Sometimes a person cannot explain some of the behavior of a pet. Furry friends often go to bed with their owners. Why does this happen if the animal has its own sleeping tray? This behavior of pets can be explained scientifically and with the help of folk signs. The owner has the right to independently decide why his furry friend behaves this way.
Not all people like it when an animal wants to go to bed with them. There is an opinion that animals simply like human bed, which is much more comfortable and softer. However, this is not entirely the correct opinion. The body temperature of clawed friends is much higher than that of humans, so in animals the desire to gain warmth occurs due to the work of sensitive temperature receptors. Even when the pet is warm in its rookery, it will always look for an even warmer place - this is the owner’s bed.
A cat feels calm and comfortable only when it sleeps next to its owner. When a person falls asleep, the animal carefully lies down next to him and dozes off.
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Furry friends are smart creatures and know that owners are against animals sleeping on a human bed, so they wait for the right moment to climb onto the blanket and fall asleep next to them.
It is also worth highlighting one more point. Cats most often choose a place for themselves not on the edge of the sleeping place, but rather lie on the owner’s legs, or they can climb on top and sit on the arms or chest.
Main reasons
According to scientists, cats prefer to rest in bed with their owner because they consider this place to be the safest for themselves. When they have trust in the person next to them, they feel most secure. In addition, there are other reasons for this pet behavior:
- Affection – Contrary to popular belief, cats, despite their independence, still become attached to people. They really miss their owner during his daytime absence from work or school. They wash off what they have lost and make up for it at night, curling up next to them in a cozy lump.
- Human warmth . Cats love comfort and warmth, so it is understandable that they look for the most warm, soft and comfortable place to relax, especially in the cold season.
- Sense of ownership . Cats are actually very jealous and often do not want to share their beloved owner with anyone. By taking a place next to his bed, the animal thus protects itself from potential competitors, which may include both other pets and family members.
- Smell . It is believed that cats spend most of the day not in deep sleep, but in a state of drowsiness. Complete rest for them is possible only with a feeling of peace and absolute safety. These are the feelings that arise in them when they are next to the owner whom they trust, and when they inhale their familiar familiar smell. It turns out that sleeping with the owner is the only option for a relaxing holiday for a furry pet.
- Children's habits – little kittens always sleep cuddled with their brothers and sisters. This gives them a feeling of warmth and security. This habit can also persist in an animal that comes into the house for the first time. It manifests itself especially clearly in the first weeks after weaning from the mother.
These are the most common reasons that animal psychologists explain the habit of domestic purrs to sleep with their owners. But there are other factors that determine this behavior.
Treatment session
According to esotericists and bioenergeticists, cats are completely unique animals that are capable of taking on the bad energy and illnesses of their owners. Therefore, pets often lie down on a person’s sore spot, thus conducting a therapeutic session. However, rationalists will explain this phenomenon differently.
The fact is that diseased organs are inflamed, have an increased local temperature, and cats, as everyone knows, prefer to sleep in a warm place. That’s why they lay on the affected organs in order to warm up. Although there is undoubtedly a benefit for the owner, since the heat emanating from the cat acts like a heating pad and really helps relieve pain.
Dominant behavior
Quite often, representatives of the cat family, and especially males, perceive sleep with the owner as a manifestation of a dominant, leadership position. They leave their scent on the pillow, sheets, and hair, as if marking their territory. And by laying on a person’s chest, stomach or back, they demonstrate that this is their property, which they have conquered.
Attention deficit
If a pet persistently tries to take a place in its owner’s bed, then perhaps it simply lacks attention, affection, warmth and communication. In this way, the animal tries to compensate for this, to spend time next to a dear person. Therefore, experts strongly recommend reconsidering your schedule and finding at least 15–20 minutes to play and communicate with your pet.
After all, sleeping next to the owner is an attempt to compensate for the lack of tactile contact and bodily communication. If a cat is removed from the bed without paying attention to it during the daytime, there is a high probability of developing a stressful condition. The animal becomes nervous, irritable, its character deteriorates and its immunity is weakened.
Cats are generally prone to depression. If, against the background of the fact that the animal strives to sleep next to the owner, it becomes lethargic, weak and nervous, it means that the owner really devotes too little time to it and does not show his love.
Finding a Quiet Zone
The owner is perceived by the cat as a reliable protector, capable of protecting it from various kinds of dangers. The presence of children, guests in the house, a noisy environment - all these are serious reasons for a cat to seek shelter in the bedroom and bed of its owner. In this case, the problem can be solved by providing the pet with a comfortable privacy zone, where it will be inaccessible to others and protected from adverse external factors.
