You've just spent money on a quality cat bed to give your cat all the luxuries it deserves, and it still loves to sleep on your head. Is there a way out of this situation?
This is actually a very common situation for most cat owners. What the hell makes them act this way? Of all places, why do they insist on sleeping on your head? You would be surprised to know the reason for this strange behavior. Let's find out.
They're looking for your body heat
Your cat's body temperature is usually higher than yours. Their temperature ranges from 38 to 39 ℃ on an average day. This means that your cat gets cold very easily, so she is constantly looking for a warmer place, especially when she wants to sleep. Have you ever noticed that your cat sleeps on electrical devices, near the stove, or in an area exposed to direct sunlight?
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Well, they get the same pleasure when they sleep on your head. Your body heat leaves your head and is at a higher temperature than other parts of your body. What better place for your cat to sleep than his loved one's head? So don't be discouraged when they come to you; It is beneficial for both cats and people if they sleep together.
How many hours does a cat sleep per day?
A healthy cat needs to spend at least half of the day in a lying position, and sometimes cats can nap for up to 22-23 hours a day.
It turns out that when cats reach 10 years of age, they spend most of their lives sleeping. Naturally, this does not apply to all animals, since individual characteristics, age and many other factors play a large role in this matter.
The duration of a cat's sleep varies in each individual case within the range of 14-22 hours a day.
How many hours a day do cats sleep?
In fact, few owners of furry cats pay attention to how much their cats sleep. The thing is that animals sleep in short intervals, so it may seem that the cat is not sleeping at all, but just dozed off slightly.
Cats fall asleep very easily, and they can do this almost anywhere, be it the owner’s hands, the back of the sofa, the kitchen table or the windowsill. And just as easily and naturally, a cat is able to wake up, as if she had not slept at the previous moment, when she hears the sound of the refrigerator door slamming or the rustling of a bag of food.
Important! Such short, practically unnoticeable “breathes” make up most of the sleep of pets.
They like your scent
Smell is one of the best things that has a profound effect on your cat. They identify their potential prey and enemies by recognizing their scent. They have scent glands throughout their bodies and use them to leave scent marks on objects. And it's amazing when they want you all the time.
Your scent tops their list because they can associate it with someone who cares so much about them. So at night they go straight to your head to fall asleep for a long night, basking in your fragrance. You may wake up to find your cat "grooming" you by licking your hair - this is an adorable trait and a clear sign of affection on their part. Give your cat a rub in the morning, he deserves it after all!
You are his property
Cats are royalty. They believe that the human mission is to look after them and provide them with everything they need. For furry household members, a person is property that he can treat as he wishes. These graceful creatures want to be the main priority of the owner, strive to capture his full attention and, speaking without exaggeration, his consciousness. That's why throwing the bed you bought for them and settling on their owner's head seems like a brilliant idea to cats.
They feel safe
Although your cat stays at home with you, bedtime is the time when she wants to feel completely safe. They want protection from any possible attacks on them while they sleep. This is typical behavior of any animal in the wild; even the lion climbs the tree before they fall asleep to feel safe and secure.
In this case, your cat believes that your head is one of the safest places they could ever sleep. Your presence makes them feel protected. After all, you are the person who provides them with food and shelter and takes care of them in every way.
How to wean a pet?
When a cat is already an adult, it will be impossible to wean him from sleeping with a person. It is better to do the procedure with a kitten, but even in this case it will not be easy. It is necessary to prohibit lying on the pillow from the very beginning. Under no circumstances should you yell at or hit the cat, as this may affect its behavior in the future. If the cat is used to it, then you should equip it with its own corner in which it will feel comfortable and free. You just need to do it in the place where the cat often sat before. You should put toys and soft fabric to create comfort, and after a while the owner will see how the cat has settled down between the riches of its choir and washes its fur in anticipation of sweet dreams.
They want to spend more time with you
While you are away from home all day for work, your cat misses you a lot, and you yourself don’t notice it. No matter how many cat toys and other furry companions they have, they still lack the love that only you can give them. As soon as you get home from work, they get very excited and run to rub their feet on you. Cats love physical touch and this is also one of the reasons why they prefer to sleep next to or on the top of your head. Your soft hair makes the bed very comfortable!
