A cat is a domestic carnivorous animal. Cats are the only domesticated species in the Felidae family. The young one of a cat is called a kitten. Most humans keep cats as pets for companionship, and some others use cats to help them scare rodents away from their house, this is because cats make good hunters. There are over 60 breeds of cats in the world. Cats have a great sense of smell and their night vision is excellent too. Most domestic cats love to cuddle with humans as a way of bonding with them.
Cats sleep a lot as they grow older, and they conserve energy while sleeping. Some cats can sleep between 12 to 20 hours. Most cats are very conscious of their environment even when they sleep.
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Are you a dog owner, and you wonder why your cat sleeps on the corner of your bed? There are several reasons why it behaves that way. It could be possible that your cat feels more secure sleeping on your bed. Your cat loves being safe around you. Since cats are always alert even in their sleep, they sleep on the corner of your bed so they can act fast In case they perceive a predator or rodent around.
Below are other reasons why your cat sleeps at the corner of your bed. Check them out.
- For space
Your cat loves to stay on the corner of your bed where there is enough space for it to rest its body and where your hands or legs won’t disturb it from sleeping well.
Cats take the corner of your bed as their own space, a space that is private to them.
- For safety
If you have a cat, you must have noticed that your cat gets up immediately it hears a noise around it. This is because cats are always conscious of whatever happens around them, even during sleep. So, your cat sleeps at the corner of your bed because they feel safe being around you. You provide a form of security for your cat when it rests at the corner of your bed.
- Cats are territorial
As a cat owner, you should know that your cat is very territorial and by sleeping at the corner of your bed, it is trying to tell you that that space is theirs, they want it for themselves, and their scent on that bed always makes them think that bed is theirs. The territorial trait in cats makes them claim a particular space on your bed as theirs.
- For heat
Cats love feeling warm; that is why most cats love to cuddle with you in bed. Your bed and blanket provide your cat with the warmth it needs to enjoy a beautiful night’s rest. The heat from your body is also another way your cat enjoys warmth.
Please don’t allow the thick fur that cats have; make you feel they don’t need any more warmth from your bed; they do. Cats are naturally created to love heat; that’s why they don’t hesitate to occupy the corner of your bed to help them stay warm.
- For comfort
Since your cat can sleep for more than 15 hours, sleeping at the corner of your bed gives them all the comfort they need to sleep well. The same way you enjoy sleeping on your soft bed every night, that’s the same comfort your cat enjoys each time it rests on the corner of your bed.
- They love being around you
Cats are social, and they crave being around you, and your bed is one good place they can enjoy your company.
Your cat misses you when you are away from home; one way they can spend time with you is at night when you come back home to sleep. Cats show how much they’ve missed you by licking your body or lying down close to you. It is a sign of a beautiful bond you and your cat share.
- Freedom to stretch its body
Another reason why your cat sleeps at the corner of your bed is that it gives it the freedom to stretch its body anyhow it wants. If your mattress is enormous, your cat will love to stay on the corner of the bed so it can freely stretch its body.
Is it normal for your cat to sleep with you?
It is very typical for your cat to sleep with you. There are many advantages and disadvantages of your pet sleeping next to you at night.
What are the disadvantages of your cat sleeping with you?
- It can disrupt your sleep
Every night comes with a different way of your cat disrupting your sleep. Some cats will climb your head while others will climb your leg. Their frequent movements can distract you from enjoying a good rest.
Not sleeping well is not suitable for your health; that is why a lot of cat owners don’t like been disrupted while they are asleep; that is why they sleep in separate beds from their cats
- Your cat might get injured
A lot of cats get injured by their owners when they are asleep. If you are a cat owner and you make frequent movements while you are sleeping, allowing your cat to sleep at the corner of your bed at night can make it get injured. And you don’t want to always visit a vet every day because of cat injuries.
- Your cat can get your bed dirty
If your cat is an outdoor cat, it is customary to get dirty after playing each day. When they take this dirt to your bed each night, they tend to stain your bed with dirt. This will always make you change your blanket and bedsheets. It is not good to bring your outdoor cat into your bed except you get them vaccinated and dewormed.
- It will worsen allergies
If you have allergies as a cat owner, sleeping with your cat in bed can worsen it and give you insomnia. Avoid sleeping with your cat if you know you have allergies.
- Your cat shedding off its fur
Your cat will often shed its hair, especially if it has long hair. This might be a problem for you to clean each time it does that.
