Ask A Vet: Why Does My Cat Sleep On My Head?

| Published on March 23, 2016

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Cat lovers wonder why their cats do certain things. There is almost always a reason, even though usually we are only guessing what it is. It helps to try to see the world through a cat’s eyes.

Think about how you seem to your cat. He cannot fathom something as large as you are, but he knows that your mouth speaks to him and your face is where your personality is expressed. To him, you may be just a floating head. He would naturally relate to something that is closer to his size.

My cat seems unaware that when he climbs my leg, it hurts me. He acts surprised when I squeal. It is almost as though he does not realize my leg is a part of me and he wants to climb up and reach my face. He loves to touch my nose with his nose and rub against my cheek so it stands to reason that he thinks my entire being is my head.

If I were just a head and my body were merely something I ride around on, it would also stand to reason that when the time comes to sleep he wants to curl up right next to my head because he thinks it is me.

If you take into account his normal desire to be up above the action where it’s safe and a tendency to believe that you are just your head then you might surmise that when he jumps up onto your bed and sleeps on your head. It is just a way to be with you as he sees you. He is snuggling right up where he feels safe and to what he thinks is the very heart of you.

Does your cat do something that perplexes you? Join in the conFURsation on Facebook by clicking here.

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