If your cat sleeps under your bed, this post will show you why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat sleep under my bed? Likely reasons why your cat sleeps under your bed are that it feels safer there, separation anxiety, or that it does not want to be bothered while sleeping.
Your cat might actually sleep under your bed for a number of reasons 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.
Why does my cat sleep under my bed?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
It feels safer
Cats have a natural desire to seek out the safest place they can find to sleep. In the wild, it’s most likely to be up in a tree to keep an eye out for predators. In your home, your cat may take over a closet or a high shelf in the room to make themselves feel safe. This is also likely why your cat sleeps under your bed, since cats feel like they are safe by keeping an eye out from their perch while they sleep. This would be more likely if your cat does not have access to high up spots where it can sleep instead.
Separation anxiety
Another reason could also be that your cat has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if your cat only sleeps under the bed when you are there and if it follows you to other places as well.
It does not want to be bothered
The cause might also be that it wants to be able to sleep without being bothered. This would be more likely if it tends to go there when it wants to sleep but it does not stay under the bed when it is awake.
It likes the spot
It could also be the case that your cat simply likes the spot. This would be a lot more likely if your cat also sleeps under the bed when you are not on the bed yourself. In this case, it could help to give it another place to sleep.
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 slept under your bed
If your cat did not always sleep under the bed, 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 it learned that the behavior gets rewarded or because something caused it to be anxious without you and to hide under the bed.
What is different when your cat does not sleep under your bed
If your cat seems to go under the bed at a certain time or in a certain situation, it would also help to consider what is different when it goes under the bed. For example, if it tends to go there when you are not around and it follows you around when you are around, the cause would be likely to be separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat sleeping under your bed
Below are options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
It would 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.
Give it another place to go
The next option would be to encourage your cat to sleep somewhere else. One way to do so would be to put a cat bed where you want your cat to sleep and to put your cat there whenever it tries to sleep under the bed.
Reward it when it goes elsewhere
It would also help to encourage your cat to sleep elsewhere by rewarding it when it sleeps there and not rewarding your cat too much when it sleeps under the bed.
Let it do it
If your cat has been going under the bed constantly and it has been being very anxious, it would likely help to take it for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat and to rule out medical causes.
Why does my cat sleep under my bed at night?
If your cat only sleeps under the bed at night, it would be likely that it does it because it feels safer there and because it feels safer by sleeping in the same room as you. In this case, it could help to put a cat bed in your room and to try to encourage your cat to sleep there instead.