Cats love to sleep between their owner’s legs, and it can sometimes be interpreted as their desire to rule over the house. It actually turns out that they seek comfort, attention, and show that they have complete trust in you. Cats can sleep anywhere, but they desire a warm and secure place, usually on the owner’s body. When cats fall asleep, their body temperatures decrease by a few degrees, and they look for a warm place to sleep.
However, the big question is why between the legs and not any other part of the body? Cats happen to be the most vulnerable. They find areas to nap where they feel protected and where they will not be surprised and not have an escape route. Out in the wild, cats are competent predators, but they still have enemies. Showing their vulnerability is life-threatening, so they find sleeping between the legs comfortable, safe, and secure.
Why Cats Sleep Between the Owner’s Legs
It makes them feel safe.
Cats feel safe when they sleep next to their owner. This shows how comfortable they are around them and should be taken as a compliment. Cats have their natural wild instincts that include sleeping or taking a nap in a cozy place that makes them feel secure. Even though it looks like there should be no reason for the cat to feel insecure, their wild instincts guide them.
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If the cat has gained trust in you, he would want to be sleeping near you. This is the instinct that they use in the wild to survive and keep away from predators. If the cat sleeps between your legs, it would be best not to wake him up abruptly. This can make the cat defensive and can scratch you. When the cat is alarmed, he may flail around with the claws out and cause serious harm. Ensure you wake them up from their sleep gently.
They are trying to stay warm.
While sleeping, the cat’s body temperature reduces by three to four degrees, making them feel chilly. The cat will wedge himself between the legs to get some warmth and eventually emit some heat to feel warm. Wild cats and domestic cats alike use their instincts to look for warm places to take a nap. The warmer the cat is, the easier it is for them to get enough rest. The area between the legs is adequate for them in maintaining a warm temperature while sleeping.
It is a way of showing possession.
Cats tend to be very possessive animals. They display a wide range of characteristics to prove it, including sleeping between the owner’s legs. This is a way to claim the owner so is rubbing up against the leg frequently. If other pets are living in the house, the cat is likely to behave this way often. Cats also get jealous over the amount of attention being given to them or other animals.
For this reason, it would be best not to move them once they snarl up between your legs. Cats have glands that can emit pheromones that make them claim their territory. The pheromones cannot be smelled when emitted, but it is a natural behavior and instinct.
The cat is stressed out.
The cat can fall asleep between the legs because he is stressed out. Being close to you makes him feel comfortable and shows that both of you have established a strong bond. There is a wide range of reasons why the cat can get stressed, including another pet’s presence in the house.
You should closely monitor the interaction between pets to avoid one pet getting bullied by other pets regularly. Most domestic animals go to where their owners are when they feel anxious or stressed. Other stress factors include loud storms outside or things that frighten them.
They are attracted to the owner’s scent.
The cat could be attracted to the owner’s scent and wants to stay beside the owner. The scent could be that of perfume, cologne, or soap that the owner uses. Cats are tuned finely to sense the smell and get curious about what it is. They can find the scent pleasing or generally relaxing.
It is a good vantage point so that he can keep an eye on the surrounding.
Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and are active during the night. Cats are not classified as nocturnal animals but possess some characteristics of such animals. They are active at dusk and dawn and tend to be awake at night. Cats sleep for 16 to 18 hours in a day and have altered sleeping patterns.
Cats have the ability to see well in the dark. They have an adaptive night sleeping behavior, but some of them might not sleep at night at all. The cat chooses to sleep between the legs as it is a vantage point and can keep an eye on what is happening while people sleep. Cats like sleeping in elevated areas naturally so that they can keep an eye on the predators in the wild.
Being in a raised position allows the cat to have a vantage point of the environment and see danger from afar. Besides, sleeping between the legs is a perfect spot for them to survey the room properly.
Good health and special bonding
Cats can sleep between the legs of the owner to get along with them. When one bonds properly with the cat, he feels loved, happy, and improves his general health. Good health is achieved through the lowering of blood pressure. When the cat sleeps on the owner, his blood is smoothly flowing, and the heart can pump the blood to all parts of the body. This makes the can fun-filled and loves the owner. When the cat is comfortable and stress-free around people, he becomes happy and less aggressive.
Why Cats Prefer to Sleep Between the Legs Compared to Other Parts of The Body.
Legs are soft like pillows– the legs are soft and well-padded with fat making it comfortable to sleep on. This appeals to cats as they feel like they are sleeping on a comfortable couch.
The legs are an easily accessible part of the body-even though the arms are soft and produce considerable heat; cats do not prefer them as they are less accessible. On the other hand, legs are ever accessible whether you are slouching back, sitting, or sleeping.
