One wrong look and you’ll know it. Sometimes, though, our cats will snuggle with us, and we all have one question running through our minds – why?
More importantly, why do cats specifically like to lie down on our chests?
If you’ve been wondering this, you are not alone! Plenty of people around the globe are baffled by the behavior of cats.
Whenever a cat decides to take a nap on us, most of the time we don’t know why. Does your cat really love you, or is this some kind of manipulation tactic?
Well, we hope to clear a few things up for you in the article below. So, if you’re curious about why cats like to lie on your chest, keep reading!
Why Cats Like To Lie On Chests – Top 5 Reasons!
There are thought to be five main reasons why a cat would lie on your chest. None of these should surprise you too much, because cats can be loveable, too!
They might be difficult little creatures most of the time, but sometimes, they like snuggles.
Affection
Affection is the first reason your cat could lie on your chest. We’re sure that when you stroke their fur and give them affection, they’ll return the favor.
It’s a natural instinct for an animal to seek comfort from another member of its own species. This includes humans, too!
When someone you care about reaches out to you, you do the same for them. That way, they feel loved as well.
Even if our cat isn’t aware of what he’s doing, he still likes to get attention from his owner. It makes him feel important.
Besides, how many times has your cat ever lain on your lap and received some type of petting?
They Like Your Heartbeat
Heartbeats are soothing, and there’s a good chance that cats like it, too! A lot of people believe that cats are attracted to heart beats.
There may be something about the rhythm that appeals to them. While we can’t confirm this, it does make sense.
After all, think about it: the heartbeat is a comforting sound to so many species. In fact, when we fall asleep, we often hear our own hearts beating faster.
When we’re startled, the heart rate increases as well. For a cat, having a steady heartbeat sounds similar to being stroked gently.
With such gentle vibrations, it’s easy to see why your feline friend may choose to lay down next to you.
You’re Warm
Animals like to be near warm things, and cats are no exception. Your cat might lie on your chest because you are warm, and they are cold.
The heat radiating off your body will feel nice for them, which is probably how they know you’re friendly.
If they had a choice between sleeping under your bed, where it would be colder, or on your chest, where you were warmer, they’d pick the latter.
And since they know that you won’t bite them (at least we hope not), there’s little risk involved.
They’re Looking For Comfort
Cats like to be comforted too! To most cats, their owners are very comforting figures in their lives
Whether they’re in pain or simply need to rest, cats prefer sleeping near their human counterparts, especially those who provide them with food and water.
Of course, if your cat truly needs help, he will let you know. However, while he’s napping, he might just want to enjoy the warmth of your chest.
You Belong To Them
Don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s the other way around. Us humans are simply slaves to our felines, and they see themselves as the leaders of the house.
A cat could lie on their human’s chest because they want you to know that you belong to them.
Cats often mark their territory simply by spreading their scent around, which is why they lie on everything!
They’ve been known to use items such as blankets, pillows, and even beds to cover up their scent markers.
But when it comes to us humans, they don’t seem to mind sharing such comforts. So why should you care whether your cat chooses to sleep on your chest?
Simply put, they have every right to decide where they want to rest.
If your cat lies on you, you have no choice but to stay there until they want to move. They’re the boss, remember?
Realistically, our cats want us to know that we are a part of their family. They are territorial, and you might be part of that territory, so just enjoy it!
Don’t Like Having A Cat On Your Chest?
If you want a little less cat-on-your-chest-time, you should invest in a good quality cat bed for your feline.
You could also simply close the door to your room at night so that you don’t wake up with a cat butt in your face.
Understandably, the thought of locking your fur baby out of the room at night might not be a good one, and that’s okay!
Hopefully, if you get a bed that is more comfortable than your chest, your cat will choose that!
Let’s remember that cats tend to love boxes more than anything, though. If you were to get a bed that looked and felt like a box, that might do the trick, too.
Maybe all you need to do is buy a big, expensive cat bed, and use the box it comes in?
Final Thoughts
Sometimes you can’t win with cats. Buy the best bad they could ask for, and the box is all they want.
Learning everything you can about your cat will help you decide what they are after, and what you can do to reduce the time they spend on your chest.
If you don’t like them on your chest (there is literally no reason not to, you should feel honored), you could try training them out of it.
Alternatively, have a room in the house that the cat doesn’t go into.
If you want to get away from your cat lying on your chest, you can just go in there and shut the door.
Hopefully you don’t feel that way, and see your cat lying on your chest as a good thing (which it clearly is).
Chances are, your cat is just showing you how much they love you and appreciate your company.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
