Where Does Your Cat Sleep?

It didn't take us long to learn a lesson in futility: there's an "unspoken rule at bedtime" for cats; they sleep wherever they want. No matter how hard you try to encourage them otherwise.

After years of trying to get a handle on the sleep habits of any cat in my care, I conclude that unless you "fence your cat in" or somehow otherwise make the entire inside of your house off-limits to your cat, he or she will sleep pretty much where he wants when he wants.

Some sleeping places might include the following:

1. On the bed

With a house currently full with four cats that have earned their way to wander about the house, it's not unusual to find a sleeping fur ball on the bed at any given time.

2. In the bed
On occasion, when you're ready to get into bed at night you'll find your cat already in "his spot," stretched out by your pillow or at the foot of your bed; maybe in the middle, even; patiently waiting for you to join him.

3. Under the covers
As with "# 2" above, when he's "in the bed" waiting for you to join him, before you get into the bed, be sure to turn on the light and check for any lumps in the covers. You just may find him peeking back at you.

4. Under the bed
Often, one of the cats at your house will get under the bed and curl into a ball...or he thinks he's under the bed...to sleep. Usually, though, he's only crawled under the bed far enough to get his front half under; his tail end sticks out in plain sight.

5. On you
Needless to say, "sleeping on you" is of particular interest to a cat. Perhaps it's your warmth or the extra softness of your stomach or chest that attracts him.

6. In "his" bed
If you've got a bed for your cat, good for you. If you can keep him in the bed, so much the better! But be prepared; there may be nights when you have "musical beds," as yours seem to take turns sleeping around your house in some of the sleeping spots already identified.

7. In his brother's bed
Much like kids, cats can sometimes "argue" or have a bit of a "discussion" if one of them is in the other one's spot. Put him in one bed, he'll want the other. So they change places after a time-and sometimes, quite regularly during the night.

8. Wherever his brother is
Invariably, your kitty will sleep where one of his brothers is, taking over that brother's spot. Bed or not!

9. In the closet
Some days, you may look and look for one of your kitties; especially when it's time to eat. And he is "so gone" you can't find him. Until he's ready...and then he meanders from the direction of the closet! Leaving you to wonder where in that closet he was.

10. On the couch and other "soft" or "hard" furniture
...including chairs, footstools, computer table, keyboard, and the like. In fact, it's most important that you "look before you sit" to assure you are not going to be "crunching" on your kitty.

11. In the window
South windows with sun are particularly enticing to a cat. In fact, he'll have "numerous debates" with the others about who will be sleeping there and when.

12. Anywhere he shouldn't
In short, he'll sleep where you don't want him to sleep.

And you can't do anything about it!
Check this out!

• Guide to cat window perch and sill.