Control of the situation
Many pets view sleeping next to their owner as an opportunity to control the situation. In this case, the pet always knows when the person wakes up, what he will do, where he will go. And then he can follow him into the kitchen, asking for a treat and not missing a possible feeding time. And in general, cats are very observant and try not to miss anything interesting that happens in the house.
Why do clawed friends choose to sleep in the area of the bed where the human feet are?
There may be several reasons. The pet finds a painful place on the owner's body. The animal senses where the person is sick and tries to warm him, thereby alleviating the uncomfortable condition. It is believed that a cat can help cure some diseases.
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Another suggestion why animals like to sleep at human feet. They constantly strive to find the warmest corner. The pet tries to surround not only itself with warmth, but also the people around it.
The cat wants to feel safe. A person is like a mother to an animal, so the pet feels like a small and defenseless kitten that wants to find shelter and safety near its owner.
Pros and cons of spending time together with a cat
Among the factors that speak in favor of sleeping together with a cat are positive emotions and the possibility of close communication with your beloved pet. In addition, many people note that it is much easier for them to fall asleep next to a warm, soft, purring lump.
It is believed that cats can relieve accumulated stress and treat insomnia.
But in this case, you need to be 100% sure of your pet’s health, do not let it go outside, bathe it regularly, get vaccinated and undergo regular preventative examinations with a veterinarian. However, the therapeutic effect of relaxing with a cat is still difficult to deny. Many people claim that such cat therapy helps them get rid of headaches, joint and muscle pain, and improve their overall well-being and mood.
Scientists and the results of sociological farrowings and clinical trials have proven that furry pets are one of the best antidepressants, calming and relieving the effects of stress factors.
Unfortunately, there are much more disadvantages to spending a holiday with a cat than there are advantages. The likelihood of infection with the following types of parasitic diseases increases:
- Helminth infections - infection with worms is very likely, especially in the absence of regular specialized treatment.
- Infectious bacterial processes - despite the cleanliness of cats, pathogenic organisms collect on their paws, especially when using a litter box. And even timely cleaning only reduces the risks, but does not eliminate them completely.
- Fleas , contrary to the erroneous popular belief, can parasitize not only animals, but also people.
- Mites provoke the development of scabies, which is extremely difficult to treat.
- Fungal infections are especially common in cats walking outside. When vacationing together, a person can easily catch ringworm and other unpleasant diseases from his pet.
Close and prolonged contact with a cat is especially dangerous for people suffering from an increased tendency to allergic reactions, low acidity of the skin, patients suffering from bronchial asthma and other problems with the respiratory system.
Even with a slight tendency to such pathological conditions, they actively develop and acquire an acute form with regular sleep with a cat. In the case of bronchial asthma, it is even more serious - a sick person can simply suffocate in his sleep during another attack.
In addition, there are risks for the cat itself. For example, in a dream, the owner can completely accidentally hit the animal hard, inflict accidental injury on it, and even strangle it, turning awkwardly in the bed.
It should be noted that not all people can completely relax and fully relax in bed with an animal. The result of such sleep is numbness in the limbs, chronic fatigue syndrome, lack of sleep, insomnia, and breathing problems. Therefore, no matter how strong the love for a pet is, it is better to show it in other ways and arrange a comfortable and safe place for the animal.
Should you let your child sleep with a cat?
Many children love to sleep with their favorite animal. Cats also rarely refuse such pleasure. But how safe is it for the child? Doctors often scare parents with a huge list of diseases that a baby can pick up from a pet.
But it has been scientifically proven that children who sleep with their cats are less susceptible to allergies and are less likely to suffer from diseases of the respiratory system, dermatological pathologies, and fungal infections.
The child learns to be more attentive, careful, caring, which has a positive effect on the formation of the personality and character of the little person when he sleeps with a cat.
Why do cats love to sleep with their owners?
In order for a cat to sleep next to me, I, as the owner, must become familiar with the reasons that prompt her to this action. Cat psychology reveals several reasons that help answer this question:
- Cats are quite heat-loving animals. They adore warmth, especially the warmth of a living body.
- The next reason lies in the special smell that comes from hair, especially women's hair.
- Another reason lies in the feeling of protection; the cat sleeps with the person with whom she feels calm, confident, with whom she feels comfortable and cozy.
- Animal psychologists say that throughout the life of a cat, a cat perceives its owner as a mother. That is why she will sleep with me as a mother. Until old age, she tramples on her owner with her paws, like a newborn kitten suckling its mother. When a kitten lives in a cat family, it sleeps clinging to its mother's barrel. If a cat has complete trust with a person, then the pet will sleep next to him throughout his life. And I, as an owner, will never have a question about how to get my pet to sleep next to me.
- There is a popular belief that cats have a strong biofield and they sense where a person has problems. Pets lie mainly on problem areas of the body, thereby healing a person.
