Do Cats Like Blankets – The Interesting Reasons Why

Cat owners know the familiar sight of their cat cuddled up on a blanket on the bed or the couch. No matter the kind of blanket, whether it’s fleece or microfiber, your cat probably sleeps like the dead. It’s no secret that cats enjoy something soft and cuddly to lie under, but do cats like blankets?

Cats like blankets. Blankets provide safety, comfort, and warmth to your cat. Cats prefer small soft blankets. Larger blankets with rough textures can be intimidating to some cats. 

If you have a cat that has free reign of the house, you probably know your cat’s favorite blanket that you try to leave out all year long. The blanket could be on your bed or slung over the back of your couch. But what kind of blankets do cat usually like the most? Is it safe for your cat to be snuggled under the blankets they find in the house? 

What Kind Of Blankets Do Cats Like

Cats like many different kinds of blankets, but prefer softer blankets in general.

The most common blankets your cat will probably snuggle up to are:

• Fleece
• Furry/Fuzzy
• Comforters on beds, perhaps of their favorite human
• Towels (though this isn’t “technically” a blanket)
• Piles of clothes (again, not what most of us think of as a blanket)

Unlike humans, cats don’t use blankets exclusively as, well, blankets. Fresh laundry is as good a towel as your favorite fuzzy blanket.

The type of blanket your cat likes might also be dependent on the season. If it’s winter, fresh laundry from the dryer or a thick, furry blanket might be the best bed. In the summer, you might find your cat cuddled up on a towel on the tile floor in the bathroom. 

In general, cats avoid large items, and that includes blankets too. Unless the comforter has your scent on it, they will likely avoid it, especially if you pick it up and move it towards them. Start your cat off with a smaller blanket to ease their mood. 

Why Do Cats Like Soft Blankets

Cats like soft blankets the most because the blanket reminds them of their mother when they were kittens.

You might notice that your cat milks – or kneads or makes biscuits, depending on what you like to say – soft blankets. Soft blankets make your cat remember being with their mother and milking her stomach as she nursed. 

Soft blankets provide comfort for your cat and a sense of comfort, thinking about her mother, even if she hasn’t been around her for years. It’s an instinct even the oldest cats have so that you won’t see kittens exclusively milking soft blankets. 

A less scientific answer would be that they just like soft blankets. After all, you probably purchased the blanket because it was soft, right? Everyone loves a nice, soft blanket! 

Why Is My Cat Obsessed With My Blanket

One of the main reasons your cat always sleeps with your blanket is that it smells like you.  

If you notice that your cat is always snuggled in your blanket (whether you’re using it too or not), it’s most likely because your cat smells your scent on the blanket. When your cat misses you while you’re at work or not cuddling him, your blanket is the next best thing. 

The blanket has your scent on it, which might also make your cat feel safer or less lonely. You might not be physically with your cat, but your blanket can at least act as your stand-in until you can be with him. 

Sure, your cat might get his fur all over your blanket, but that thought is certainly worth a little cat hair, isn’t it?

Do Cats Like Being Under Blankets

Most cats don’t like being under blankets.

From my experience, cats don’t enjoy being under blankets. One of my cats used to burrow under my comforter to sleep, but all of my other cats get nervous when a blanket covers them up.

Liking being under blankets might be a personal preference for your cat, but many cats might have negative experiences with being under blankets. For example, many people say that you should cover cats with a blanket or towel to hold them while administering medicine and putting them in a cat carrier. 

Would you like being under a blanket if every time it meant you were going to the doctor? Cats can associate objects with certain situations. If you do cover them with a blanket ever, make sure that it leads to a positive outcome. For example, every time you cover them, perhaps you give them a treat or their favorite toy. 

Is It Safe for Cats To Sleep Under Blankets

If your cat does enjoy sleeping under a blanket, it is safe for your cat to sleep there.

The biggest threat to your cat sleeping under a blanket is you, unfortunately. If you don’t know your cat is under a blanket on the couch, you might sit on them. If it’s a blanket on your bed, you might lay down on them. 

For instance, unlike kids, you probably won’t have to worry about your cat overheating being under a blanket. Cats like to be warm, so a blanket is probably a good place for them.

If you know your cat often sneaks under blankets, use a little more caution than usual. 

Another thing to keep in mind is how heavy the blanket is. If it’s too heavy, they could potentially suffocate. 

Can Cats Suffocate Under Blankets

A blanket won’t suffocate your fully grown cat. However, if the blanket is too heavy and the cat is a kitten, the likelihood increases. 

You might get nervous when your cat goes under a blanket. What if they go under and can’t breathe? 

This isn’t a considerable concern you can have. I’ve never been worried about my cat suffocating under a blanket as a baby might. None of my cats were ever in any distress when going under a blanket. 

If a cat does burrow underneath a blanket, there will probably be at least some gaps that air can flow through. After all, you’ve covered yourself with a blanket, right? 

If you have a small kitten, you may want to keep an eye on it under a blanket. A blanket could feel much heavier to a kitten than an adult cat. 

Do Cats Like Being Wrapped In Blankets

Your cat might enjoy being wrapped under a blanket, but you shouldn’t wrap your cat in a blanket if they dislike it.

This, again, is probably a personal preference for your cat. I have a relaxed cat who will take just about anything you do to him. If I wrapped him in a blanket, he would probably fall asleep there. Another one of my cats, though, would definitely be crawling out of the blanket before I could even finish wrapping her. 

Some cats like being treated like a baby, so if your cat like that, then your cat will probably love being wrapped in a blanket and held close. 

If you try wrapping your cat in a blanket, be aware of their response. Don’t do it if they dislike it, even if it is adorable. 

Why Don’t Some Cats Like Blankets 

Some cats don’t like blankets, mostly because they may get too hot.

Think about it: if it is hot in summer, would you want to be under a blanket? Probably not. The same goes for cats. 

Other cats don’t like blankets at any time of the year. If you have a large, furry, fat Maine Coon, he probably wouldn’t like being on a blanket (but some might!). Your cat is probably hot without any effort and doesn’t need the extra heat from a blanket. 

Your cat might be picky and hasn’t found the perfect blanket in the house yet. 

Blankets and cats. Now that’s probably a connection you make when you think of a sleeping cat, right? Most cats like blankets – fuzzy or otherwise, like a pile of clothes. Blankets have your scent and provide warmth. Even though your cat leaves his fur behind when he sleeps in your bed (that always sticks to your lip balm when you lay down), it’s worth it knowing your cat is happy, warm, and comfortable.