Why does my cat like laying on my legs?

Did you know that every cat sleeping position has a special meaning? From the lovable and meme-worthy "cat loaf" to the calm and happy "spluff" pose, your cat's pawsitively adorable sleeping positions can tell you a lot about your furry friend. Here's how to interpret every snuggle, stretch and yawn.

1. Cat Spluff

The "spluff" position is part sprawl, part fluff and totally cute. It's your cat's way of showing she feels safe, happy and relaxed.1 You'll notice she has a relaxed, blissful expression on her face, an exposed belly and a slack tail and paws. When your cat's in this position, you know she's reached her ultimate relaxation state. Sometimes she'll stretch out with her entire belly exposed, and sometimes she'll have a slight curl to her back. Any time your cat lies with her belly in the air, whether partially or 100 percent exposed, it's a sign she feels safe and secure.

2. Cat Loaf

The "cat loaf" is so popular it's become an internet meme. When sleeping like this, your cat has her front paws tucked and crossed completely beneath her, and her back legs are tucked, so she resembles a bread loaf. Any time a cat sleeps with her body pulled in tightly like this, she's conserving heat while feeling relaxed and comfy.2

3. Crouching Semi-Loaf

Sometimes you may notice your cat almost reaches the loaf position, but he's not fully relaxed. He may be sleeping in a more "crouched" position with his front paws flat on the ground beneath his body or out in front of him.3 He might even sleep while sitting up. This is a less relaxed and more alert position that allows him to jump into action quickly if needed.

4. Tight Curl

Many cats love to sleep curled in tight balls with their tails curled close to their bodies, and their heads are typically on their front paws. In the wild, this position can help cats be tougher to see, and it helps them stay warmer.4 The curl is also much easier to jump up from, and your cat can simply open her eyes and look if she hears a noise. However, for most cats, this is simply a favorite, comfy sleeping position. When she's sleeping like this, she might also put a paw over her eye to block out the light.

Sometimes your cat may sense your presence and convert from her regular sleeping position to a tightly curled ball with her belly just slightly exposed. This is her way of telling you she's happy you're near, and you're welcome to pet her gently. (But always be cautious if you attempt to pet her belly; cats don't typically enjoy a belly rub like dogs do.)

5. Side Sleeping

If your cat's lying stretched out on his side with most of his midsection on the ground, then he might be trying to cool off.5 If you're outside during the day, he might retreat to the concrete in the shade and lie in this position to cool down. You'll often see cats lying like this on the tile in your home if they get a little overheated. Make sure your kitty has plenty of water, and you might even consider turning down your AC, so the house is a little cooler.

6. The Monorail

Cats are downright creative in the way they sleep. You may notice your cat sleeping on the arm of your couch, a handrail or a fence beam with his front legs hanging low in front of him.6 His back legs might be hanging down too, and he'll have his head down with an almost "woebegone" type of expression. This is sometimes called a "monorail," and large, wild cats often use it when sleeping in big trees. It's a comfortable position where your cat feels safe.

7. Snuggling Up (with Another Cat or You)

Two cats sleeping snuggled up together are absolutely adorable. They may do this when they're a little cold, but they'll only sleep close together when they love and trust each other completely.

If your cat sleeps cuddled up in your lap during the day or snuggled on your chest or legs at night, then you're one very lucky cat owner! This is a sign of love and trust. Cats are also more likely to seek out your body heat when it's cold. If you keep your house cooler at night, you might notice your cat snuggling close more frequently.

8. Head Press

Some cats have a peculiar sleeping position where they press their head right into the ground in front of them. They might be sleeping in the cat loaf position on a blanket, but their face is pressed into the blanket as well. Sometimes this is just another way of blocking out the light. Or, it could be one of your cat's sleeping positions when she's feeling sick. If your cat sleeps like this frequently, ask your veterinarian if it's normal.

Where Your Cat Sleeps Is Telling, Too

Where your cat sleeps can tell you just as much as how he sleeps. Cats may sleep on a tall cat tree, so they feel more confident. If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he's curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.

If Your Cat Seems Stressed, Comfort Zone Can Help

A lowered tail, spraying or destructive scratching, or even excessive meowing can be a sign of stress. If you think your cat feels too stressed to relax, Comfort Zone products can help his e-meow-tional health. These products mimic your cat's natural pheromones, letting him know everything's OK and promote relaxation.

Plug the Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser with Opticalm Diffuser in the rooms where your cat spends the most time. If you have more than one cat, use the Comfort Zone Multi-Cat Diffuser with Opticalm Diffuser.

Put the Comfort Zone Calming Pheromone Collar on your cat to help him relax wherever he is, whether he's indoors or outdoors. And spray the Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control Spray on any objects that are the targets of spraying or scratching to help curb the destructive behavior.

Cats love to sleep, and adult cats usually spend about 16 hours a day in some form of napping. Learning the meaning behind your cat's different sleeping positions may help you know what your cat's thinking.

1. Comfort Zone Products. "How to Spluff." Facebook.com, 5 March 2021, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=337560157677090.

2. Parker, Emily. "Cat Sleeping Position Meanings." Catalogical, https://www.catological.com/cat-sleeping-positions-mean/.

3. Jackson Galaxy. "What Sleeping Positions Say About Your Cat." YouTube.com, 8 August 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKKQw0kQAt4.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Jackson Galaxy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKKQw0kQAt4.

Curling up with a fuzzy, purring friend is one of the joys of being a cat owner. There’s nothing quite so calming and relaxing as leaning back in your armchair while your cat dozes on your knees. Not all cats are lap-cats, of course, but some absolutely love to go to sleep on your lap. Other cats prefer to wait until you’re lying down before draping themselves over your legs. It’s common for cat owners to wonder exactly why their pets are choosing to do this. What’s so special about a human’s legs that they are deemed the perfect sleeping spot?

