Skip to main content

Why cats love to lie on people

We often see cats who have a fondness to lie on top of their owner and purr themselves to sleep. With years of experience with cats, we know that they lie on people they trust and don’t feel vulnerable. After extensive research, today we will address the question many cat owners and cat lovers ask — why cats lie on people.

Do cats really love to lie on people?

Cat lying on top of man on couch
Magui RF/Shutterstock.com

If you are a cat owner, you must have experienced that your furry friend minds their own business all day, but they suddenly they come lie on your lap or chest and purr. Your little explorer might lie on you for hours if nothing more interesting catches their eye.

Recommended Videos

A cat sleeps around 16 hours a day, and they feel most vulnerable during their sleep. So, if a cat sleeps on top of you, it means they truly trust you and expect nothing to go wrong. There is no better compliment than your furry friend choosing your lap as their preferred resting spot.

However, a cat won’t lie on you if you place them forcefully on your lap; they make their own decisions. So if they lie on you, it means that you are special. Make sure you give them plenty of affection and warmth.

Reasons why cats love to lie on people

While it’s no secret that your kitty loves to lie on you, you might be eager to know the reason why they prefer you, and there are numerous ones. Let’s look at some:

  • They’re seeking warmth. Regardless of the weather, cats love to sleep and rest in warm places. They love to lie on you because they enjoy your body heat. The majority of your body heat is released through your lap and chest, so they like to lie and fall asleep in these spots. In the interim, your bed is a delicate, agreeable spot for your pet to lie while resting.
  • They want to bond. Cats aren’t very expressive of their love toward you. However, by lying on you, your furry friend might be trying to tell that they love you. They are bonding with you.
  • Marking territory. We all know that humans don’t select a cat, a cat selects its human. Cats like to leave their scent in their territory to recognize it later, and by lying on you, they might be trying to mark you as theirs.
  • They enjoy your company. At some point, we have all experienced that our cats lie on our lap while we talk with other people. Your cat refers enjoying your company and voice. Also, the sound of your body might be alleviating to your fur baby when your pet dozes on you.
  • Your cat loves you. You might be working just like most people. At the point when you’ve finished your workday, all your cat wants is to be close by and chase after you until you sit so that they can lie on you. Why? Because your fur baby loves you.

Why do cats purr when they lie on you?

Have you realized your fur baby purrs when they lie on you? Well, a cat purrs to express happiness. Cats not only purr when they feel happy, they also purr when they feel relaxed, and by purring they send a wave of calmness. So when your kitty purrs in your lap, they feel secure, relaxed, and express their love for you.

Does it mean they are scared?

When cats lie on you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are scared of something. However, they do so to feel more secure and safe. Cats don’t lie on people they don’t trust and feel secure being near them. Believe it or not, cats blindly trust its humans and lie on them when they are scared – they find the lap the safest place in the house. They have nothing to be afraid of when their most-loved individual is there, so your feline sleeps soundly when there’s nothing to fear.

Cat lying on woman on couch
Impact Photography/Shutterstock.com

So do cats love to lie on people? Absolutely! Your little mischief-maker might ignore you all day, but at the end of it, your lap the best spot to lie on. Your fur baby will purr out of affection and love for you.

Can cats eat bread? What to know before you feed this snack
Cats can eat bread, but should they?
A cat in a chef's hat in front of bread

Sometimes, you can remove items hazardous to your cat's health from your home, such as daffodils. However, certain food products, like coffee and grapes, may be more challenging (or impossible) to nix from your lifestyle.

Bread is also often a kitchen table staple. The versatile carb is accessible and easy to dunk into soups, used for a sandwich, or topped with avocado. Your cat will likely be around bread throughout their lives. Is bread a threat to a cat's life? Can cats eat bread? Some foods, like chocolate, can present severe health issues for cats. Others, like broccoli and carrots, are considered safe. Which list does bread fall into? The answer is complicated. Here's what to know about whether bread is toxic for cats and if handing over a slice might improve their health.
Can cats eat bread?

Read more
Why do cats kill small animals? A chemical analysis of their whiskers has the answer
What to do about this natural yet unsettling behavior
A gray tabby cat hunting in grass

While there's no doubt that your cat is a cuddly little fur ball, he’s also a natural-born predator. In fact, domestic cats are considered a globally invasive species, and one 2013 report found that cats kill 1.4 to 3.7 million birds yearly. Unfortunately, the news about your little sofa lion’s capabilities only gets grimmer from there. Cats kill more than 20 billion mammals each year, including rats, squirrels, and rabbits. However, this surprises many cat owners, especially if their sweet kitty happily purrs all day and snuggles with you each night.
A study of cat whiskers provides more insight into why cats kill animals. Here’s what researchers found and what it teaches us about our feline friends. You may be surprised at what you learn!

Why do cats kill? About the study

Read more
Tuxedo cats: What you need to know about this black and white kitty
These pretty kitties come in all shapes and sizes
A tuxedo cat lies on a black and white rug

One of the best parts of picking out a new pet is deciding what color you want. You have a blank slate of almost endless possibilities for your fur baby's forever outfit. While we don't recommend selecting on coat alone, it can help to narrow down the kind of kitty you look for.

Some patterns only come along with specific breeds, but others exist across the spectrum, including the tuxedo. Any cat with a black and white motif can qualify as a tuxedo, though since it's not a breed, you'll see all sorts of variations. Here's what you need to know about bringing home tuxedo cats.
What is a tuxedo cat?

Read more