If your cat keeps sleeping against you, 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 next to me? Common causes of your cat sleeping next to you are that it makes your cat feel safer, it has anxiety when it is not with you, it is waiting for something, it’s being affectionate, or it likes a particular spot.
Your cat might actually be doing it for multiple different reasons and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can do about it and there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause.
Why does my cat sleep next to me?
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.
If feels safer
A possible reason is that sleeping next to you 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.
Anxiety
It could 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 next to you at around the same time that you would normally go out.
It wants something
Another possible reason is that your cat is waiting to get something from you. This would be more likely if your cat tends to sleep there before you have given it food and it does not do it after.
It is being affectionate
Another possible reason is that your cat is just being affectionate. This would be more likely if it purrs when it sleeps next to you and it gets you to pet it.
It likes the particular spot
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it because it likes the particular spot next to where you tend to sleep. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps next to you when you 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 next to you
Below are a number of things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If it has always sleep next to you a lot
If your cat has not always sat next to you a lot, 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 next to you.
What is different when your cat does not sleep next to you
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to sleep next to you. 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 next to you
Below are a number of options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it another place to sleep
One 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.
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.
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 has my cat suddenly started sleeping next to me?
If your cat has started sleeping next to you suddenly, it could 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 next to you is comfortable or that it gets rewards for sleeping next to you such as attention.
Why does my cat sleep next to me and purr?
If your cat sleeps next to you and purrs, the cause would be more likely that it feels safer when it is sat next to you and that it is being affectionate.
Why does my cat sleep next to me when I sleep?
If your cat sleeps next to you when you sleep, the cause could be that your cat feels safer when it is around you, it has some separation anxiety, or because it likes the particular spot next to where you sleep.
Why does my cat curl up next to me?
The reason why your cat curls up next to you is likely to be that it makes your cat feel safer and because it is being affectionate which would be especially likely if you tend to pet it when it curls up next to you.
Why does my cat sleep next to me at night?
If your cat tends to sleep next to you at night, it could be because it makes your cat feel safer, because your cat has some separation anxiety, or because your cat just likes a particular spot on the bed.
Why does my cat sleep next to me in bed?
The reason why your cat sleeps next to you in bed is likely to be that your cat feels safer around you and that it feels comfortable on your bed.
Why does my cat sleep next to me on the couch?
The most likely reason why your cat sleeps next to you on the couch is that your cat feels safer next to you. It could also be the case that your cat is being affectionate or that it is waiting to get something from you.
Why does my cat sleep next to me during the day?
It is also likely that your cat sleeps next to you during the day because it feels safer around you. It could also be that it is being affectionate or waiting for food.