If your cat keeps sleeping on your legs, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible reasons and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat sleep on my legs? Possible reasons why your cat sleeps on your legs 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 sleep in.
Your cat could be doing it because of a number of reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.
Why does my cat sleep on my legs?
Below are a number of causes and what would make them more likely.
You are warm
The cause might just be that your cat finds it comfortable to sleep on your legs. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on your legs 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 face?
You make it feel safer
Another possible reason is that sleeping on your legs makes your cat feel safer. This would be more likely if your cat normally does it when other animals are around or when there is something else that might be causing it to feel anxious.
Related: why does my cat sleep on my feet?
To get attention
Another possible reason 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 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 your legs at around the same time that you would normally go out.
You’re in its spot
Another possible cause is that your cat likes the particular spot you tend to sit in. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on your legs when you sit or sleep in a specific spot and if your cat tends to sleep there when you are not sat there.
Things to consider about your cat sleeping on your legs
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always sat on your legs
If your cat has not always sat on your legs, 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 sleep on your legs.
What is different when your cat sleeps on your legs
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to sleep on your legs. 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 legs
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 sleep
Another option would be to give your cat other places where it can 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 me suddenly?
If your cat has started sleeping on your legs 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 sleeping on your legs such as attention.
Why does my cat sleep on my legs when I sleep?
If your cat sleeps on your legs when you are sleeping, it could be because your cat finds you comfortable or because it feels safer when it sleeps on your legs.