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Humans do not move their legs as much as other parts of the body. The major reason cats prefer legs is because of the fewer engagement legs have compared to arms. Common activities like browsing, typing away on computers, or watching do not majorly involve the legs. Cats would get irritated sleeping on places that are not still and hence choose to sleep on legs.
The cat may be used to sitting on the lap and hence finds it normal to sleep between the legs– cats tend to be creatures of habit and get into routines that are hard to change. If the cat spends most of the time during the day, it is easier for him to sleep between the legs.
The cat could prefer sleeping between the legs compared to arms if he does not want petting– some cats are not used to petting that much. They prefer sleeping on the legs to snuggle but not to pet.
Cats sleep between the legs as legs are comfortable compared to arms– cats like sleeping on both legs as they are two soft, comfortable and warm body parts instead of one. The cat can get one leg on each side of their body when they are between the legs.
The legs are near the core, which is the warmest part of the body– the warmest part of the human body is the torso, where the body’s crucial parts reside. The extremities like arms, hands, legs, and feet are colder than the core. Sleeping between the legs is ideal for the cat as he gets access to heat.
Cats sleep between the legs due to their attraction to visually defined spaces- cats love places that are visually defined, like card boxes or places with paper plopped on the floor. The space between the legs is also one of the visually defined spaces that cats love sleeping in.
What to Do If the Cat Sleeps Between Your Legs.
Allowing the cat to sleep between the legs is a sweet gesture but can bring trouble to you. Having the cat between the legs restricts movements and can also harm the tiny cats. To prevent this, you can provide an alternative sleeping area for the cat that can still provide security and warmth. You can get a heating pad in the cat’s bed, add more beddings or clothes that the cat can feel warm and feel the scent.
The sleeping place should be higher than the normal bed to give the cat an illusion of height. The cat will not immediately agree to sleep away from you, but he will adapt to the alternatives provided with patience and constant training.
Pros and Cons of Sleeping with The Cat
There are various benefits as well as demerits of allowing the cat to sleep between your legs. They include;
Pros
- Provides stress relief to both the cat and the owner
Cats release oxytocin, a feel-good hormone, while humans gave cortisol. These help in dropping the stress levels significantly when the cat snuggles between the legs.
- It is a great bonding way for the owner and the cat.
Sleeping with the cat between your legs is a great time to catch up with the cat as he snuggles and sometimes plays. This is important when the owner is not at home most of the time and helps the cat build trust.
- It brings a sense of coziness and warmth for both the cat and the owner.
It is not the cat who will only benefit from the warmth, but it is also beneficial for the owner.
Cons
- It disturbs your sleep.
Cats are not classified as nocturnal animals but are active at dusk and dawn and can be awake all night. This can disrupt your sleeping pattern if the cat sleeps between your legs at night.
- It poses hygienic problems.
While the cat can be indoors all day, he may still track dirt, dust, or kitty litter into the bed. If the cat freely roams outdoors during the day, it becomes an even greater problem as he can carry diseases from other pets.
- It can be very uncomfortable for you.
Even though we love the little cute creatures, humans love the privacy of the sacred sanctuary and the comfort of sleeping in them. If the cat constantly sleeps between your legs, it can get to an uncomfortable point if the cat is chubby.
Common Cat Sleeping Positions
- All curled up– the cat can be curled up with the tail around the body, and the head tucked facing the chest. This is a common cat pose and sleeping position. This is because the cat is trying to gather warmth while sleeping to protect vital organs.
- Belly up position– id the cat is sleeping in the belly-up position; it means he fully trusts you. Cats sleep in this position when they feel that they are very safe and secure. The stomach is the most vulnerable part of the cat’s body and by him exposing it freely means he is very comfortable.
- Half eye shut– cats love to sleep for long times and dream a lot too. The interesting fact Is that cats can sleep and be awake at the same time. This is a natural skill developed in the wild so they can keep an eye on predators. With one eye open and the other shut, the cat can be sleeping but conscious enough to be alert for impending danger.
- Paw across the face-when a cat sleeps in this position. It means he does not want to be disturbed. This is an instinctive move, showing that the cat is blocking off light in the room.
The Bottom Line
If the cat likes to sleep between your legs, you should be glad as it is a sign that he trusts you completely and loves you. The cat feels safe, secure, protected, and warm while sleeping between your legs. Above all, the cat is building a territorial mark to show ownership and possession. If it gets uncomfortable, you can get the cat an alternative sleeping area within the bed where he will still feel warm and secure.