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Why do cats like to sleep near their owner's head?
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Why do cats like to sleep near their owner's head?
And again about cat oddities... Respond, cat lovers! Do you often wake up at night with something warm and fuzzy touching your face? It is worth noting that there is more than enough space to sleep in the apartment. What's in the apartment! Even your favorite bed is wide enough to sit somewhere comfortably. But cats never look for easy ways!
And yet why? Most experts agree that the reason for this behavior in cats is the desire to occupy a warmer place. And, although the human body itself is quite “warm”, at night the center of heat shifts precisely to the head area. The body temperature of cats is higher than that of humans - about 39-40 degrees Celsius, and yet the tailed cats are always “not enough” for warmth. Moreover, they “prefer” to remain warm for the sake of the so-called basal metabolism, so as not to force their body to “strain” and “produce” excess heat. That is, it is much easier to find an external heat source and lean against it. The owner is the best candidate!
But this is just one theory, although it seems the most convincing. Cats are generally interesting creatures; they really love to make their lives comfortable, so that everything around them is soft and warm. And so that nothing will bother you again.
We have already noted that there are many other suitable places to sleep on the bed. Of course, there are places, but is it comfortable to sleep there? Take for example the area where your feet rest. If your sleep is restless, you will often toss and turn in your sleep. What then do you tell the cat to do? Roll over with you? Another time somewhere in the future somehow another time sometime later!
However, one does not exclude the other. So what do we have? Sleeping on your feet is uncomfortable. The head is warm and quite cozy. According to respected experts, the area of the owner’s head is the center of odors that are pleasant to the cat’s sense of smell. It has been found that many cats like the smell of our hair. The cat associates the smell of the owner’s face with absolute safety, and this is the only way she can relax and fall asleep fully. Safety for felines is an absolute priority.
Cats are also territorial creatures. They not only absorb other people’s smells, but also “give” their own, marking their own territory. Sleeping next to the owner's face - what could be better if you need to declare your rights to him?
By the way, there is another very interesting point, which, however, very often puzzles and annoys cat lovers. The fact is that when they wake up, they feel that their pet’s butt is buried in their face! Of course, there is little pleasant here. But there are still reasons for joy: the cat trusts you in the “holy of holies” in such a bizarre way, showing that you are an integral part of its family.
A cat sleeps according to its own cycle. And this cycle is different from our human one. In order to feel fresh and rested in the morning, it is advisable for us to sleep soundly and soundly throughout the night. It is clear that being close to a cat does not improve the quality of the owner’s sleep. Whether you like it or not, you will have to wake up at least several times during the night! It's all about natural cat instincts. Then the cat decides to go and eat. Then she will want to play - after all, she must maintain the reputation of a “night” animal. To ensure the normal functioning of the body, it is enough for a cat to divide its sleep into separate cycles of several hours each. But you can’t afford such luxury!
We are looking for a convenient solution. Indeed, the cat is a “nocturnal”, or rather “twilight” animal. And nothing can be done about it - that’s what nature intended. You can only “adjust” it a little, that is, make sure that the cat is active in the evening, at dusk, gives up all its energy and is thoroughly exhausted. This requires an active game, best of all “hunting”, in a variety of variations. After that, be sure to feed the cat tightly. Then the likelihood sharply increases that, having become tired during the game and having eaten heavily, the cat will proceed to its usual evening toilet, after which it will fall soundly asleep.
Is your pet annoying at night?
Well, you need to try to practice using the method described above. Cats love order in their lives and will happily embrace the new “tradition” of running around before bed. Don't expect immediate dramatic changes in your cat's behavior! Be patient and be consistent in your actions. Everything will be alright! Original publication: Strange Cat Facts: 'Why Does My Cat Sleep On My Head?' Author: Michael Arbeiter. Source and photo:
What to do
It turns out that your cat jumps on your head several times during the night. Unlike us humans, cats do not sleep for hours on end. If you can't sleep because your cat is nocturnal and she keeps moving or playing, here are a few things you can try that will help you and your cat sleep at night:
- Make sure your cat's bed is warm and cozy before she will be attracted to sleep. Otherwise, they will still hang around your head.
