Here at Kitty Expert, we try our best to explain changes in your cat’s behavior. Recently, one of our readers reached out to us asking why her cat stopped sleeping with her. In today’s article, we will answer that question, and tell you everything you need to know about why cats do and do not like sleeping in bed with you.
Why did my cat stop sleeping with me
The main reason why your cat will suddenly stop sleeping with you is because of age, temperature, comfort.
Age
The main reason a cat will stop sleeping with you is because of age. When kittens are very young, they love to cuddle up against their owners at night. This is natural behavior, as a kitten will usually snuggle with their mother when they are young in order to promote milk production in their mother’s stomach. They also stay close to the mother while sleeping so they can nurse whenever they get hungry. When your kitten is very young, they will likely snuggle up against you to receive this same sense of comfort and security. However, as your cat ages, they will become more mature and have less of an urge to snuggle with you while sleeping.
A cat that is older in age might also stop sleeping with you because it is difficult for them to jump up on the bed. This is because their leg muscles will gradually become weaker as they get older. If you suspect this is the issue, you should try lifting them up on to your bed, and see if they stay.
Temperature
Sometimes us humans forget that cats are completely covered in fur. While this definitely helps them in cold climates, it can certainly become a burden with warmer temperatures. If your cat is under the covers in your bed, it might be like a sauna. Additionally, being next to your large body and warm body temperature will heat things up even more. Therefore, your cat might stop sleeping with you because it has become too hot for them. If you suspect this is the case, you should try putting a fan near your bed to keep them cool.
Comfort
Lastly, your cat might stop sleeping with you because it is simply no longer comfortable for them. While humans will naturally move around in their sleep to find a comfortable position, cats can usually plop down in place and go right to sleep. Since humans move around a lot in their sleep, you could be bothering your cat with all your movement. There is also the possibility you are snoring, which can also deter your cat from wanting to sleep with you.
How to encourage your cat to sleep with you
Now that you know the reasons why your cat has stopped sleeping with you, you are probably wondering what you can do to help encourage them to come back. Below are the three best ways to encourage your cat to sleep with you.
Favorite toy
If your cat has a favorite toy, we recommend putting it on your bed. This can certainly encourage your cat to come to your bed and stay. You can also try putting your cat’s favorite blanket or pillow on the bed, and seeing if that helps lure them to you.
Heating pad
Another way to lure your cat to sleep in your bed is to put a heating pad under your blankets. You should only put the heating pad on the light setting so that your cat doesn’t become overheated.
Play time on bed
You should also try to play with your cat more often on your bed, especially during the day time. If your cat becomes more comfortable on the bed, he/she will be more likely to stay there throughout the night.
Wash the sheets
Another way to lure your cat back into your bed is to make sure that your are regularly washing the sheets. There is a chance your cat stopped coming to the bed because the sheets got to dirty. They also might not like the scent of your detergent, so you can try switching the type of detergent you use to wash your sheets. Cats have a strong attachment to the smell of lavender, so you might want to try a detergent that has that scent.