If your cat often sleeps on your arm, this post will show you a number of reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat sleep on my arm? Likely reasons why your cat sleeps on your arm are that it finds your arm comfortable, separation anxiety, it is waiting for something from you or that it is being affectionate.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat has been sleeping on your arm and it might be due to a combination of them. 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 sleeps on your arm
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make them more likely.
It finds your arm comfortable
The cause could be that your cat finds it comfortable to sleep on your arm. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on your arm regardless of where you sit and your cat does not seem to be doing it to get attention from you.
For attention
It could also be the case 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.
Separation anxiety
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 become anxious. This would be more likely if it sleeps on your arm at around the same time that you would normally go out.
It feels safer
Another possible reason is that sleeping on your arm 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.
It is waiting for something
Another possible reason is that it is waiting to get something from you. This would be more likely if your cat does it more when you have not yet given it something such as food in the morning.
You’re in its spot
Another possible reason is that your cat has been doing it because it thinks that you are in its spot. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on your arm when you sit in a specific spot and if your cat tends to sleep there when you are not sat there.
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 slept on your arm
If your cat did not always sleep on your arm, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be the case that there was an event that caused your cat to start. 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 sleep on your arm.
What is different when your cat does not sleep on your arm
If your cat seems to be doing it more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your cat tends to sleep or lie on your arm before you have left home, the cause could be that it has some separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat sleeping on your arm
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it somewhere else to sleep
The first option would be to give your cat other places where it can sleep and to reward it when it sleeps where you want it to. Perhaps you could try putting a cat bed down for it to sleep in and to put it there when it tries to sleep on you.
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.
Let your cat do it
If your cat does not seem to be doing it due to any issues, and you do not mind the behavior, another option would be to simply let your cat continue doing it.