If your cat keeps sitting on your lap, you might be wondering why. This post will show you why your cat might be doing it and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat sit on my lap? Possible reasons why your cat sits on your lap are that you are warm, you make it feel safer, to get attention, it is anxious, or because you are in the spot it likes to sit in.
Your cat might have been sitting on your lap for a number of reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.
Why does my cat sit on my lap?
Below are a number of possible causes of your cat sitting on your lap and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
You are warm
The cause could be that your cat finds it comfortable to sit on your lap. This would be more likely if your cat sits on your lap regardless of where you sit and your cat does not seem to be doing it to get attention from you.
Related: Why does my cat sit on my feet?
You make it feel safer
Another possible cause is that sitting on your lap makes your cat feel safer. This would be more likely if your cat tends to do it more when other animals are around or when there is something else that might be causing it to feel anxious.
Related: Why does my cat sit between my feet?
To get attention
Another possible cause is that your cat has been trying 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.
It is anxious
It could be the case that your cat has some separation anxiety. This is where it does not like being left alone and the prospect of being left alone causes it to get anxious. This would be more likely if it sits on your lap at around the same time that you would normally go out.
You’re in its spot
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it because it thinks that you are in its spot. This would be more likely if your cat sits on your lap when you sit in a specific spot and if your cat tends to sit there when you are not sat there.
Things to consider about your cat sitting on your lap
Below are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause.
If your cat has always sat on your lap
If your cat has not always sat on your lap, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it could be the case that it started because something caused it to become anxious or because it learned that it is comfortable to sit on your lap.
What is different when your cat sits on your lap
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to sit on your lap. For example, if your cat tends to do it before you have left home, the cause could be that it has some separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat sitting on your lap
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
It would help to limit reasons why your cat might get fearful when you are not around. Ways to do so could include letting your cat stay in a different room than your dog if you have one or letting your cat stay in a quieter room.
Give your cat other places to sit
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.
Let it do it
If your cat does not seem to be doing it due to any issues, another option would be to simply let your cat continue doing it.
Why is my cat sitting on me suddenly?
If your cat has started sitting on your lap suddenly, it might be the case that something has caused it to start getting anxious when it is not with you. Another possible cause is that it learned that you are comfortable or that it gets rewards for sitting on your lap such as attention.
Why does my cat sit on my lap when I sleep?
If your cat sits on your lap when you are sleeping, it could be because your cat finds you comfortable or because it feels safer when it sits on your lap.