Why Does My Cat Lay On My Chest?

As a loving cat parent, you need to understand everything about your cat’s behavior and needs to make sure that it’s happy and well-cared for. What we, as humans, view as appropriate or necessary might not seem so from your feline’s point of view.

Most cat owners don’t really understand why cats act in a specific way, and accordingly, might not have the best reaction. If you have asked yourself: why does my cat lay on my chest, then this article is for you.

We’ll explain why your cat would rather sleep on your chest than in its comfortable bed. We’ll also tell you what to do in this case, so keep on reading.

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Why Does My Cat Lay On My Chest?

You’ve set up a comfortable bed, made sure that your cat has access to its favorite toys, and kissed it goodnight. Still, the cat crawls to sleep on your chest. There are several reasons why cats prefer to lay on your chest.

Your cat might find comfort in listening to your heartbeats because it loves you. Cats love to sleep on your chest because the physical touch feels like it’s hugging or cuddling you. Your heartbeats feel soothing and will help your feline sleep better, especially if it suffers from anxiety.
Cats can feel vulnerable when they’re sleeping, so they need to feel secure. Your kitty might curl up and sleep on your chest because it feels safer when it touches your body. If your cat likes to sleep next to you or on your chest, it means that it trusts you. This becomes crucial, especially if you have a kitten that misses being with its mother, as your hug will make the cat feel that it’s safe.
Your kitty is fond of warmth, so it might lay on your chest to feel warmer at night. By being in contact with your body, the cat will be more comfortable and warmer. The warmth will also help the cat sleep better, especially if it wakes up at night.
Your cat wants to mark its territory. This is true whether you have a partner or another cat. Your kitty wants to simply say, “They are mine!” and it wants every other creature to understand this, so it will sleep on our chest to show that you both belong to each other.
Your cat might be trying to bond with you. The power of the touch evokes a lot of emotions in all creatures, including humans and cats. This will be your cat’s way of telling you that it wants to get closer to you and build a stronger bond with you.
Your kitty feels safe when they’re sleeping on your chest. When it was a kitten, your cat slept on its mother’s body which made it feel safe and loved, but now that you’re the one taking care of it and represent a parental figure, it wants to feel safe in your arms. Your cat might seem tough when it’s chasing mice or other cats, but it’s a sensitive creature that craves attention and love.
Your cat wants to comfort you. If you’re not feeling OK or have been crying, your cat probably feels your tension and anxiety and wants to comfort you. It wants to hug you and make you feel loved, and it usually works. This kind of unconditional love is extremely soothing and comforting, so it will help improve your mood and make you feel better.
If your cat doesn’t usually sleep on your chest but starts to sneak into your bed every night, have it checked out. Take your feline to the vet to rule out any health issues that might be causing pain. This could be your cat’s way of telling you that there’s something wrong. You should also check that no one in the family or any other pet is attacking your feline and terrifying it at night.

What Happens When My Cat Sleeps on My Chest?

Although this seems like an unharmful behavior, establishing boundaries with your cat is crucial. If your kitty sleeps on your chest every now and then, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, you don’t want your cat to lay on your chest all the time for the following reasons.

Your cat’s claws will dig into your skin when it stretches as it sleeps deeply. This can be extremely painful and will wake you up several times at night, so your sleep schedule will be disturbed.
Having a feline sleeping on your chest can affect your personal life. You’re extremely fond of your cat and love it to the moon and back, but you still need privacy with your significant other. With a cat sleeping on your chest, this leaves no room for intimacy and privacy with your partner.
Every time the cat moves or purrs, you’re likely to wake up. Interrupted sleep has been linked to several mental and physical issues, so your health will get negatively affected by your cat’s behavior, especially if it sleeps on your chest every night.
As your cat gets older and heavier, having an adult cat lying on your chest will affect your breathing. You won’t be able to breathe deeply, and this will eventually affect your health. This is not a problem with a kitten, but remember that cats grow up fast, and it’s better to establish boundaries as early as possible.
Dealing with your cat is something, and sleeping with it too close to your mouth and nose is something else. You might get allergies because you’re breathing on the dander and other allergens found in the cat’s fur and on its skin.
You might accidentally turn and crush your cat. If you’re a heavy sleeper, you might not even notice that you have turned, which might harm or even kill your feline, especially if you have a kitten.

How Can I Stop My Cat From Laying on My Chest?

Establishing boundaries and sticking to the rules doesn’t mean that you love your cat less. You’re simply creating a routine that works for both of you, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

It’s OK and sometimes necessary to let the cat sleep on your chest occasionally, especially if it has been traumatized in some way. However, there are a few things that you can do to prevent this behavior from escalating.

Make sure that the cat has a suitable and comfortable bed, so it can sleep without being disturbed. The bed should be soft, and it’s recommended to have a heating feature, especially if you have a kitten that gets cold by night.
Let your cat play a little before going to bed, and make sure that it had a delicious dinner, as this will help it sleep better and faster.
If your cat feels anxious, you can give it an old jacket, sweater, or towel that smells like you. It will keep your cat warm and will also make it feel comfortable when you’re not available.
To soothe an anxious cat, keep the cat’s bed in your bedroom and close to your bed for a while. This way, the cat knows that you’re close, and you’ll be able to breathe comfortably.

Final Thoughts

Your cat sneaking into your bed shouldn’t be a sign of concern. But if your cat sleeps on your chest every night, you might want to control this behavior.

Your kitty might sleep on your chest because it’s scared, cold, or simply wants to show you that it loves you very much. Nevertheless, this can disturb your sleep schedule and prevent you from breathing comfortably at night. Make sure that the cat has a cozy warm bed where it can sleep, and give it a tasty meal before bedtime to help it sleep better.