My cat, Bess, loves to sleep at the foot of the bed during the winter months, and also enjoys being on the bed in the summer months as well.

Many cats like to share their owners’ bed at night, but they remain at the foot of the bed because it is easier to escape if the person unexpectedly rolls over during the night.  A cat normally sleeps at the foot of the bed or around your feet because a cat weighs approximately 3.6 – 4.5 kg whilst the average human female weighs 62 kg – approximately 12-13 times the weight of the cat.

If your cat likes to sleep on your bed at night, it may be because it enjoys your company and because it is warmer in the winter months. 

There are several disadvantages to this action, however, which I also discuss in this article.

It is natural for your cat

When your cat was first born, it would remain close to its siblings because it felt safe, secure, and warm.  By sleeping on your bed, and remaining close to you, your cat is simply continuing this habit into adulthood because they wish to continue to experience those feelings in their adult lives.

 

Companionship

Your cat may sleep with you for the main reason that it enjoys being with you.  Should you spend a lot of time away from home, your cat will greatly miss you, and be desperate to spend time with you when you return.  When I was a child, my first cat, Patch, would always want to climb up on to the bed, and sleep next to me.

Some cats, whilst they enjoy being in your company, do not want to be petted or fussed in any way, so sleeping at the foot of the bed is perfect for them – they are close enough to you without feeling that you will constantly be petting them, but also know that you are close by if needed.  Cats like having personal space.  If they were too close to us, that personal space would no longer be available.

The longer you spend with your cat, the greater the bond between you grows.  Having a purring cat next to you can be a great stress reliever for you.  Cats can be very loyal to you, and if offered love and affection, they would show it in return.

 

Sense of vulnerability

Your cat may sleep with you because it feels vulnerable whilst asleep.  It is in cats’ nature to be constantly on the alert, and ready to run or pounce on a potential predator.

If anything were to inadvertently happen during the night, it could warn you of the danger, and be safe in the knowledge that you would protect it.  It also offers them the sense of reassurance that they will always have a place with you.

 

Sense of smell

Your cat may like to sleep on your feet because it loves the smell emitted from them.  Our feet can be the smelliest part of our body and as such, your cat loves to smell them because it likes to smell you.

Cats are able to relax and feel more secure if they can sense that you are nearby through being able to smell you.

 

Could your cat be ill or has it noticed a change in you?

Although this is not a topic any of you want to think about, as you love your cat, it could be that if your cat has recently begun to sleep with you, and this is not something it has previously done, it has begun to feel ill.

Should this happen, you should check out other behaviours that may be different to that of the past, such as is it eating less, or does it feel lethargic, etc.  If you do feel that your cat is displaying different behaviour in other areas too, a trip to the vet may be required to put your mind at rest.

Your cat can sometimes pick up changes in your behaviour – if you feel unwell or depressed, it could pick up on that, and want to stay close to you to keep you company.  If you are ill and have to stay in bed, your cat will want to be close to you because it wants to bring you comfort.

 

Warmth

Cats are more likely to sleep with their owners in a colder climate because they want to feel warm, just like everyone else, and if they can feel cosy in your bed, that’s where they are going to end up.

My cat, Bess, slept at the foot of my bed during the bitterly cold weather through January to April, but now that the temperature is climbing, she no longer shows any interest in sleeping there.

Sleeping at the foot of the bed made her feel warmer and more content.  Although cats like to remain warm, they would not sleep with someone they did not trust, so you should consider it an honour that your cat trusts you enough to want to sleep with you.

 

Disadvantages to your cat sleeping with you

Although it is lovely that your cat trusts you enough to want to sleep with you, there are also some potential disadvantages to it sleeping on your bed.

 

It is your cat’s territory

Your cat may begin to think that your bed is theirs and they are doing you the honour of allowing you to sleep there, rather than the other way round.

 

It can be bad for your health

If your cat’s paws are dirty, it could transfer some dirt from its litter tray on to your bed, which could also include bacteria and parasites, therefore you must ensure your cat’s paws are clean before allowing it into your bed.  For more information about the dangers of cat litter, please read my article: dangers of cat litter.

Should your cat contract fleas, you should not allow your cat into your bed until the infestation has been dealt with – fleas cannot live on humans, but they can bite you, leaving behind a rash that can become very painful.  Fleas can be very difficult to eradicate and could result in you having to thoroughly clean your entire house or obtain professional help.

If you have asthma or your immune system is compromised, your cat should not be allowed in your bedroom at all – you should make sure that you set boundaries from the first day as your cat will be less likely to scratch the door to be let in if it does not think of the room as being its territory.

 

Cat hair in the bed

If your cat is allowed on your bed, it could deposit cat hair in it, which could cause you to begin to suffer from allergies, even though you previously did not.  To prevent this, it is prudent to brush your cat – that way, cat hair is less likely to accumulate in your bed.

 

Your cat could inadvertently crush your child

If you have a baby, you should never allow your cat to sleep next to your baby in its crib – although cribs are attractive to cats, a cat could easily smother a sleeping child, so you should ensure this never happens by keeping your cat out of the crib.

 

Cats do not adapt well to change

It is not easy to change your mind about allowing your cat to sleep with you – cats do not like change, and do not adapt well to it, so you may find that your cat exhibits destructive behaviour such as scratching the furniture.

If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, your cat may wake you up at 4 am demanding to be let out, and thus you will have a disturbed night.

 

Conclusion

Your cat may choose to sleep on your bed for many reasons which include companionship, warmth, safety, and security.  Your cat sleeping on your bed also shows how much they trust you – they would not want to sleep with someone they did not trust.  It is also how cats show how much they love you.

There are, however, some dangers to bear in mind before allowing your cat into your bed or your child’s bed such as your cat inadvertently crushing your child, it beginning to believe that your bed is theirs, the cat transferring bacteria and parasites from its litter box into the bed causing you to become ill, or allowing fleas into your bed, which can prove very difficult to eradicate, and may result in you being bitten quite badly.