You might be lying on the couch watching your favorite show or reading a book, and you suddenly see your cat come up and rest its head on your chest.People have always been curious about this behavior from their cat, and there are multiple theories behind this kitty habit. Let us find out the main reasons that lead to such a behavioral display by the cats.A cat has multiple moods and personalities. One moment it can be chasing after a rat or jumping on top of walls, and the very next moment, it can be in an adorable position on your chest. If you are not aware of this, cats sleeping on their owner’s chest are something they enjoy a lot. Cats may often display some peculiar behavior when they seek to sit on your chest. They walk around you or on your chest with their heavy paws before they decide to sleep finally.Although cat owners usually love this kind of behavior, they are sometimes irritated, too, as a cat walking on your chest with its heavy body may become inconvenient and uncomfortable. Let us go over some common reasons people believe in lying behind their cats, curling on their chests. The most common belief is their need for warmth. Cats love to find a cozy spot and snuggle up for a small nap. The warm conditions they enjoy when they sit on your chests is a significant reason behind such activities of theirs.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about Why do cats like boxes? and Why do cats throw up? here on Kidadl?Why do cats lay on your chest and purr?There are several reasons why cats may rest on your chest, but the main reason is loving warmth and a comfy, secure feeling. When a cat lays its head on your chest, it gets a comfortable feeling and enjoys the bond created, and the most apparent reason behind this is that the cat loves you and shows its love for you in this way. So if your feline friend curls upon you, don’t be afraid, instead be happy that it loves you and is happy living with you. Below mentioned are some of the most common reasons for your cat laying on your chest and purring:Your heartbeat is soothing to them. Whenever your cat sleeps on your chest, it can hear your heartbeat, and this is a calming or soothing sensation to the cats as they feel it to be quite similar to when they could lie beside their cat mothers. Cats, just like other animals, get quite the same feeling as when they used to lie beside their mothers and could hear their heartbeats. So irrespective of how much a cat grows, the warmth and security they get when they are in their mother’s presence remain the same. Interestingly, when a cat purrs after resting on our chest, it is beneficial for us humans. Researches have concluded that a cat’s purr has a calming effect on humans and reduces the chances of heart diseases and stroke.Cats need warmth: Cat owners have often noticed their pets seeking sunlight and looking for a spot near the window to enjoy the warm conditions. In colder countries, cats like to sleep near the fireplace as our feline friends enjoy the warm environment it provides. Despite their thick coats, they seek warmth, and thus, their choice of sleeping on their owner’s chest is familiar territory. Humans are naturally warm, and not only do they provide heat to their pet cats but also provide a sense of security to them.Cats feel safe and secure. Even though a kitty might have a bed dedicated to resting, they often feel unsafe and vulnerable while sleeping. When they were tiny kittens, they would sleep with their mothers and feel safe. This habit of theirs stays with them for a long time, sometimes even till adulthood. This is why cats choose to sleep on your chest, as they feel assured that this is an utterly safe and comfortable place to be. Your cat can smell you and feel your heartbeat which allows your cat to sleep and be comfy.Why do cats lay on your chest when you sleep?A cat laying on your chest while you sleep isn’t a new phenomenon, but it isn’t something random. There are several reasons cats choose to position themselves adorably on your chest while you sleep. The most reasonable explanation for this activity of your cat is your body’s sounds. This might come as a shock to you, but researchers have confirmed this theory.Whenever your cat chooses to lie on your chest while you are asleep, it is because the sounds of your rhythmic heartbeat and the steady breathing pattern calm the cat. This calming nature of our breath and heartbeat sound provides some delight to the cat. At the same time, humans dissipate heat, and cats love a warm environment. When cats sleep on their owner’s chest for hours at times, they get everything they need for a comfortable nap, a cozy warm place to curl up, a familiar and secure environment where it feels comfortable and won’t feel vulnerable after it sleeps. At the same time, it can also resonate sleeping on its owner’s chest with sleeping with its mother as a kid.Moreover, above all these reasons, your cat loves you and sits on your chest. Up close to you is a way it expresses its love and affection towards you. These are some of the most probable and possible reasons