Why does my cat sleep on my legs? Your cat might sleep on your legs for a number of reasons. A person’s legs are warm and comfortable. Your lap is a familiar spot where your cat feels safe. If you’re lying down, your legs provide a slight elevation for your cat to perch on.

You’ve arrived on this page because you have questions about your cat’s sleeping habits. Maybe you’re wondering why your cat likes to sleep curled up in your lap. Maybe your cat likes to lie across your legs when you’re in bed. Perhaps your cat likes to wrap herself around your ankles when you’ve got your feet up. Maybe you’re concerned that your cat has some kind of issue that’s making her clingy, or perhaps you’re just curious about this aspect of feline behaviour. Read on, because we have all the answers that you’ve been looking for.

Why Does My Cat Sleep on My Legs?

Some cats are inveterate lap cats. My American Shorthair and my domestic shorthair are both cuddle bugs and love nothing more than to climb onto my lap. The domestic shorthair, a rescue, is especially clingy, and can sometimes get quite fractious if I try to dislodge her before she’s done with nap time. My British Shorthair boy prefers to get comfy on a nearby perch, where he can watch me, or lean against my leg while sitting next to me. He’s a very typical British Shorthair in that regard.

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There are a lot of reasons why your cat might choose to sleep on your legs. The first and most obvious is simply that your legs make a nice warm spot for napping. Cats are drawn to warm areas for sleep. You might also have seen your cat dozing in a sunbeam, on top of the radiator, or trying to get comfortable on top of your computer. They just love to curl up somewhere cosy.

Cats are also social creatures, and it’s very normal for them to want to be close to you and enjoy your company. Your cat might feel safer sleeping on your legs than in her bed. She sees you as a friend and caregiver and trusts you to look after her while she sleeps. It’s quite touching, really — although it can be a bit inconvenient if you have things to do other than be a cat bed. It’s particularly tricky if you have one of those cats who tries to resist removal by digging her claws into your thighs. Detaching a particularly tenacious cat, one set of sharp little needles at a time, can be a delicate process.

Some cats really don’t like being left alone and have figured out that if they’re sleeping on your legs, you might be a bit more reluctant to get up. It’s a form of kitty direct action. My cats know when it’s time for me to go out, and will resort to all sorts of tricks to try and keep my home: jumping into my lap if I happen to sit down, parking themselves on top of my work bag, or engaging my shoelaces in mortal combat.

Sometimes your cat will insist on lying across your legs when you lie down. There are a lot of reasons for this. For one thing, cats often want to be in the room with you when you sleep, at least for part of the night. They like to keep an eye on you when you’re in bed. I’ve had to make my bedroom a cat-free zone as a concession to my allergies, but when my cats were still allowed in, my American Shorthair used to love lying across my knees or finding a comfy spot on the end of the bed.

As well as presenting a warm spot for a cat to lie on, your legs are usually slightly elevated from the bed. This makes them attractive to cats, who often like a perch that they can see the rest of the room from. Cats love to play “king of the castle”, sitting in spots that give them a height advantage.

Why Did My Cat Suddenly Start Sleeping on My Legs?

We’ve seen that sleeping on your legs is simply a part of normal feline behaviour. It’s not usually something to worry about, just something that cats like to do. Sometimes, though, sleeping on your legs can represent a change in behaviour, and that might be something you need to investigate.

Cats sometimes seek closer contact when they’re not feeling well. It’s common for cats to slink off when they’re sick or injured, finding a quiet place where they can recuperate, but sometimes the reverse happens and they want to be as close to their favourite people as possible. Check your cat over for signs of injury or ill-health. These can include blood or discharge in her fur, joints that feel hot or swollen, and inflammation or discharge around the eyes or nose. If your cat seems thinner than usual or is showing signs of lethargy or fever, you should talk to your vet and make sure everything’s okay. Cats are masters when it comes to hiding their symptoms, especially when it comes to injuries, so you may need to make a special effort to spot the signs.

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Sometimes it may simply be part of your cat’s developmental process. Skittish “teenaged” cats (under a year old) often calm down and become more affectionate as they mature. Senior kitties often become more cuddly in later life, although the reverse can certainly happen too. One of my older cats was terribly standoffish until her later years when she wanted nothing more than to snuggle up on my lap.

How Do I Get My Cat to Stop Sleeping on My Legs?

While a slumbering cat on your lap can be very restful, you might find that having your cat sleep on your legs all the time gets a little inconvenient. Some cats are quite heavy and having them lie on your legs can become uncomfortable. If your cat insists on lying across your shins every time you go to bed, consider keeping her out of the room at night. As I say, I’ve had to make my own bedroom a cat-free zone due to my feline dander allergy, but waking up with pins and needles is another good reason to leave your cat outside the room at night.

If your cat struggles to sleep anywhere other than your lap, there are things you can do to help her relax elsewhere. It may be that she’s craving the heat from your lap, so providing her with a heating pad for her pet bed might help. Cats who are clingy often respond well to having an item that carries your smell; an old sweater or t-shirt, placed in her bed, might make an alternative sleeping location more appealing.

Why does my cat stare at me while I sleep?

If I don’t want my cats to jump into my lap, I find that keeping an object on my knees when I sit down usually deters them. I use a TV tray with a padded base and a smooth surface, which my cats don’t like much. This lets me sit down in peace without acquiring any feline ballast.

As long as your cat isn’t responding to a health issue, though, there’s no real reason to stop her sleeping on your legs. It won’t do her any harm and can be quite pleasant. You may wish to invest in a lint roller if she makes a habit of it.