Cats who are closely bonded with their owners will often wait for them to go to bed because they feel like that's their duty to stay by their side until it's time to hit the hay.
The reasons for this are varied, but generally speaking, it is the person who cares for them each day. This bond is important to your cat as they are social creatures that need affection and attention from their owner. By sleeping with you, it is another way for them to show their love.
Yes, cats want to bond with their owners in their own unique way. One of their ways of showing their affection is to sleep with you. It's your cat's way to show how much they want to be near you. It also brings your cat a sense of comfort to hear the sound of your breathing or your beating heart.
They're trying to bond with you.
Most cats simply cuddle with you for the sake of bonding. And let's face it, this is such a precious thing that we may often crave even more than our kitty does! It's important to provide your pet with lots of attention and love, and cuddling is a purrfect way to ensure they get it.
Some cats are more timid or anxious, and sitting on your lap might make them feel unsafe or vulnerable. Sitting next to you offers them security and an escape route if needed. Perhaps they had a negative experience, such as being mishandled, dropped, or hurt while on someone's lap.
Despite cats usually being easy pets to look after, sometimes people have allergic reactions to them (read about a vaccine for those allergic to cats). If so, sleeping with a cat can make symptoms worse. Unwanted cat fur, fleabites, germs and parasites can also be a concern for co-sleeping with your cat.
As we've noted, their purr relieves your stress and can help you heal and live a healthier life. Your cat also helps with feelings of anxiety and depression. Moreover, they are warm, comfortable purring machines to have in bed with you! There are also, however, some reasons you may not want to let them sleep with you.
Where Cats Go at Night. It's natural to wonder where the heck cats go at night. At home, they're usually sleeping, playing, cuddling, eating, or sleeping some more.
Disrupted sleep
Athletic feats aside, cats may snore, scratch, or simply prod you for attention during your sleeping hours, which can take a toll on your ability to get good rest and leave you feeling drowsy and sluggish the next day.
Your cat's sleeping choices may just be personal. Some cats just don't feel the need to share our sleeping space, like Cuddles, who belongs to a woman I know. “Cuddles is too good to sleep with humans,” she says.
“So it's fair to say that cats will cuddle up to their owners for closeness, warmth, and safety.” You might notice that your cat sleeps right on top of you more often in the winter. Street cats huddle up to share body heat — when they're not scrapping. This also explains why solo cats curl up like donuts to sleep.
In a multi-human household, it seems that cats will choose one family member they want to spend more of their time with. According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite.
According to Discovery News' report on research on cat and human behavior, the No. 1 reason a cat likes female humans is because women tend to spend more time with cats. And the more attention they get from a person, the more likely they are to give the same amount of loving right back.
The author writes, “Although a cat may not care (as that word is generally used) about human morals, cats can and do distinguish between good and bad people, and are excellent judges of human character and emotion.
They actually see us as parents. A 2019 study revealed that cats have the same attachment to their owners that babies show to their parents. Kittens in the study acted distressed when their caregivers left and happy and secure when they returned. They still acted this way one year later.
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention.
They want all the objects in their environment to smell like their group, too. When a cat places her paw on you, she is not marking you, but she is saying, “You are my family and we need to smell the same.”
Cats head bump each other and others to create a communal smell because cats recognize each other by smell before anything else. What your cat is really trying to tell you is, “Hey, I want you to smell a little more like me but don't worry I still love you!” How is this done?
If your fur baby won't sleep in her bed, it could be because: The bed isn't high up enough. Kitties like sleeping on couches and table tops because they feel more secure in high places. The bed isn't comfortable.
Snuggles, Cuddles, Lap Sits and Co-Sleeping.
You'll know your cat is happy if they show affection to you and want to interact with you. A content kitty loves scritches, snuggles, head boops, and lap sits.
You are the center of your cat's world and the keeper of all their resources, so it makes sense that your cat follows you around. In addition, your cat shares a strong bond with you, may be curious to what you are doing, may have insecurity, may want your attention, or may think that you will feed or play with them.
Make sure your cat's beds are away from any draughty areas but also not too close to any heat sources – the temperature should be not too cold or too warm but just right. Soft, fleecy beds provide the most comfort and if they have tall sides that your cat can hide behind, such as a cardboard box, that's even better.
Sleeping with you provides them with security and an extra defense if a predator should launch a nighttime attack. They sleep with you because they trust you, they know you're not a danger and you can also provide an extra layer of defense if needed.
Research in the USA also suggested that cats may dream about things that have happened that day or in the distant or recent past, similar to the way that dogs dream. Cats might dream about snuggling with you on the sofa, hunting a bird or mouse or may be dreaming about an incident that occurred with another cat or dog.