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Why does my cat sleep on my chest?

If your cat keeps sleeping on your chest, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.

So, why does my cat sleep on my chest? Possible reasons why your cat sleeps on your chest are that you feel warm, you make it feel safer, to get attention from you, or because it feels anxious.

Your cat might actually be doing it due to a number of different reasons and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some 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 sleep on my chest?

Below are a number of possible reasons why your cat sleeps on your chest and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.

You are warm

The reason might be that your cat finds it comfortable to sleep on you. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on you regardless of where you sleep and your cat does not seem to be doing it to get attention from you.

Related: Why does my cat sleep on my pillow?

You make it feel safer

Another possible reason is that sleeping on your chest 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.

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To get attention

Another possible reason why your cat has been doing it is 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 your cat sleeps on your chest.

It is anxious

It might 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 sleeps on you just before you would normally leave home.

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 sleeps on your chest when you lie in a specific spot and if your cat tends to sleep there when you are not sat or lying there.

Things to consider about your cat sleeping on your chest

Below are things you can consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always slept on your chest

If your cat has not always slept on your chest, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it might 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 chest.

What is different when your cat sleeps on your chest

It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to sleep on your chest. 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 sleeping on your chest

Below are a number of things you can do about the behavior.

Limit reasons why it might be anxious

It would help to limit reasons why it might get anxious 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 it other places to sleep

Another option would be to give your cat other places where it cat sleep. Perhaps you could try putting a cat bed down for it to sleep 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 sleeping on my chest suddenly?

If your cat has started sleeping on your chest suddenly, it might be the case that something has caused it to start getting anxious when it is not with you. Another possible reason is that it learned that you are comfortable or that it gets rewards for sleeping on you such as attention.

Why does my cat sleep on my chest when I sleep?

If your cat sleeps on your chest at night, it might be because your cat finds you comfortable or because it feels safer when it sleeps on you.