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Why does my cat sleep on my lap?

If your cat has been sleeping on your lap a lot, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible reasons why your cat has been doing it and what you can do about them.

So, why does my cat sleep on my lap? Possible reasons why your cat sleeps on your lap 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.

There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat has been sleeping on your lap and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.

Why does my cat sleep on my lap?

Below are a number of possible causes of your cat sleeping on your lap and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.

You are warm

The cause could be that your cat finds it comfortable to sleep on your lap. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on your lap regardless of where you sit and your cat does not seem to be doing it to get attention from you.

You make it feel safer

Another possible cause is that sleeping on your lap 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.

To get attention

It could also be the case 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 lap at around the same time that you would normally go out.

You’re in its spot

Another possible cause is that your cat has been doing it because it thinks that you are in its spot. This would be more likely if your cat sleeps on your lap when you sit 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 lap

Below are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always slept on your lap

If your cat has not always sat on your lap, 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 lap.

What is different when your cat sleeps on your lap

It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to sit on your lap. 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 lap

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 my lap suddenly?

If your cat has started sleeping on your lap 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 lap such as attention.