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cat snuggling on the bed

Why Do Cats Sleep on You and Your Head?

by Sam Salvati - 10/15/20

Sleeping cats often choose to rest on our heads rather than the cozy beds we’ve gifted them. You may wonder "why does my cat sleep on me?" The answer is rooted in cats' inherent desire to bond with their owner.

Cats are comforted by our familiar scent and warmth that we provide when they're snuggled up against us.

Cats who are very attached to their owner seek out our comforting smells in many ways - sleeping alongside us is an easy way for them to do so. Our heads our particularly sebaceous, omitting more smells than most other parts of our body.

Cats also prefer warmer temperatures than humans. They tend to use our warm bodies as blankets.

If you're bothered by your cat sleeping on your head, they are a number of ways to discourage your cat from sleeping on your head. To satisfy your cat's desires for warmer conditions, look into heated cat beds. These beds can be enticing to cats, especially if you only turn the heated bed on at night. Another alternative is creating a comforting, cozy spot at the foot of your bed for your cat. This way, your cat can still feel bonded to you, with your smell in your room.

If you enjoy snuggling with your cat, then there's little reason to make her sleep somewhere else. The only cause to make her sleep in another spot would be if you feel her attachment to you is rooted in anxiety or distress. If this is the case, visit your vet to find solutions to your cat's issues.

Pasadena native Sam Salvati is the adoring dog dad to Pablo, Ester and Farris. He enjoys keeping abreast of and writing about the latest developments in pet care.

References

  1. https://scratchpay.com/practices/search