Cats do like to sleep with their owners for several reasons. Cats are known to form strong bonds and attachments with their human companions.
Sleeping together is a way for them to feel safe, and warm, establish territory, and enjoy companionship. While there are pros and cons to sharing your bed with a feline friend, simple adjustments can make the experience more comfortable for both of you.
Reasons Why Cats Like to Sleep with You
Security
Cats feel safest when sleeping beside their trusted humans. It goes back to their days as wild predators, when they needed to watch their backs at all times. Spending the night with you gives them a sense of protection and security that lets them sleep soundly. They know you’ll alert them to any potential danger.
Warmth
Cats love sleeping in warm places. By snoozing alongside or on top of you, they can take advantage of your radiating body heat. Curling up with you gives them a nice, cozy spot to nap and get quality rest. This explains why cats will pick your lap over any other spot in the house.
Territory
Your bed has your scent all over it. When cats sleep there, they mark it as their territory too. By mixing their scents together, they feel more bonded and connected to you. This territorial behavior is natural for them and shows they are comfortable making your personal space their own.
Companionship
Simply put, cats enjoy the companionship sleeping together provides. Just like humans, they don’t like feeling lonely and isolated for long periods of time. Laying beside you fulfills their social needs. It’s quality time spent with their favorite human.
Pros and Cons of Sleeping with Your Cat
While sharing a bed with your feline has benefits, there are some potential drawbacks too:
Pros
- Strengthens bond between cat and owner
- Provides feelings of comfort and security
- Allows cat to easily monitor territory
- Extra body heat is cozy for a cat
Cons
- Disrupted sleep by cat moving around
- Getting scratched or bitten accidentally
- Cat hair and dander on bedding
- Potential to disturb allergies
- Litter residue tracked into the bed
Overall, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives for most cat owners. Some simple adjustments can help make the arrangement more pleasant.
How to Make Sleeping with Your Cat More Comfortable?
Here are some tips for helping your cat sleep harmoniously with you:
Provide a designated sleeping area for your cat
Give them their own cat bed on the floor or a nearby chair. This prevents them from waking you up when they want to hop on and off the bed. It also gives them an alternative sleeping space.
Use pet-friendly bedding
Waterproof and tear-resistant covers will protect your mattress and sheets from cat scratches, hair, and dander. Breathable fabrics made for pets can make sharing a bed more hygienic.
Establish a bedtime routine
Engage in calming activities before bed like grooming, quiet play, or treat time. Make sure litter boxes are clean. This helps cue your cat that it’s time for sleep versus chaotic play.
Consider closing bedroom doors
If your cat is highly disruptive at night, shutting them out of the bedroom might be kinder for both of you. Just be sure you’re meeting their needs for interaction, exercise, etc. during waking hours.
Conclusion
While cats can make disruptive overnight companions, they sleep with their owners to feel safe and comfortable. Simple adjustments like providing them with a separate sleeping space, using pet-friendly bedding, establishing a calming bedtime routine, and closing bedroom doors can help make the experience more pleasant.
Meeting their needs for security and companionship remains important. Overall, are cats good pets? For most owners willing to put in some effort, the answer seems to be yes.
The loving bond formed through activities like sleeping together is extremely rewarding. With some compromise on both sides, owners and felines can enjoy quality rest together.
