Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Why cats may suddenly change sleeping places

Rebekkah Adams
By

Your feed probably fills with cats sleeping in weird places courtesy of the internet cat tax, but figuring out why a cat selects her napping spot will be more challenging than creating a meme. Almost all cats are drawn to specific areas of the house, and sometimes it’s immediately obvious why your cat selects a particular location to rest. We know they like sunny spots, boxes, and the most inconvenient place they can find on our desks.

You may wonder why, then, seemingly on a whim, your cat will shift from her top location to another spot in the house — sometimes far away from any people or sunlight. We’ll probably never truly get to the bottom of this, but there are a few reasons why your feline chooses a certain area for her bed.

Cat sleeps in a wooden bowl
Carla Burke/Pixabay.com

Why do cats sleep in odd places?

We’ve all stumbled upon our cats sleeping in weird places — crammed in a corner, high up on a shelf, on the dryer. Like us, cats seek out comfort and safety. Many of the spaces they commandeer for their naps are designed to mimic settings where they might have slept in the wild. A bookshelf takes over for a tree. A box replaces a cave. These locations naturally bring safety to your pet when she’s most vulnerable. Since your cat’s ancestors didn’t have you there to look out for them, they had to use their surroundings for protection.

Related

Your cat probably goes for comfort as well in her snooze spot. The feeling of a soft blanket could remind her of the kitten pile she probably slept in when she was a baby. That’s why you might find her entwined in a comforter if there are no other pets around to snuggle with. Unluckily for you, this means cats gravitate toward our beds and our clothes. Don’t be surprised if you find your cat in the laundry pile. Anything that smells like you is fair game for bedding as far as she’s concerned.

Cat curled up in the sink
Andreas Gruvhammar/Shutterstock

Why does my cat sleep in the bathroom?

Pets love to follow us around the house, but you may have walked into your bathroom to wash your hands and found your cat already in the sink. Like a box, this cramped corner feels like a little den for your feline. She also might be enjoying the cool metal or porcelain, and she can go for a quick drink by lapping up a little water from the tub or faucet.

Recommended Videos

Cats like bathrooms because they have lots of nooks and crannies for them to explore and fall asleep in. To a cat, a closed door is a challenge and the space behind it an instantly more interesting place to be. You may have more luck leaving the door open if you want to keep her out.

Let’s not forget, we often put our cat’s litter box in our bathrooms. Even if your cat doesn’t have to go, she’ll feel comfortable sleeping in her litter or nearby because it’s so familiar. Unfortunately, it probably smells like her, too, which in her mind means it’s her territory.

Why does my cat move from one spot to the next?

Just as your kitty seeks out a safe spot to sleep, she thinks she needs to move frequently to protect herself. While she may not have to worry about predators much now, she still retains the instinct to switch sleeping spaces. Cats will also move to adjust their bodies or regulate their temperature. When she gets too warm in her sun spot, she’ll move to that cool sink. When the floor gets too cold, she’ll seek out your bed.

Most cats shift frequently from place to place — it’s just in their nature. But if your pet is relocating more than usual or displaying other concerning behavior, like out-of-character pacing, it’s time for a trip to the vet. Rarely, this can be a sign of more serious discomfort and might mean she’s sick or injured.

Trying to get into the mind of your feline seems impossible, and you’ll probably never know exactly why she chooses each sleeping location. But you can rest assured that when she suddenly moves from one seemingly perfect spot to a new room, she’s following her inner cat compass to more snuggly quarters.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Watch this clever cat try to teach their pet parent how cat toys work
She wants to teach her human how to play with the dangly toy
Kitten plays with a yarn ball on a string

We love playing with our pets, and they seem to love it back. While dogs might enjoy endlessly chasing a ball or tugging at a rope, cats typically gravitate toward more obvious hunting games. That's why plenty of cat toys involve a small mouse, sometimes stuffed with catnip or another intriguing smell. You can also find cat toys that dangle on a string, something like a fishing pole, for the feline to bat and bite. Well, this particularly clever cat has decided it's her human who needs to practice and is determined to play a little game with him.

We can't exactly tell if this kitty was absentmindedly playing with her toy or if she's a diabolical genius who has set out to teach human owners a lesson; commenters seemed to lean toward the first (and we do too). In the video, the little mouser sits atop a sofa and playfully waves her toy in front of her owner, clearly trying to get him to swing at it. This clip is entitled "Derp has turned the tables playing with derp daddy" and was posted to the Animals Being Derps subreddit, a place for some particularly funny pics and videos of pets.

Read more
Family member allergic to cats? Where to find hypoallergenic cats for adoption
Can you have a cat with your allergies? Yes, and here's how
Bengal cat peering around a row of potted plants

While our opinions may differ on innumerable issues, there is one universal constant we can all agree on: No one enjoys suffering from allergies. If you're dealing with itchy eyes, a running nose, constant sneezing, coughing, wheezing, or even hives, then you're suffering from an allergy to something in your immediate environment.
Maybe it's just pollen, but it can also be... your cat. Cat allergies are relatively common, but just because someone in your family has cat allergies doesn't mean you have to give up your dream of being a cat parent. From bathing your cat to allergy treatments, there are a few tips you can use to limit exposure to allergens. Even better, you might even find the purr-fect solution waiting for you in a local shelter. Keep reading to learn more about hypoallergenic cats for adoption.

How do you adopt a cat if you have allergies?
If you're allergic to cats, it's important to understand just what is prompting an allergic reaction. NBC10 Boston explains that while many people believe that cat hair creates an allergic reaction, they're actually more likely reacting to cat dander, saliva, tears, and urine. Your cat releases an allergen called "Fel d 1" every time he grooms himself or uses the litter box. That allergen gets sent into the air, and it also lands on your cat's skin and hair. When you breathe that air or touch the hair or dander that contains that allergen, you may have an allergic reaction.

Read more
Everything you need to know about the adorable snowshoe cat
Never heard of the snowshoe cat breed? You're not alone, but they're worth learning more about
Cat with white paws standing up

We don’t typically think of cats as breeds. With canine companions, there is a ton of information on different breeds, including common physical and social traits.

However, felines also have separate breeds beyond just commonly known ones, like Maine Coons and Siamese cats. One you may not have heard of is the snowshoe cat. There’s likely a reason you’ve never heard of this cat, because the breed is rare.

Read more