Have you ever asked yourself, 'Why does my cat sleep at my feet?' If you’re like me, there’s nothing better than a warm weight on your feet, and many cats love to fill that gap. But why do they seem to like it so much? And why do they choose the feet rather than the lap, legs, or the pillow next to us?
I’ve owned many cats and fostered many more in my life as a vet. While not all liked sleeping at my feet, many did. Whether I was curled up on the sofa or lying in bed, most of my cat companions could be found nearby, sleeping between my legs or on my feet.
In fact, even if you have the best cat bed, cats will be just as likely to use the furniture – especially if their favorite human is on it. I even had one foster cat who liked to burrow under the duvet with me! It’s normal to wonder why cats like sleeping on your feet, so let’s take a look at this cute behavior.
Why does my cat sleep at my feet?
So why does your cat prefer to sleep at your feet? Is it a territorial thing? Or maybe it’s all about protection? Well, as a vet, it’s worth me saying it’s impossible to know for sure. Every cat is an individual, and nobody has studied this behavior in the lab. That said, we have some pretty good ideas why cats might seek you out to sleep on your feet.
1. It’s the right temperature
Cats love warmth, as any cat owner with a radiator bed can tell you! And your feet are just the right temperature to give your cat a gentle heat. Not too hot, not too cold. Cats might choose to sleep on our feet because they enjoy the gentle warmth you radiate - aww!
2. You make them feel safe
If you have a close bond with your cat, they usually enjoy being around you and you give them feelings of safety and comfort. Lots of people notice that their cat seeks them out if they’re feeling afraid – in other words, you make them feel safe. Sleeping near your feet is a way for cats to get this feeling of safety, even while you’re asleep. If you notice your cat is feeling stressed, read our top tips on how to calm a cat during periods of high anxiety.
3. They’re less likely to be disturbed
When we’re asleep, we move a lot. Cats might actually prefer to sleep near our torsos or even on our chest, but have probably learned from experience that this isn’t a great idea. Our feet move less and are comparatively less dangerous – our cats may therefore choose this as the ‘best of both worlds’ – nearness without the danger of being rolled on in the night!
4. They like the smell
Wait, what? They like the smell? No, I haven’t gone crazy. Feet might smell a bit gross to us humans, but cats likely interpret this smell differently. Cats are very scent-based creatures and they get a lot of information about their environment by the way it smells. With all their sweat glands, feet probably smell quite a lot like ‘comforting human’ to our feline friends, meaning your cat is more than happy to cuddle up close!
5. You like it
Cats aren’t idiots – they know what you like and what makes you happy. They won’t always listen of course, but they will if it suits them. When you’re happy, your body makes oxytocin, and it’s possible that cats – like dogs – get an oxytocin rush in response to your oxytocin. In other words, they know you like it, and that makes them happy and relaxed. Cute right?
Do cats protect you while you sleep?
Some people wonder if one of the reasons cats sleep near us is to protect us while we sleep. It’s actually a very difficult question to answer. In general, cats are not hugely social creatures and therefore don’t tend to feel the need to protect their family like a dog would.
That said, cats can be protective of their family – it all depends on the individual cat and the bond they have with their humans. At the end of the day though, most cats will flee rather than flight, so although they might try to warn you before they take off, they’re unlikely to do much protecting.
While nobody knows exactly why cats like to sleep on your feet, it’s likely to be a combination of reasons. The warmth, the nearness to their safe person, the oxytocin rush, the smell and the reduced likelihood of being kicked off all contribute to it being a pretty neat place to be.
Of course, if your cat doesn’t grace you with their presence, try not to be offended – cats are individuals and there are plenty of other ways they can show their affection!
Want to learn more? Read our guide to cat sleep positions and why cats sleep on you.
