Why do cats sleep on your chest?

Is there an instinctual reason?

78 points · 14 comments · view on lemmy.world

14 Comments

nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org · 53 pts · 3y

Domestic cats are social creatures. One of the ways that they show and seek affection is through cuddling. It's worth also thinking about their sharp senses of smell and hearing - they are engulfing themselves in the scent of those that they enjoy interacting with and/or considered family.

sabreW4K3@lemmy.tf · 44 pts · 3y

Warmth and they also enjoy listening/feeling your heart beat.

jordanlund@lemmy.one · 43 pts · 3y (2 replies)

That was the hardest bit for our big boy to understand after my open heart surgery... no more chest sleeping.

He curls up in my arm pit now.

favrion@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 3y (1 reply)

At least he grasped the concept. Did you show him the scars and train him from there?

jordanlund@lemmy.one · 11 pts · 3y

God bless him, he's just not that smart... :) It was a lot of moving him and telling him no. He got it eventually.

Rocket, the B&W, gets insanely jealous though. She's camped with me right now.

over_clox@lemmy.world · 43 pts · 3y

Warms

orcrist@lemm.ee · 36 pts · 3y (2 replies)
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independantiste@sh.itjust.works · 18 pts · 3y (1 reply)

I have a phd in cats and this is the only accurate answer

procrastinator@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y

My cat has a PHD and agrees

HR_Pufnstuf@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 3y (1 reply)

So after you fall asleep, they take your soul as you exhale. ;)

em2@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 3y

I remember that show!!!

thesprongler@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 3y

Because they are perfect angels sent to calm their pets (us)

OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 3y

Cats will sleep on your lap/chest because it reminds them of mama.

Cats will lay/sit on your head because it triggers their parental instinct.

I have a cat who sleeps on my lap, or if my wife is lying down the cat curls up on/around her head.

I guess that means my cat thinks I’m my wife’s grandpa?

ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.de · 8 pts · 3y

Not mine, sadly... Is there a word for this linguistic phenomenon so that I can complain about it in a nerdy community?

PopcornPrincess@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y

Cat tax, please..