- It's important to have your cat exercise or do something else before bed. This will exhaust them physically, after which you can feed them good and tasty food. The combination of a satisfying meal and tiredness will help them take the next steps, meaning they will eventually prepare themselves for sleep.
- However, it is best to train your cat to stay outside your room all night. Just close the bedroom door, although they may scratch at the door or whine to let them in for a few days and they will get used to it. Make sure your cat has everything they need: water, food, cat bed, litter box and scratching post, and they won't bother you anymore.
Looking for a convenient solution
Despite their predisposition to being nocturnal, Vyacheslav said cats are nonetheless flexible by nature and can actually be persuaded to adopt more comfortable sleep habits, starting with some activity before bed.
“Use cat toys in a way that simulates hunting—pull the toy away from the cat and let the cat catch it.” “After a good workout, right after the last catch, give your cat a bowl of cat food. After this, the cat will eat, groom and fall asleep.”
According to the specialist, although any behavior modification may take some time, repetition can always help encourage predictable behavior. Your pet may be stubborn at first, but time and patience will truly lead to more mutually agreeable schedules and bedrooms.
Where cats sleep: energy
Cats are a source of bioenergy. The intersection of different energies in one house can be a positive and negative factor.
- Cats are sensitive to places where biofields intersect. Such points can negatively affect human health.
- The animal chooses a similar point for sleep and normalizes the energy, transforming it into a favorable one.
- The cat's biofield has a positive effect on humans. Pets neutralize negative waves.
- The cat tries to stabilize places with negative energy and locates itself in them.
Do not try to force your cat to sleep in a specific place in the apartment. He knows where to go to bed. Since sources of negative energy tend to change location, sensitive cats follow these movements.
Why does a cat lie on its belly when pregnant?
Obviously, the main reason is heat transfer. The body temperature of cats is 1-2 degrees higher than the human body, therefore, in order to feel as comfortable as possible, the living room should be about 25 ° C. Here are the pets purring and climbing around the house in search of warm places, one of which is the belly of a pregnant woman.
Another likely reason why a cat lays on a person is a sign of care on the part of the animal. Cats are in constant search of the tenderness of their beloved mistress. And when the housewife’s belly becomes round, they intuitively understand that during this period she needs to show increased attention.
The behavior of cats during the owner’s pregnancy may be dictated by other motives.
For example, here is what folk signs say about this:
- Cats, lying in a ball on their “pregnant” belly, protect the child from diseases and also lull him to sleep. There is some truth in this - such “therapy” calms the fetus, reducing active tremors, and also reduces the tone of the uterus.
- If the kitten tries to rest on its stomach, then something bad will happen to the child. In fact, this contradictory sign does not correlate in any way with facts and reality. Even large cats are not able to exert serious pressure on the fetus, since it is well protected by amniotic fluid.
- If a cat moves from her belly to her chest, the woman's milk may spoil. An absurd sign, since the animal is not capable of influencing lactation. Clinging to the owner's chest, the cat wants affection and attention. In addition, in the last months of pregnancy, the shape of the abdomen simply may not be suitable for lying, so the pet finds a more comfortable place.
- You can’t suddenly shoo a cat away from your stomach. In a sense, the sign is justified by the recommendations given to pregnant women, because in the position it is very undesirable to make any sudden movements. In this case, the emotional background of the expectant mother’s reaction is very important, since even fleeting excitement affects the fetus. In addition, it is necessary to remember that at the moment of fright the animal can release its claws, which is very undesirable.
Although it is traditionally believed that the essence of cats is independence and self-sufficiency, that animals, when lying on a person, pursue only their own interests, it is difficult not to notice their tender attitude towards their owners. Especially when manifestations of love and reverent attitude are mutual, and a person’s trust in an animal and vice versa has no boundaries.
