If your cat has been hugging your neck a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat hug my neck? If your cat hugs your neck when you are holding it, a likely cause is that your cat is trying to support itself. If your cat hugs your neck when it is sitting with you, it is likely that your cat is doing it because it makes your cat feel safer.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat hugs your neck 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 neck?
Below are likely reasons why your cat hugs your neck and what would make each of them more likely.
Your cat feels safer
A likely cause is that your cat feels safer when it is around you and that hugging your neck 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 neck when sitting with you.
To help your cat support itself
If your cat tends to hold onto your neck, when you are holding it like in the picture at the top of this post, a likely cause is that your cat is doing it in order to help support itself.
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 neck at a certain time such as in bed before you have fed it in the morning.
Something is causing your cat to be anxious
Another possible cause is that your cat 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 if you do not let it sleep in the same room as you.
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 neck 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 neck, and if it also does things such as get you to pet it.
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
Here are some things you can consider that will help you figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always hugged your neck
If your cat did not always hug your neck, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it.
If your cat started hugging your neck suddenly, it might be due to things such as a change in the way you hold it, a change in the way you pet it or because something caused it to start getting anxious.
Alternatively, it might be the case that it has started doing it because it has become more comfortable around you which would be more likely if you have not had your cat for long.
What is different when your cat hugs your neck
If your cat tends to hug your neck more at a certain time, it would also help to consider the timing of when your cat tends to hug your neck. For example, if your cat does it when in bed with you at night, the cause could be that your cat finds it comfortable to hug your neck and that it makes your cat feel safer. If your cat does not sleep with you at night and it hugs your neck before you go to bed, the cause could be due to separation anxiety.
What to do about my cat hugging my neck?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Let it do it
If your cat seems to have been doing it because it makes your cat feel safer or because it is being affectionate, the easiest option would be to let your cat continue doing it. If you do not like your cat hugging your neck, you could also move it to a different spot whenever your cat tries to do it. Repeating the process should result in your cat eventually learning that hugging your neck is not rewarded.
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 neck. 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.
Why does my cat wrap its paws around my neck?
Likely reasons why your cat wraps its paws around your neck are that it makes your cat feel safer, your cat is showing you affection and that your cat is doing it in order to help support itself.
It would help to consider the timing of when your cat wraps its paws around your neck. If it does it, when you are holding it, the cause would be likely to be that it is supporting itself. If it does it at other times, it is likely showing affection and doing it because it makes your cat feel safer.
Why does my cat hold onto my neck?
If your cat holds onto your neck, when you are holding it, the most likely reason is that your cat is supporting its weight. Whereas, if your cat does it when there is something that could be causing it to be anxious, the cause would be likely to be that you cat is doing it because it makes your cat feel safer and it trusts you.