where the most heat escapes, but the human head releases about the same amount of heat as the rest of the body. That said, the head moves less when people toss and turn in their sleep, so cats may stay near the top of the bed for safety. In addition, cats use their gaze to communicate with their owners and other cats, so kitties may like being close to their owner's eyes.

Chest

Kittens spend a large part of their formative development period sleeping on or near other kittens, leading veterinarians to theorize that the sounds of regular breathing and a beating heart nearby may comfort cats and help them sleep more easily. You might also be a calm sleeper, making your chest a perfectly cozy space for a nighttime nap.

Lap

Most cat owners know what their cat wants when it jumps into their lap to sleep—to be petted and receive attention—though there isn't definitive research to attest to this. Laps are the perfect spot to keep warm and be easily reachable by owners; what cat lover hasn't spent an entirely inconvenient amount of time sitting in one place to let a peaceful cat continue resting comfortably?

Are There Reasons Not to Sleep With Your Cat?

Your preferences will be quite personal, of course, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you're thinking about letting your cat sleep with you. If you're a light sleeper, the presence of a cat in your bed might disturb your sleep and make it harder to fall into a deep restorative slumber. Additionally, some cats track kitty litter into the bed, which raises hygiene concerns. And, you don't want to inhale cat fur, especially if you have respiratory issues. Remember too that it's unsafe to let a cat sleep with a child under the age of five, and a child of any age could startle a cat and cause it to scratch.