Why Does My Cat Sleep Between My Legs – 11 Reasons!

You know this scene: you get into bed and snuggle up in the perfect position. Then your cat comes and settles into the spot between your legs. Your cat looks like he enjoys sleeping between your legs, but it can be an uncomfortable ordeal for you. Every time your cat comes to bed, you wonder why my cat sleeps between my legs?

Your cat sleeps between your legs as a way to be closer to you, to have enough room to sleep, and to keep warm. Fear, separation anxiety, and feeling secure are also reasons cats sleep between your legs. It can be challenging to find your cat a new place to sleep when they choose to sleep between your legs.

Your cat’s reasoning for sleeping between your legs could be a difficult one to identify. Plus, there could be multiple reasons why your cat chooses that spot out of all of them on the bed. Even so, we can discuss some of the explanations behind your cat’s new favorite sleeping position. Keep on reading to learn more! 

Reasons Your Cat Sleeps Between Your Legs

When a cat sleeps between your legs, it can be one of the best bonding experiences ever. At the same time, it can also be extremely annoying if you have a rather hyperactive cat. Cats do have a reason for exhibiting this behavior though, and with some minimal investigating, you can usually identify the cause pretty quickly.

Here’s a complete list of reasons why cats sleep between your legs and what you can expect.

Your Cat Wants To Be Close To You

This may sound like a simple one, but your cat wants to be close to you, so he sleeps between your legs. 

Your cat can sleep on your chest to be close to you, but there are many people who do not like this position. Thus, your cat takes up real estate in the next best place: between your legs.

It can be frustrating to have your cat sleep between your legs if you like to move around while you sleep. Even so, remind yourself that your cat wants to be as close to you as he can.

Your Cat Likes To Be Warm

One of the warmest places for your cat to sleep is between your legs.

When your cat sleeps between your legs, they are nestled in heat. Both your legs give off heat, which will keep your cat toasty warm.

As long as you’re not someone who kicks off the blankets in the middle of the night, then your cat will also get additional warmth from the blankets on your bed. 

Your Cat Is Cold, Especially In The Winter Or In Air Conditioning

We just mentioned that your cat likes to be warm, so you may find your cat moving around when he’s cold! 

Your legs give off a lot of heat, so the area between your thighs will be one of the warmest places to be! 

It makes sense that your cat is cold in the winter. You may be holding out on turning on your heat until it is cold enough to shiver at night. Your cat is never going to be a fan of that one.

What people don’t always think about is that your cat can be cold in the summer too. Most people have some air conditioning, and you may be someone who likes to keep your bedroom cool in the summer.

The air conditioning makes your cat just as cold as the winter weather does. 

I know, I know. It must sound like your cat is never pleased when it comes to temperature! 

Your Cat Is Being Protective Of You

When your cat is near you and sleeping between your legs, your cat is protecting you.

Although your cat is not as big as your dog might be, your cat still wants to protect you whenever he can. 

Your cat can be between your legs and suddenly jump up to attack anyone that may be threatening you.

This, however, can cause some issues if you have a cat with protection issues. Your cat may try to attack another cat, dog, or child if they come near you when your cat is settled down for the night. 

The Blanket Covering You Is Soft

Your cat may be looking for more blanket real estate between your legs.

Let’s face it: if your cat had to choose between snuggling up with you or a nice, soft blanket, your cat is going to choose the blanket every time.

Your cat could be between your legs asleep because that’s the easiest way to get the most surface area of the blanket. 

Having your cat between your legs may not be the most comfortable position, but your cat isn’t concerned about that.

If your cat is on top of you because of a soft blanket, you’ll feel your cat kneading the blanket on and off throughout the night until he falls asleep. 

Your Cat Feels Safest Between Your Legs

Sleeping between your legs could be a way that your cat starts to feel safe.

One of the safest places for your cat is between your legs, especially during the night while you are asleep. 

A particularly timid cat could want to be close to you. Your cat could sleep next to you or on your chest, but your cat sleeping between your legs is like sleeping in a warm nest. 

It’s Your Cat’s Time To Bond With You

If you have more than one cat, then your cat’s time at night could be his time to bond with you. 

The space between your legs could be a special place for your cat where your cat feels most connected to you.

There may not be a particular reason for this, or it could be because your cat is the only one who likes to sleep in the bed with you. Your other cats may not like to sleep in the bed or could sleep in another place on the bed. 