why your cat lies on you all the time. Additionally, when cats sit on their owners’ chests or lap, they bond with them. These bonding sessions greatly help your kitty to become comfortable with you.Do cats protect you when lying on your chest?When your cat lies on your chest or sleeps entirely, it isn’t trying to protect you; instead, it is trying to gain some sense of security and enjoy the warm conditions. However, you, too, have been open to several advantages when your cats lie on your chest. Over the years, many pieces of research have been conducted regarding how a cat sitting on its owner’s chest for hours is beneficial for humans. Multiple theories have been proven now that people who own cats have lower stress and do not suffer from high blood pressure.Even though your cat may not be trying to protect you, it might be covering more of you with pheromones from their scent glands. Cats like to mark their presence in an area by leaving their smell there, and one way to do that is by sitting at that place. When other cats get a scent of a different cat over the legs or the entire human body, they will understand that some cat has staked its claim on him. Cats are territorial creatures, and when you own multiple cats under such circumstances, one cat may seek to sleep on your chest more than others as it is trying to claim that you are its property using its scent glands!Talking about how a cat might benefit you, if not protect you, well, for starters, scientists have concluded that people who own cats are 40% less likely to suffer from health conditions like heart attacks. Make sure that you are careful while your cat is lying on your chest. Any sudden movements or jerks can be dangerous. You might unknowingly startle your cat or harm it, or its paws might scratch you in the accident.At the same time, you need to keep in mind that if your cat is sleeping on your chest, you cannot have a deep sleep as its weight and movement might not allow you to relax completely and don’t make it a habit to sleep in such proximity to your cat. It might lead to some other health issues as you can be inhaling dander. So it perhaps is a myth that your cats seem to protect you while you sleep.However, in the end, irrespective of any benefit you might receive or your cat may get from it sleeping on your chest, what doesn’t change is the fact that your cat loves you. Your cat might be lying on you all the time to express its love towards you and to show how safe and comfortable it feels in its owners’ presence. Also, this might come as a shock to you, but when your cat lies on your chest, it is probably healing you as it has been discovered that interacting with a cat in such a manner reduces blood pressure and reduces the chances of heart diseases. Moreover, the vibration from the purring reduces any swelling or helps in muscle repair.Do cats lay on your chest to hear your heartbeat?You might be thinking of this as another one of those myths you hear now and then, but to your surprise, this is actually true. Cats can and do hear your heartbeat when they lie on your chest. Hearing your rhythmic heartbeat is a unique way cats calm themselves down and feel a soothing sensation.The primary reason for a cat might not be to hear your heartbeat, but it is one of the reasons why they choose to climb up on your chest. A human is usually a source of warmth, love, and safety to their kitty. When cats lie on your chest, they can listen to your heartbeat and even your systematic breathing pattern. Scientists believe that these sounds calm a cat and provide pleasure to them as they relate to their mother when they hear these sounds.When a cat is small, it sleeps at night near its mother’s body. It can then hear its mother’s heartbeat, and a similar experience is provided to them when they sleep on your chest. The cats seek to feel that they are sleeping with their mother at night and thus feel comfortable. It doesn’t matter at times if it’s an adult cat even; everyone feels relaxed when they feel secure, and what better way to feel safe than being by their mother’s side.Additionally, cats are smart enough to figure out when we are sleeping. They can judge our breathing pattern and body posture to understand when we are sleeping. This conclusion of how a kitty seeks comfort and calm while sleeping on our chests owing to the heartbeat is not very absurd, as ever since their childhood when they were kittens, we have always seen them snuggled with their mothers or with some human, perhaps their owner. They have always had this sense of security when curled up with either their mother or owner, and they exhibit similar behavior when they grow up.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Why do cats lay on your chest? Cool facts on cat sleep to know, then why not take a look at Why do dogs shake their heads? Cool pet dog facts that kids will love or Why do cats rub their face on things? All about cat rubs?
You might be lying on the couch watching your favorite show or reading a book, and you suddenly see your cat come up and rest its head on your chest.
