If you’re a cat lover, then I’m sure that there’s no better feeling than having your cat crawl in your bed next to you at night when you want to sleep. This is surely one of the coziest feelings for you but guess what: Your cat also likes this. So why would your cat feel the need to sleep next to you? Is it just because she feels comfortable or is she showing you her affection?
The answer is usually a combination of these two. There are a few different reasons why a cat would want to sleep with you and most of the reasons are pretty flattering, to be honest. If you’re a long-time cat owner, then you can already guess some of the reasons why cats sleep next to their owners.
So why does your cat sleep with you?
As I said above, there are a few reasons why your cat will want to sleep next to you. According to an article in Reader’s Digest, a cat will usually sleep next to a human she trusts because she wants to feel cozy and warm while resting. You might just as well be considered a great heated bed by your cat companion.
This is one of the more superficial reasons, but there are a few more profound ones behind your cat’s need to sleep with you. The same article states that cats will use sleeping next to their favorite humans as a territory marking technique. Let’s put it another way: the pet will use sleeping next to you as a way of passing her scent on you, to make it obvious to any other pets that you’re hers.
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You might also be the one to give your cat a sense of safety, which is why she might come to you when she needs to feel protected. Most animals including cats are very vulnerable when they sleep, so they will look for something or someone to keep them safe while they rest. This also means that a cat will trust you when she chooses to sleep with you.
Cats will also want to sleep next to their owners as a way of bonding with them. Cats also do this with other cats. You have surely seen two cats sleeping one on the other. This is just their way of creating a stronger connection between them. If a cat will use you as a pillow and just curl up against you when she wants to sleep, this might mean that she wants to be as close to you as possible.
What’s the meaning behind a cat choosing you over other people
If given the choice the cat will always choose to sleep with you and not with other people inside the house, it might be her way of showing that you are her favorite human. The Union Lake Veterinary Hospital website states in an article that most of the time, cats will choose one human from their home and bond more strongly with them. The person they will often choose will be the one that spends the most time caring for them. This means that you will have a way bigger chance of becoming your cat’s favorite if you’re the one constantly cleaning after her and giving her the food she likes.
You can use other ways to bond with your cat as well
Although it is pretty nice to sleep with your cat, there are some animals that are just not into the cuddling while sleeping experience. If you have a cat like this and you’re looking for other ways to bond with her, then there are some things you could still do.
One easy and readily available option is to simply play with the pet. Just buy a bunch of cat toys and give them to your cat one by one to see which one she prefers to play with. Find room in your schedule to play with the animal each and every day. This will be a great daily activity not only to bond with your cat and find out more about what she likes and doesn’t like, but It is also a great way to keep the pet healthy and fit.
Another great way of getting close to your cat is to groom her as often as you can. A lot of cats will like to get groomed as often as possible because it will usually remind them of how their mothers used to care for them when they were young. Grooming is not at all complicated but you will need to figure out how your cat likes to be brushed. To figure out what she likes, get a gentle and soft brush and use it on your cat in strokes of different speeds and intensities, until you understand exactly what your cat wants and likes. A great way of knowing when you’re doing a good job is by looking for purrs and pushing against the brush. Some delicate areas that most cats like to be brushed on are their cheeks and chin.
Another way of bonding with most pets but cats in general, is by feeding them. If you aren’t the one to give your cat food on a daily basis and you’re still wondering why you aren’t her closest human, then pick up the role of feeding her each and every day. It won’t take long for the pet to spend a lot more time around you. You can also give her some occasional treats to make the bond between you a lot stronger.