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What are the advantages of allowing your cat to sleep with you?
There are a lot of benefits attached to allowing your cat to sleep around you. Check them out.
- It can help you sleep better
Allowing your cat to sleep around you can help you sleep better. A lot of cat owners enjoy sleeping more when their pet cat sleeps close to them. And you need a lot of sleep to live healthily.
- It can help you bond well with your cat
Sleeping with your cat helps you bond well with it. If your cat sleeps close to you, it shows that it feels comfortable being around you. If you are always busy during the day when you come back home at night, try to bond well with your cat before bedtime, this will help them feel secure around you, and it will boost the trust they have for you.
- It helps to relieve you of stress
After a hectic day at work, coming back home to spend time with your cat will help relieve you of the day’s stress. Spending time with your pet releases a happy hormone that helps to reduce stress.
- It can help keep you company
Your cat can help you fight loneliness and depression and keep you company. If your cat sleeps next to you when you’re feeling sad, it will help you fall asleep quickly, helps you stay calm, and gives you peace of mind.
How to keep your cat away from your bed
Do you feel uncomfortable with your cat lying down on your bed? There are certain things you can do to keep your cat away from your bed. Check them out.
- Provide your cat with its bed
Get a comfortable bed for your cat, too, if you want it to stay away from your bed. Make sure your cat’s bed is warm enough for it to sleep in. Keep your cat’s bed close to yours so that it can feel secured around you. You can create a comfortable bed for your cat too. How can you do it? Get a thick and soft blanket and a box that is bigger than your cat. Feel free to decorate this box to suit your taste. Fold the blanket gently to fit the container you designed, then place the box in the corner of your room.
Take your time to introduce the box to your cat by carefully placing it in it. Set a bedtime for your cat so that it can get used to its sleeping time and its new bed.
- Ensure your door is closed
If your door to your bedroom is closed, your cat won’t find its way to your bed. So, ensure you keep your door closed to prevent it from entering. If your cat sees your door closed, it will be compelled to go somewhere else to sleep.
- Use a cat repellent
Cats don’t like some scents. So, spraying a cat repellent with a perfume that your cat is not comfortable with will force your cat to find another place to sleep.
Spray the cat repellent on the spot of your bed where your cat usually sleeps.
- Get a crate for your cat
This is another way you can keep your cat away from your bed at night. Get a crate for your cat to sleep in at night. But make sure you make the box comfortable for it. Ensure the container is significant too. Put cat toys, water, and food in the crate for your cat. The compartment should also be well ventilated. Let your cat out of its box every morning, don’t allow it to remain there all day.
Ways of preventing your cat from waking you up in the morning
If you’re not comfortable with the way your cat wakes you up abruptly from sleep every morning, you can do something about it. Check out ways of preventing your cat from waking you up in the morning below.
- Provide your cat with toys.
There are cat toys you can buy at pet stores. Providing your cat with toys can help keep your cat busy when it wakes up. Toys help to entertain your cat while you’re asleep. Some cats disturb their owners in the morning because they are hungry. There are things you can do about it. Provide your cat with an automatic feeder. It comes with a time feature. This automatic feeder will feed your cat well before you wake up; that way, your cat will not wake you up in the morning because of hunger.
Your cat may not get used to the time you set automatically, and you will need to set a time that is earlier and adjust it after some days. You need to be patient with your cat during this period.
Purchase an automatic feeder that has a reliable timer, compatible with both dry and wet food, and has a cleaning convenience.
- Provide a cat-friendly environment for your cat.
Create a cat-friendly environment for your cat. There are plenty of cat items you can buy from a pet store to keep your cat busy. Some of them are puzzles, catnip toys, or cat wands.
You can also adopt another cat that can keep your cat company even when you’re not at home. Your cat will have a companion to play with before you wake up in the morning to attend to it.
In as much as you are trying to keep your cat away from your bed, try to make sure you’re not harsh with it if it doesn’t catch up with what you’re using to distract it.
Spend time with your cat, don’t allow it to spend all day alone with its toys.
Conclusion
Your cat sleeps at the corner of your bed for so many reasons. Cats are territorial, and your mattress makes them comfortable and secure. Since cats are always alert, staying at the corner of your bed helps them leave the bed quickly when they sense an attack around them.
Sleeping with your cat has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Weigh your options and know what’s best for you.
Feel free to explore the tips listed in this article on how to keep your cat away from your bed.
Having your cat share your bed with you is such a beautiful experience. It helps you bond with your cat well.