If your cat climbs on you a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat climb on me? Likely reasons why your cat climbs on you are that it finds it comfortable on you, it feels safer on you, it is playing, or that it wants attention.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat climbs on you and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Reasons why your cat climbs on you
Below are likely causes and what would make them more likely.
It wants to sit on you
The reason why your cat has been doing it is likely to be that it wants to sit on your shoulders. This would be more likely if it tends to sit on your shoulders more when you are sat down on the couch.
It feels safer
Another possible cause is that being on you makes your cat feel safer. This would be more likely if your cat tends to climb on you more when other animals are around or when there is something else that might be causing it to feel anxious.
It is playing
Your cat might also climb on you because it is playing. This would be more likely if it does it when it is full of energy and if it does it when it is playing with other things as well.
It wants something
Another possible cause is that it wants something from you. This would be more likely if your cat climbs on you more at a certain time such as before you have fed it in the morning.
It wants attention
It could be the case that your cat has been climbing on you in order to get extra attention from you. This would be more likely if it tends to do it when you have not been giving it much attention and if you tend to give it extra attention when it does it.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat always climbed on you
If your cat did not always climb on you, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started climbing on you. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be the case that there was an event that caused it to start such as a change in its environment causing it to become anxious.
What is different when your cat does not climb on you
It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat climbs on you. For example, if your cat does it when you are sat down on the couch, the cause is likely to be that it wants to sit on you.
What to do about your cat climbing on you
Below are options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it distractions
One option would be to give your cat things to be distracted by, such as toys, when it seems likely to climb on you.
Give it other places to go
Another option would be to give your cat other places where it can sit. Perhaps you could try putting a cat bed down for it to sit in.
Don’t encourage it
Another thing to do would be to avoid giving your cat things it wants when it tries to climb on you and to get it off you when it does it. Eventually, your cat should learn that climbing on you will not result in it getting rewards.