If your cat sits at the top of the stairs a lot, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat sit at the top of the stairs? Likely reasons why your cat sits at the top of the stairs are that it likes the spot, it feels safer there, it is warmer there, or that it is waiting for you.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat sits at the top of the stairs and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Reasons why your cat sits at the top of the stairs
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
It likes the spot
It could just be the case that it finds it more comfortable at the top of the stairs. This would be more likely if it goes there at certain times such as when it is hot inside and if it is cooler at the top of the stairs and if it sits there even when you are not upstairs yourself.
If feels safer there
Another possible cause is that your cat feels safer at the top of the stairs. This would be more likely if your cat tends to sit there more when there are other animals or people downstairs or when there are loud noises coming from downstairs.
It is waiting for you
Another possible cause is that your cat does it because it is waiting for you. This would be more likely if your cat sits there at a certain time such as in the morning when you have not fed it you and you are in your room still.
Separation anxiety
Another possible cause is that it has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if your cat sits there when you are in your room upstairs and if your cat follows you around the house when you are not in your room.
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 has always sat at the top of the stairs
If your cat has started sitting at the top of the stairs suddenly, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be because another spot became unavailable to it or because you started staying in your room more and your cat is waiting for you to come out.
What is different when your cat does not sit at the top of the stairs
If your cat tends to sit there at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your cat only sits there when you are in your room, it would be a lot more likely to be because your cat has separation anxiety or because it is waiting to get something from you.
What to do about your cat sitting at the top of the stairs
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it another place to sit
One option would be to encourage your cat to sit somewhere else. One way to do so would be to put a cat bed where you want it to go and to put your cat there whenever it tries to sit at the top of the stairs. It would also help to reward your cat whenever it does sit where you want it to sit.
Let it sit there
If your cat has not been behaving unusually in other ways and it seems to be doing it just likes the spot, another option would be to allow your cat to continue doing it.
Limit reasons why it might get anxious without you
It would also help to try to limit reasons why your cat might get anxious when you are not around. Ways to do so could include giving it a safe spot it can go to without you and to feed it before leaving it and to give it access to water and a litter box when you are not around.