There Is More Room Between Your Legs Than Beside To You

Sharing a bed with your partner could mean that there is more room for your cat between your legs than on the bed beside you. 

Since there may not be a lot of space on the bed with you, the space between your leg may not be your cat’s first choice either. If it’s between sleeping on the floor or sleeping between your legs, your cat may pick your legs. 

To stop your cat from sleeping between your legs, you’ll need to find a new space for your cat. For instance, you can try to fold a soft blanket at the foot of the bed. Your cat may prefer a soft blanket with more space. 

My mom has a cat that sleeps between her legs. I’m under the impression that the cat doesn’t like it, but another cat is already sleeping on the top of her pillow and another at the foot of the bed. Not a lot of options in that bed, even if it is queen size! 

Your Cat Is Possessive

Believe it or not, cats are extremely possessive. It’s pretty easy to point out a possessive cat too. This is the type of cat that follows you everywhere whether it be into the bathroom, to the kitchen, and more. Bedtime is no different. If you leave the door open and get into the bed, they are certainly likely to follow you in there.

Be careful when trying to remove a possessive cat from your bed. Chances are they are not going to like having that separation from you. They could become upset and act out. Likewise, when putting them into another area to sleep they may end up howling through the night.

The best thing you can do is ignore your cat when they do this. The more you ignore them and don’t give them that desired attention, the better they will get at accepting that the bed is not the place for them while you are sleeping. Especially, if they’re trying to sleep between your legs.

Your Cat Is Feeling Sick

Cats are not the best at communicating when they are not feeling well. Many times it involves them being lethargic, or perhaps not eating or drinking. However, another indication your cat may not be feeling well is when they sleep between your legs.

Cats are known for wanting to get close to their owners when they aren’t feeling their best. Sleeping between your legs already brings that sense of security. If this isn’t a behavior they usually exhibit, then this could be an indication that they indeed are not feeling well.

While your cat sleeps between your legs, observe their behavior. Are they moving slowly? Are their bodies warmer or colder than usual? Also, listen for your cat sneezing, and have a look at their water and food bowls.

Again, a cat being sick is one of the toughest things to figure out, but them sleeping with you is their way of saying they need to feel some comfort.

Your Cat Enjoys Your Scent

When you’ve built a great relationship with your cat, then that likely means they enjoy your scent. The one place they can find the most of your scent is likely the bedroom. Even better, they can find that scent on your legs while sleeping in your bed with you.

Cats tend to want to get around that area, especially the toes because that’s where your body’s scent is the strongest. So for them, it adds some comfort and security, and they simply enjoy that closeness with you. It’s entirely normal behavior, and it’s an example of a healthy relationship with your cat.

What Does It Mean When Your Cat Sleeps Between Your Legs

When your cat sleeps between your legs, it means that you are the one that your cat prefers to sleep with.

Cat owners often joke about who your cat enjoys more. Sometimes that is an obvious choice for your cat, but it isn’t always clear who your cat likes more.

If you’re not sure who your cat’s favorite human is, take a look at who your cat sleeps with more often. 

Whoever your cat chooses to sleep with at night is probably the favorite human in the household. 

When your cat is asleep, they are defenseless and cannot protect themselves. Of course, there are few dangers in the average household, but your cat’s instincts can’t be shut off just because your cat has a good life.

Your cat will sleep with you and between your leg because he trusts you most and chooses you as his favorite human. 

The cat may create an uncomfortable sleeping position for you, but you should be flattered that you’re the chosen one! 

Why Does My Cat Sleep On My Legs At Night

Your cat sleeps on your legs at night because he cannot fit into the space between your legs.

The next best sleeping position for your cat is on your legs if your cat cannot fit between your legs at night.

It could be impossible for your cat to sleep between your legs if you are someone who tosses and turns at night. Your cat will end up twisted uncomfortably in the sheets if you’re constantly changing your position. 

Therefore, your cat will decide to sleep on top of your legs (and on top of the sheets!) to keep himself safe. After all, no one likes to be tangled in the blankets.

In some ways, it is pleasant to have your cat sleep on top of your legs than between them for the very reason that you can change your position. 

If your cat is sleeping between your legs, there are only two positions: on your stomach or your back. 

As someone who likes to move around during the night, I would undoubtedly prefer my cat to sleep on top of my legs than between them!