Cat enthusiasts worldwide have been trying to decipher why cats like throwing things off shelves and tables for decades now.
But, just recently, it’s another question that seems to have taken the internet by storm – Why does my cat sleep with me and not my husband?
Yes, cats tend to show quite a bit of favoritism when it comes to picking their human, which may drive a wedge between the owners’ relationship.
But, your cat isn’t trying to be a little homewrecker deliberately.
Instead, the reason why your cat prefers sleeping with you instead of your husband may simply be the fact that your spouse is a fidgety sleeper.
However, there can be several other reasons behind why your tabby has singled you out as a sleeping companion – ranging from safety to instincts.
If you’re on the lookout for some in-depth analysis of your kitty’s strange sleeping habits – then you’re in luck!
Read on to discover more about your cat’s bedtime shenanigans.
Do Cats Have A Favorite Person?
If you’re a cat enthusiast – then you’ll know that there’s always one person in the household that your kitten prefers over everyone else.
However, cats don’t pick their favorites at random.
Felines are nothing if not creatures of instinct and habit.
If you take a walk down memory lane to when cats were first domesticated – you’ll realize that the bond between humans and kitties has always revolved around survival.
That’s why how attached a feline is to its human will typically involve details like food, shelter, protection, and companionship.
How Do Cats Select Their Favorite Human?
Believe it or not, felines are all about merit when awarding the best human companion award to any household member.
Here are some of the reasons why your furball may end up gravitating towards you rather than your husband.
Communication
Did you know cats only ‘meow‘ to communicate with humans?
That’s right – when it comes to speaking with other cats – felines depend mostly on body language.
One of the reasons your cat may be drawn to you is that you’re better at understanding its needs based on your feline’s attempts at communication.
Think about it, if you were in a foreign country, wouldn’t you naturally be drawn towards someone who got what you’re saying?
That’s why, if your pet has been kind enough to choose you as its favorite – it’s likely because you’re your family’s cat whisperer.
Our advice is – don’t question your kitten’s choice; instead, just bask in the glow of being your pet’s preferred human.
Interaction
Another reason your furry friend has singled you out to be the chief caretaker may have to do with interaction.
If you’re in charge of feeding, grooming, bathing your cat, etc., – then be sure your feline is well aware of the time you’re expending for its sake.
Cats are intelligent enough to understand the person in charge of their upkeep, which heavily influences their favoritism.
A feline’s memory is associative – meaning it links events to positive and negative sensations.
Anything that threatens a cat’s survival is bad, and things that make them feel safe and protected are obviously good.
So, anytime you feed your kitty cat and take care of it – your cat stores that memory as a positive one – making sure you feature as someone necessary for its existence.
How Do Cats Choose Who To Sleep With?
Being a cat’s favorite and being the human they choose to sleep beside may not necessarily be a package deal.
If you’re a restless sleeper – make no mistake; your cat will not choose you as a bedfellow.
Who a kitty chooses to sleep besides may depend on several factors. Here are a few of the most important ones.
The Warmth Factor
Like humans, felines love their creature comforts and seek out warm spots to nap or sleep.
Cat parents often find their pets soaking up Vitamin D in the corner of the house that receives direct sunlight.
But, that’s not an option when the sun goes down – so cats rely on other sources of heat.
If you’re the human equivalent of a hot water bottle – then it’s quite natural for your feline to sleep next to you for the warmth you generate.
Other times, it may be that your side of the bed is closer to a heater or better shielded from cold drafts running through the house.
The Safety or Attachment Factor
This factor links up to whether or not you’re your feline’s primary caregiver.
If your fur baby is deeply attached to your presence or feels safe in your company, you’ll find it cozing up to you when it’s time for lights out.
As mentioned earlier, cats are big on instincts.
Felines understand they’re vulnerable when they’re asleep (an instinct carried down from the days when cats roamed the wild), and that’s why they choose to bunker down next to someone who gives them a sense of protection.
The Routine Factor
The amount of contact shared in kitten-hood can also play a significant role in who cats choose to sleep next to.
If you’ve been close to your feline since it was a baby – then chances are it’s used to your presence at night.
Felines are big on routine, and they don’t like any changes in their daily schedule.
That’s why, if your furball has been sleeping near you since they were a kitten then it’s a habit that’s likely to continue until you do something to earn your cat’s displeasure.
Why Does My Cat Sleep Next To Me And No One Else?
If your feline is absolutely militant in its need to sleep next to you – there may be a bunch of reasons why, and there’s definitely no need for you to feel weird about it.
Generally, cats are kind of territorial about their favorite humans, and it’s not because they’re obsessive-compulsive either.
Felines care deeply about their survival (who doesn’t?) and anything that threatens their happy zone is a no-no.
Not to mention, it’s hardwired in their nature to protect their territory and their family – which includes you.
If your cat is adamant about being your bed-mate, it may be because of a combination of reasons.
For instance, you are your cat’s favorite, and it’s used to your presence while it catches some Z’s.
Or, it may also be that your sleeping spot is perfectly situated and warm on its own.
How To Get Your Cat To Change Its Sleeping Habit?
If your feline’s overt sleeping habit is causing a bit of a rift in your relationship with your partner – don’t worry; there’s an easy fix for that.
One thing you should never do is try and change your pet’s habit forcefully – this will only result in your kitty-cat feeling anxious or threatened and may result in marked behavioral changes.
Cats can act out when they think there’s a threat to their safety, and you can’t really blame them for that.
Instead, you can get your spouse to spend more time with your furry friend to ease them into changing their behavior.
We’ve mentioned how cats build relationships based on interaction and protective instincts.
That’s why if you get your better-half to feed your feline more regularly or spend time playing with it – your kitty will be more amenable to their presence.
Once your cat is used to your husband’s presence in its life and has plenty of happy memories linked with him – you’ll see your fur baby will be more than happy with his company or even switch allegiances and prefer to sleep on his side.
Also, unless your partner is violently allergic – which we’re hoping is not the case – they won’t be able to resist a loving kitty’s charms for long.
All of which will promote a mutually pleasant coexistence for parties involved.
Conclusion
There’s really nothing to be worried about if your cat likes sleeping with you rather than your husband, because it’s something that can be easily remedied if you want.
Your pet’s behavior may seem weird on the surface, but more often than not, there’s a valid reason(s) behind it – most of which are directly linked to your furball’s concern about its existence.
If you want your husband and your feline to develop a better connection, just focus on gradually increasing your husband’s positive interaction with your fur baby – and you’ll be all set!
Related article – Why does my cat sleep on my pillow
If you keep the litter box in your bedroom because your cat sleeps with you then I would recommend checking out these two articles I have written
The first article is about the dangers of keeping the litter box in your bedroom
Dangers of litter boxes in the bedroom
Now if your cat is sleeping with you, it makes it easier for your cat to relieve themselves if the litter box is in the bedroom
I mean I’m sure you don’t want no accidents
So if you NEED to keep a litter box in the bedroom – it’s important to choose a litter box that is safe and good at odor control
Have a read of this article
Best cat litter box for the bedroom
