Cats are a unique creation of God who has some weird behaviors which humans cannot understand. One of their peculiar habits is they choose to sleep at the foot of the bed even when there is plenty of other comfortable places in the room.
Besides living into your heart, your cat also finds tiny places to spend time, such as in the shoebox and behind the couch. Sometimes, your slinky friend takes up more space than their size, such as on your TV couch or sitting on the stairs.
However, when you go to your bed for sleep, she coils herself into a ball rather than stretching out to claim the more space. Here we will answer some questions about this unique behavior.
1. Do cats sleep at the foot of the bed to get a better look at the door?
Cats usually like to live in places where they feel safe and secure. This is one of the principles of their survival natures. Our domesticated cats also follow this principle. That is why they tend to sleep at the foot of the bed where they can see everyone who is entering or leaving the room.
The foot of the bed perhaps offers the best point to keep that door in her sight the whole night.
Our cats are always on high alert while sleeping and keep their eyes open. They keep watching for any danger. Sleeping bodies, blankets, and pillows are usually placed on the foot end of the bed. When cats lean on the foot end, their sight is unimpeded. Additionally, the door of your bedroom is near to the foot of the bed, which allows your cat to screen the lobby for disturbances.
2. Do cats possess the instinct to protect you?
Cats have a protective nature. By sleeping on the foot of bed close to the door, they can wake up and protect their owner from anyone entering and the room, and they also feel safe about themselves during the night. By sleeping close to the door, they can sense any danger more easily and quickly.
If you feel your cat cuddle her back with your feet, it is because she feels better protected in that posture, and has faster reaction time to escape quickly in case of any danger.
3. Are there fewer disturbances on the foot of bed than at the top or in the middle?
Like humans, cats also don’t want to get disturbed in the middle of the night. It causes more disturbances for them during sleep while laying in the center or top of the bed. If you move a lot at night, your cat will prefer to be at the border of bed because she wants fewer interruptions in her sleep.
In people with restless leg syndrome, cats position themselves at a distance where they can’t be hit by their owner’s leg while sleeping. Also, they do not sleep so distant that they feel unprotected or unable to offer protection to their owner.
4. Do cats sleep at the foot of the bed to mark their territory?
This is a caring attitude of your cat and is a positive behavior; maybe it looks a bit annoying sometimes. Cats mark their territory by sleeping at the foot end of the bed. They take care of you, and they want to protect you, that is why they include you in their territory.
They feel that their owner is safe and secure in their area. In a way, your cat is trying to show you that she is allowing you to sleep in her territory. It is a joyful experience to be owned by your cat.
5. Is cat trying to release your stress while sleeping near your foot?
Cuddling with your cat releases a hormone in your blood known as oxytocin. This hormone is also called “feel hormone” because it promotes the feeling of love, care, and close bonding. Cuddling with your cat also releases some other hormones called dopamine, prolactin, norepinephrine, and endorphins in your central nervous system that lowers stress.
Endorphins act like opiates in our body that decrease tension and stress. Decreased tension and stress further lowers the risk of heart disease and blood pressure.
6. What are advantages your cat permitting you while sleeping by your foot?
Dog owners think that dogs are human’s best helpers and friends. They think like this because they have no experience of living with a cat.
Cats are the flawless cuddle partner at night. They allow you to enjoy a relaxed sleep because they don’t steal your blanket, no slobbering, and no propelling you off the bed. Besides relaxation, there are many other benefits of sleeping with your cat.