Making co-sleeping with your cat safe
If the owner wants to sleep with his pet, it is not necessary to give up this pleasure. But you should take certain precautions:
- Treat your pet with specialized medications aimed at killing fleas, helminths and other parasitic individuals.
- You should not put the cat down with a child under school age.
- Be sure to wipe your pet's paws, especially if he takes walks outside.
- Refrain from sleeping with a cat if there is an increased tendency to allergic reactions.
Such simple rules will allow, if not completely eliminate, then significantly minimize the risks of possible undesirable consequences of sleeping together with a cat.
How to accustom a cat to its sleeping place
Many people do not like co-sleeping with a cat for a number of reasons. How to wean your pet from this without causing him serious offense and psychological trauma? Experts in the field of veterinary medicine and animal psychology advise adopting simple and accessible recommendations for everyone:
- Provide a comfortable, warm and safe place for your pet outside the master bedroom. It is important that the cat feels comfortable and protected there. If she is used to sleeping with her owner, to begin with her bed can be placed not far from the owner’s bed, but every time the furry pet tries to climb onto the bed, you should persistently place the cat on a resting place intended for this purpose.
- Before going to bed, spend a little time putting your pet in its designated place, petting it, and being close to it. This way the animal will calm down, get used to the changes, and feel comfortable, protected and not alone there.
- If the animal does come to the owner’s bed, you should not shout at it or abruptly drive it out. You can let your pet stay nearby for a while, and then carefully transfer him to the lounger.
- When a cat goes to its sleeping place on its own, it is recommended to encourage it by treating it to something tasty, praising it, and encouraging it with good words.
You can accustom your pet to a new place by sending it there as often as possible, especially after games, physical activity, eating, that is, exactly when the animal is calm, tired and in the mood for sleep. The lounger can be equipped with a pillow or blanket on which the animal likes to rest, so it will be more familiar and calmer.
It is also important to ensure that the cat’s sleeping place is really soft and comfortable, located in a warm area, protected from noise, drafts, and too bright light.
How to stop a cat from sleeping in the owner's bed
Some cat breeders prefer their pet to have its own sleeping place. There will be no need to wash his paws before bed and then clean his bed linen of fur. To arrange a cat's overnight stay, it is enough to buy a soft bed, a basket or a small house. It is advisable to place them near a warm radiator and cover the cat’s bed with a jacket or sweater with the owner’s familiar scent, and surround them with their favorite toys.
If the apartment is poorly heated in winter, place a heating pad or several plastic bottles with heated sand under the animal’s bedding. To radically wean your pet from sleeping in bed, you need to isolate him at night in another room for several weeks. At the same time, the cat must have access to the toilet and food. When these methods do not help, something frightening to the pet is placed on the bed, for example, a large soft toy. If, after all, the wayward creature came and lay down on the bed, it cannot be driven away. It’s better to just wait until the cat dozes off and move it to the litter, pet it, calm it down and give it an encouraging treat.
What not to do
When raising a cat, no matter what aspect it concerns, you cannot be rude or aggressive. Only affection and patience, as well as systematicity, will help achieve the desired result, while maintaining a good, trusting relationship with your furry pet.
You should never shout at a cat that comes to sleep with its owner, and even more so, do not use physical force. Such methods will only anger the animal and spoil its character, making it wary and distrustful.
Of course, it is important to be persistent and consistent yourself. For example, if the owner drives the animal away today, and tomorrow he suddenly takes it into his bed, this disorients the cat, and she does not understand how to behave.
Gently, but regularly, during such attempts, you should transfer the pet to its sleeping place. After some time, the cat is a very smart and sensitive animal, it will understand what they want from it and change its habits.
It is even better to start raising a pet from a very early age. Unfortunately, many people themselves teach kittens to rest together by taking a crying baby into their bed. Then retraining a grown animal with established habits will be much more difficult and problematic.
When a kitten gets into the house, it must be immediately accustomed to a tray, a place for feeding and resting.
Why cats love to sleep in their owner's bed
There are many possible explanations for this behavior. The bed itself does not attract the pet. The material of the bed linen is also indifferent.
The main reasons why cats prefer their owner's bed are:
- Seeks to keep warm in the warmest place in the house because of the feeling of cold.
- Instinctive desire to receive “maternal” warmth.
- Considers the master's bed a privileged place.
- He feels calm only next to his owner.
- When a cat or kitten selects a certain part of the human body as a place to sleep in bed, this may signal the presence of diseases.
The animal feels the fever and wants to heal the owner.
If a cat likes to sleep near the human head on the bed, the reasons may be:
- An expression of devotion and fidelity. If you drive the cat away at this moment, you will greatly offend it. Replace it carefully.
- Feeling negative energy and trying to help you relax and become more energetic. Pets help treat headaches.
- Shows your dominant position.
