We hope you like the products we recommend! Just so you know this post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking our links.
Cats often sleep between your legs because it’s warm, comfortable and makes them feel safe. Your legs provide a stable place to rest, your scent is reassuring and many cats enjoy sleeping close to the people they trust most.
Cats can spend up to 16 hours a day sleeping. We often find our cat curled up in strange places. She’s been seen curled up in our bathroom sink, inside delivery boxes, and at the back of cupboards. We’ve also found her lying across wire clothes hangers!
Our cat has several comfortable beds, but she prefers to sleep with us. Sometimes, she’ll sleep on the corner of the bed or on the blanket, but sometimes she sleeps between my legs.
🐈⬛ Your cat is keeping warm
Cats love to be warm. On colder nights, our cat lies in front of our fire like a lizard sunbathing on a rock. Cats have an insulating fur, and their body temperature is higher than ours. It means they enjoy the heat and can handle it better than we do. Our pets are descended from desert-dwelling ancestors, so they’re real sun worshippers, but when the sun isn’t out, anything will do!
In the evening when the temperature drops lower, it’s no wonder that cats will seek us out. Different parts of the body give off different amounts of heat, too. If you’re sleeping under a blanket, then it might also be a surrounding heat factor. Why not lie in the middle when your human has a warming leg on either side?
🐈⬛ Your cat feel safe
Cats are vulnerable, especially when they’re asleep, so it’s natural for them to seek out somewhere they feel safe.
Your legs make a low platform on the bed which gives the cat a better view of the room. This may seem ridiculous to us but safety is hardwired into our pets. One way of seeing danger coming is by being high and out of the way. It’s why they love using cat trees.
The bed itself offers some measure of height and your legs add an additional vantage point. The middle of the bed can be difficult for some cats to walk across easily – because it’s soft and springy – so your legs provide a harder surface for them to lie across. Most cats will sleep facing the door to keep an eye out for predators and to make a quick escape. Sleeping so close to us is a form of safety in numbers, too.
🐈⬛ It’s a comfortable place to sleep
Your legs are comfortable, and there are two of them, so a cat can settle right in between them, especially if you have blankets on top. Lap cats are already experienced at seeking out the warmth and comfort when you’re sitting down, so it makes sense they’d seek it out when you’re lying down. Remembering, too, that you will also smell familiar to them because they’ve probably already left pheromones on your blanket, comforter or duvet.
Some owners also notice that cats seem drawn to clearly defined spaces, whether that’s a cardboard box, a sheet of paper or the space between someone’s legs. While there’s little research into this specific behavior, many cats appear to find these enclosed spaces reassuring.
🐈⬛ Creatures of Habit
Cats thrive on routine. Once, they’ve discovered your legs are a warm and safe space. They’ll keep doing it. Owners can sometimes underestimate how much cats love routine.
🐈⬛ They’re marking you with their scent
PetMD points out that cats are territorial animals, so sleeping on someone is their way of marking that territory. Cats have scent glands on their cheeks and paws. Sleeping close to you lets them mix their scent with yours, which may help them feel more secure and reinforce their bond with you.
The bed is part of their environment, so of course they’re going to make sure it smells like them.
🐈⬛ It’s a sign of trust and affection
Cats may have a reputation for being self-interested and aloof, but most owners will know that they do like being around us albeit on their own terms. At night, they may want to sleep near to us because we are their family.
A post on the Catster website made an interesting point: cat behavior expert Mike Delgardo PhD says that cats like to ‘pillow’ at night. Littermates or bonded cats may sometimes exhibit this behaviour. It’s a bonding exercise and very cute but if you only have one cat, then you’ll probably end up being the pillow!
🐈⬛ Not all cats do this
It’s worth remembering that not every cat will sleep between their owner’s legs. Some prefer the foot of the bed; others like a pillow or even sleeping alone. Every cat has its own sleeping preferences, so you shouldn’t worry if your cat doesn’t do this.
🐈⬛ Should I let my car sleep between my legs?
In most cases, yes. Sleeping between your legs is a normal behavior and usually shows that your cat feels relaxed and secure.
However, if your cat suddenly starts sleeping unusually close after never having done it before, especially if they’re also hiding, eating less or behaving different, it’s worth speaking to your veterinarian to rule out illness.
Cats have some fascinating behavior traits, and sleeping between your legs is usually one of the more endearing ones. In most cases, it’s a compliment. It most cases, it’s a compliment. It means your cat feels warm, comfortable and secure enough to sleep beside you. While it can sometimes interrupt your night’s sleep, it’s often one of the many small ways cats show trust in the people they love. If you need a little more room, gently moving them onto the blanket beside you is usually enough to keep everyone happy.