Probably, you have experienced it when your kitty walks all over your body and inevitably sits directly on your face. Have you ever wondered why? It feels like they are purposely trying to annoy you. But they are not.
If we say they are doing it because they like you, you may think we are cracking a joke. But it is not a joke. Most cat owners know from experience that cat sleeping on the face is routine. Some of them like to curl under your chin, throat, etc. There are various possible reasons discovered, such as security, warmth, and comfort, while reaffirming their relationship status with you.
So, let’s understand the possible reasons of your cat likes to sit on your face.
Here is why your cat sits on your face
Warmth Buddy
Cats love sleeping in a warm place. Even though they are attracted to the darkness, they like to sleep in a warm and cozy environment, especially when they are tired and want to relax. And when we say warmth, it doesn’t mean metaphorical heat. We meant your “heat.”
A human body releases most of the heat through the head area while resting. Your head and neck are exposed, and the cat couldn’t find a better place to feel that warmth around you. Cats will cuddle under your chin and another facial area. Moreover, you have a soft pillow, which is the most comfortable place for your pet to lie down. If you don’t like it, you can gift your pet a comfortable bed like Precision Pet SnooZZy Mod Chic to sleep on.
You have the security
Honestly, cats get this habit of sleeping on the face while they are kittens. However, we did not notice; for the main reason that it looked cute at that time. There are two types of secured feelings that the cat observes while doing this. One is that your body is functioning – you are breathing, throbbing, and snoring. It gives the sense of security that you are alive. Secondly, they feel safe when they are with you. Animal behavior analysts say that most cats feel that the snoring of the owners feels like the purring of the cat parents. Hence, if you had allowed a cat to sleep on your face when they are young, you could not change that when they become adults.
Drawing the boundary
As you know, cats love to mark the territory constantly. Well, head-butting is just one part of it. But they do more than that. They stroke through whiskers, pass scent from the glands on the heads, cheeks, and other areas of the body. Usually, you may not be able to sense the cat’s scent, but they intend to rub the scent against you, which only they and other fellow mates at home can sense. It means that they are marking the territory in front of the other inmates. Moreover, cats like this kind of ownership as they enjoy the together time. Most of the time, they do it when you don’t notice.
Lone time = Head-butting
The cats are highly sensitive when it comes to being alone. They feel anxious and irritated when you have decided to leave them alone. Also, when you move into a new place or make them meet new people, they suddenly show different attitudes and behavior. And they start accessing your private time. While you are sleeping, they intentionally want to spend the time with you. They try to climb on you all the time. They find the perfect time or place to sit right onto you. These are symptoms of anxiety or distress. They are vocalizing that they are alone and showing signs of anxiety and separation. So, as a good pet owner, it is your responsibility to understand your voice.
While the above-mentioned are the important reasons why cats sit on the face, the following table will help you understand why the cat wants in different positions on your body. They mean something, and these are the way they express their emotions.
Cat sitting positions |
What do they mean? |
| Cat sitting on the lap | It is the most comfortable position for any cat. Especially if you have a multi-pet household, you can notice this a lot. Whenever you sit, the cat comes and sits on your lap to establish a relationship with you in front of other pets. They sleep and leave the scent on you so that the other pets do not come near you. We can call it both possessiveness and ownership. |
| Cat sitting on the chest | It is quite emotional. You may not have noticed. When you are especially asleep and on rest, the cat tends to jump on to sleep on your chest. Your kitty listens to the rhythm of your heartbeat and wants to ensure that you are well and everything is okay. |
| Cat sitting on feet | When the cat does not want you to leave or if they feel lonely, they will cling to your feet. Sometimes they even sit on the shoes and socks just to make sure that you don’t leave. They have decided to be with you. And this is their way to express their feeling. |
| Cat sitting on the stomach | Cats love the growling sound of your stomach. Usually, it gives the feel of being with the parent. The warmth, coziness, and sound give the feel that you are a parent to them. You can notice this lot with the kittens. |
| Cat sitting on shoulders | It is their jumping position. When cats want to jump on a table or any furniture, they try to be resting on the shoulder. It’s an alert position. When they are in a new place or do not feel safe, they rest on their shoulders. |
The Bottom Line
While cats are known for their weird behavior, sitting on your face is just a way to express their love for you. So, do not get annoyed with this behavior of the cat. However, you can slowly change it if you don’t like it. Practice the habit of not sitting on the face of the kitten. That will save you mostly. But if the cat is in its adulthood, you can always remove them gently and set your restriction of access to the head. Play with them while they try to climb on. You can distract them by introducing toys and games—also a final piece of advice. Give them a cozy pillow or blanket to sleep. They will eventually find peace with it.
