If your cat often hugs your legs, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat hug my legs? If your cat runs up to you and hugs your legs, the most likely reason is that it is playing. If your cat hugs your legs when sitting with you, it is likely that your cat is being affectionate and making itself feel comfortable.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat hugs your legs and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat hug my legs?
Below are likely reasons why your cat hugs your legs and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
Your cat feels safer
A likely cause is that your cat feels safer when it is around you and that hugging your legs makes your cat feel safer. This would be even more likely if your cat tends to do it more at around the same time that your cat might be feeling insecure such as when there are loud noises inside or if your cat also tends to follow you around the house as well. It would also be more likely to be the cause if your cat hugs your legs when sitting with you.
Your cat is waiting for something
Another possible reason is that your cat is waiting to get something from you. This would be more likely if your cat hugs your legs at a certain time such as before you have fed it in the morning.
Something is causing your cat to be anxious
Another possible reason is that it has some separation anxiety and it wants to know when you are leaving. This would be more likely if your cat does it more at around the same time that you would normally leave home or go to bed.
It could also be the case that there is something happening around the house that causes your cat to become anxious. This would be more likely if your cat hugs your legs at a certain time such as when there are loud noises in the house or other pets or people around that it does not like.
Your cat is being affectionate
It is also likely that your cat does it because it is being affectionate. This would be more likely if it also purrs and kneads, when it hugs your legs, and if it also does things such as get you to pet it.
It is playing
If your cat runs up to you and hugs your legs, the most likely cause is that your cat is playing. This would also be more likely if it does it when it is running around the house, playing with toys or if it tends to do it in the early morning or late evening when cats tend to be more lively.
Your cat is rubbing its scent onto you
A part of the cause could also be that it is marking its scent on you. By doing so, it will help to keep your cat safer by letting other animals know that you are a part of its territory.
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 hug your legs
If your cat did not always hug your legs, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat 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 doing it.
If it did start doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as something changing that caused your cat to start getting anxious such as getting a new pet or because you stopped letting it sleep with you at night.
What is different when your cat hugs your legs
If your cat tends to hug your legs more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if it tends to do it in the morning, it would be more likely that it is doing it due to separation anxiety, if it can not sleep with you, or because it is waiting for you to feed it.
What to do about my cat hugging my legs?
Below are some options you have to help deal with the behavior.
Let it do it
If your cat just seems to be doing it because it is playing, being affectionate or because it feels safer around you, and it has not been behaving unusually in other ways, the easiest option would be to allow your cat to continue doing it.
Give it distractions
If your cat does it when it is playing, another option would be to give your cat distractions such as toys, when it seems to be lively.
Give it somewhere else to sit
Another option would be to give your cat other places to sit that is in a safe spot and to encourage your cat to sit there when it tries to cuddle your legs. Usually, cats prefer spots that are high up because it can protect them from potential predators.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
If your cat seems to have been doing it due to something causing it to be anxious, it would also help to limit reasons why it might be anxious. One way to do so would be to let it stay in a quiet part of the house where there is a safe spot for it to sleep in.