Did you know that cats are said to sleep up to 18 hours a day?

If this is true, which I believe it is, this leaves only six hours a day for a cat to complete everything that needs to be completed in 24 hours. Cats are nocturnal animals, meaning they usually work the night shift and sleep the day away?

I have been in feline rescue and cat care since 1992, and I know that cats do not want to miss anything that is going on around them; whether they are sleeping or not, one always seems to be open, and their ears are perked like an antenna.

I monitor my cats when sleeping and find their 18 hours of sleep are broken up. They may rest a few hours, then eat, potty, wander, play, and return to sleep. Each cat has its own sleep routine, and no cat is the same except for one crucial thing. Every cat finds a secure comfort zone for rest, and a cat may often change its sleeping area.

Why Does My Cat Lay On My Stomach?

Depending on the temperature, a cat will not bed down for sleep if it does not feel secure and warm (or cool.) Some cats are lap sitters, chest resters, or stomach plumpers. Some cats detest sitting on laps or resting on chests and stomachs. It is all about the likes and dislikes of your cat.

I have six fur babies, and this is how it is in my house.

• Wee Willy is not a lap sitter, nor does he sleep on our abdomen.
• Sophia sits only on my hubby’s lap, and he must sit a certain way.
• Mia is not a lap sitter nor an abdominal sleeper. Instead, she sleeps on my left shoulder or in her cat’s bed at the foot of my bed.
• Willow is not a lap sitter or an abdominal sleeper.
• Lil’ Luke is not a lap sitter or an abdominal rester.
• Isabella, Sophia’s sister, is not a lap sitter. However, if I lay down on the couch for a rest, she is on my chest with her body wrapped around my neck, much like a mink stole. She never sleeps on my abdomen.

Take it from this seasoned Crazy Cat Lady that your cat will never sleep where it is not comfortable, warm, and is of the highest safety, including your abdomen.

• Sometimes I think that when a cat sleeps on your abdomen, it can hear and feel your heartbeat. This gives your cat a secure feeling, and it sort of lulls them to sleep, much like soft music or rain falling on the windows lulling you off to dreamland.
• When your cat curls up on your abdomen, the warmth of your body keeps it cozy. You may find this especially true during the cold winter nights.
• Being comfortable and cozy is high on a cat’s priority list. Each cat is unique and finds its specific comfort zone. Your abdomen may be just what the doctor ordered.

Comfort in our house could mean sleeping at the top of the eight-foot cat stand, on one of the shorter cat beds, on a cushy blanket on top of the refrigerator, on the porch floor in a patch of warm sun, on a bed under a blanket, or possibly on the third floor in the bathroom towel closet.

We just never know where the cats will bed down. I know that one kitty will always end up around my neck while I try to nap. In the summer, it could be on the top of newly laid mulch bark under a bush in the privacy of our fenced-in yard.

• When a cat purr..fers to lay on your abdomen to sleep, it could be their sign of affection for you and the need for attention. Some cats require more attention than others.
• Security is also high on a cat’s priority list. If your cat decides to fall into a deep sleep, they know they are letting their guard down. They also know that sleeping on your abdomen is the safest place, and you will make sure nothing happens to them.

Is It Good Or Bad If My Cat Wants To Lay On My Stomach?

• A few things come to my mind: if you recently had stomach surgery and have a slew of stitches, this would be painful to have your cat go to sleep on your stomach.
• If you are pregnant and your cat persists in sleeping on your abdomen, no cat weighs enough that it will hurt you or your unborn baby. Nor is the cat’s body heat going to harm the baby.

Perhaps your cat never wanted to sleep on your belly until you became pregnant, and now your cat is really clingy because it knows that significant changes are coming?

The five and possibly six senses of cats are at least ten times keener than a human’s. Every human has a specific scent to them, and your cat knows your scent. When you become pregnant or ill, your scent changes, and your cat can detect this change.

Cats love to feel the warmth of body heat. When a woman is pregnant, her temperature is higher, and your cat undoubtedly likes this added warmth. Your comfort, not your cat’s comfort, counts when you are pregnant. Cats are highly affectionate critters, and after they bond with you, they are always looking out for your safety.

The Pros and Cons of Your Cat Sleeping on Your Abdomen

• The idea of your cat sleeping with you boils down to your preference and what your cat would like to do. Many cats opt not to sleep with their owner, and there is nothing you can do to change your cat’s mind. Your cat is going to do what it wants to do.

Your only option is to close your bedroom door, which may also present a problem. I know a few friends who opt to keep the kitty out at night, and the kitty sits and meows or scratches at the door until the door is open. If you remain strict about your nighttime routine and put the bedroom off-limits to the kitty, it will eventually get the message.

In my case, Mia took up full-time residence in my bedroom. She has a nightly routine and has trained me from the beginning. She sleeps on my left shoulder with her paws across my arm, or she may curl up in the cozy blanket in her cat bed at the foot of my bed. The choice is always hers.

When Mia is no longer with me and goes to the Rainbow Bridge, it will undoubtedly leave a void in my life. However, I can foretell now that another cat will move in, as I believe that either Lil’ Luke or Isabella is waiting to take over my bedroom with bated breath.

Given the opportunity, cats and dogs prefer to sleep near their parents. However, it is clearly your decision.

Pros

• Pets offer an element of comfort and security.

My Sammie was 20 years old when he passed away in October 2020. The year before Sammie passed away, he saved our home from catching fire. We had an electrical arc on the front porch. Sammie would not give up trying to get us up to follow him downstairs. When we got there, we saw flashes of electrical sparks. Hubby, an electrician, knew what to do, but said that our house would have been on fire if it had not been for Sammie.

All I could do was hold Sammie and give him lots of hugs, kisses, and attention. I tried to get him to come to bed with me as is his routine, but he would not and insisted on sleeping on the stairway to the front door.

• It is a proven fact that closely bonded pets help to lower human blood pressure.
• Improvement in mental health by reducing loneliness, worries and helps to improve mood and behavior, improves depression symptoms, improves relaxation, reduces stress, reduces the need for sleeping medication
• Shown to improve immunity
• Helps to improve overall health, showing positive effects on the heart and cardiovascular system

Cons

• May trigger allergies in humans
• May affect quality of sleep; less disturbed sleep
• Exposure to germs (rare)
• Possible aggression such as random bites from the cat if you are a restless sleeper

I find this difficult to believe. Your cat may give you a tiny nip as a warning to settle down, but a cat will not bite you unless you turn over and hit them accidentally or your foot causes them to fly off the bed into outer space.

My cat, Mia, has two places she sleeps; near my left shoulder and in her bed at the foot of my bed. If I become restless, I notice she gets up and goes to her bed without a fuss. She may also gently pat my arm with her paw to say everything is OK.

If you feel that sleeping with a cat will disturb your sleep, you might consider a trial run. If it does not work out, you could try putting a cat bed close to your bed. Spread a bit of catnip to entice your cat to stay put.