Can’t Sleep At Night? How To Keep Your Cat Off Your Bed
You love your cat, and you love it when he wedges himself up against your legs, all warm and cozy, and sleeps on the bed next to you.
But maybe you’re not so thrilled about the cat hair you keep finding all over your sheets and blankets.
Or that he gets up at 3 am and starts zooming around the bedroom chasing shadows and yowling his head off.
Maybe you’re just a bit tired of waking up with a stiff neck or back because you’ve been stuck in one position all night, not daring to move in case you disturb him.
Personally, none of that bothers me, but that’s just me!
Or maybe I’m just so used to it I barely notice anymore.
But I get that it’s not for everyone, so if you’re looking for ways to keep your cat off the bed, you won’t want to miss the useful tips I’m going to share in this article.
Cats are part of the family
First of all, let’s try to understand why cats like to sleep on their owner’s bed by exploring the human-feline bond.
Recent research from the Netherlands reveals that an impressive majority (over half) of 1,859 pet owners view their cats as important family members – rather than “just a pet cat.” (Bouma et al., 2022).
Around one-third of the owners surveyed went further and painted an even more personal picture of their relationship with their cat, referring to him as their best friend – or even child.
The study also revealed that those who regarded their cats as best friends were more likely to allow them access into the bedroom, providing evidence of a positive connection between one’s attachment level with their cat and whether he’s allowed to snooze on the bed or not.
Study highlights
- Out of all the cats in the sample, 57% were allowed in their owner’s bedroom.
- This percentage was higher for cats who were seen as a child or friend by their owner (72%) and lower for cats who were seen as a family member (52%) or pet animal (36%).
- Of the cats who were allowed in the bedroom, most of them (87%) slept on the bed with their owner during at least part of the night.
- People who live alone are more likely to allow their cats into the bedroom.
Other studies confirm the profound connection between humans and their cats, showing it is a bond that goes far beyond simply dishing out food at regular intervals.
For example, Kotrschal et al. (2013) reference the “close and long-term relationships” owners have with their cats,” where they spend quality time together doing things unique to them.
How do the cats feel about all this?
It rather depends on a range of factors, including breed, genetic background, individual history, and the amount of effort the owner makes.
As per Kotrschal et al. (2013), your cat could view you as anything from “a mere food dispenser” to a close friend who shares an intimate bond!
What am I getting at here? Well, three things really.
- It’s quite common for cat owners and their cats to form strong attachments to each other.
- It’s also common for cat parents to allow their cats to sleep on the bed with them.
- The cats are quite happy with the arrangement.
5 reasons why your cat likes to sleep on your bed
Bearing all this in mind, let’s now look at some of the common reasons your cat likes to sleep on the bed with you.
#1. He likes to be with you
If you’re one of those cat owners who consider your feline companion to be your best friend, then chances are there exists a strong bond between you two, a relationship founded on trust and companionship.
So it’s only natural your feline friend would want to be right there next to you when he sleeps.
Our elderly cat Raven, who we adopted at age 16 from death row in a Los Angeles shelter, loved nothing better to sleep on the pillow right on top of my head. I didn’t mind at all. In fact, I enjoyed it as much as she did. It was like an alternative kind of acupressure!
#2. A safe place to sleep
Like anyone, cats do best when they feel calm and relaxed, and a large part of that is feeling safe. And where could be safer than right there next to you enjoying some quality cuddle time?
If your furry friend feels safe being in close proximity to you, he’ll build up a positive association with being on the bed and start to see it as the ideal place to sleep – day or night.
Our cat Mini Me, who we rescued as a tiny undernourished kitten off the street in Dubai, was a little wary of our two older cats, so would sleep under the duvet in the crook of my arm where she felt safe.
It was a habit she kept for her entire life and I absolutely loved it!
#3. It has your scent
Scent is very important to cats and they rely on their sense of smell much more than we do.
So when your kitty nestles up to you at night and settles into his favorite spot against your leg, it’s quite possible he enjoys being surrounded by your scent that is present on the bed. It’s another way for him to feel safe and secure.
#4. It’s warm and cozy
Cats love to sleep somewhere warm and cozy and when your cat shares the bed with you, it’s a great way for him to get a steady supply of heat, especially in winter.
Our cats love to come in from the frigid temperatures we have in winter (around -5 Fahrenheit) and park their icy paws right up against you. You can feel the cold radiating through the bed covers!
But it’s not long before you have a furry hot water bottle snuggled up against you.
#5. It’s elevated
Cats often gravitate toward higher ground – like the top of the refrigerator or on a windowsill with a great view.
This is typical behavior and is instinctive – cats like to stay up high so they can survey their territory and stay safe from potential predators and threats.
Is sleeping with your cat harmful?
Here are the potential disadvantages of sleeping with your cat as I see them. As I said earlier, none of this bothers me but everyone will have their own opinion!
- Some cats can be noisy and hyper in the middle of the night or in the early mornings (e.g. yowling while playing hunting games or chasing each other, or disrupting your sleep cycle by walking across you and waking you up).
- Depending on the cat, they can make the bed hairy (although placing a towel or some other kind of cover on top of your duvet or bedspread can help).
- Some people think it’s unhygienic because the cat may track dirt and dust into the bed with them.
- Depending on the environment, cats can sometimes carry parasites such as worms, fleas, or ticks (been there, done all of that, and am still here to tell the tale!) but obviously, you can treat for these – all you have to do is check with your vet.
- Some cats may scratch or bite you if you move or turn over in your sleep and disturb or inadvertently scare or hurt them.
Our feisty street cat Curtis always used to growl at you if you dared to disturb him but luckily it never went further than that.
Jeffrey on the other hand, who we’d rescued as a kitten from a parking lot, was the kind of cat who would sink his teeth into you if you moved and accidentally squashed him.
Oakley, who was also rescued from a parking lot and seems to have been the victim of some sort of traffic accident (he carries with him some residual pain from that in his spine), will all-out grab at whatever part of you is closest and sink in his little cat claws – and sometimes teeth – with a vengeance.
But despite these potential downsides, I still love co-sleeping with our cats. As I said, it’s an individual choice!
How to stop your cat from sleeping on your bed
If, unlike me, you’re not super keen on sharing your sleeping space with your kitty, let’s now look at some of the things you can do to prevent the behavior.
#1. Keep the door closed
This seems rather obvious. However, if you’re dealing with a particularly persistent cat when it comes to sleeping on your bed, the simple solution of creating a physical barrier by shutting the door won’t always work.
Your kitty may scratch or meow at the bedroom door. He may even learn to jump up at the door handle to try to open it.
Another of our rescued Dubai street cats, Spencer, is a master at this. So much so that at one stage (we had two groups of cats who it was easier to keep separate at night), we used a child lock on the door so he wouldn’t be able to open it.
I don’t recommend this though. All it’s going to do is make your cat even more stressed and frustrated about being denied access to his coveted spot.
Let’s look at what you can do instead.
#2. Provide a range of appealing alternatives
The first step and most effective way to keep your kitty off the bed is to make sure he has a cozy and comfortable place of his own to sleep in – whether that’s a comfortable cat bed or somewhere else nice and cushy.
Ideally, you’ll set up a variety of enticing alternative sleeping spots so he’ll be overwhelmed by choice and won’t be able to resist.
When you’re doing this, think about whether your cat has a preference for hiding under things or whether he likes to perch in high places then use that as your focus.
Even better, provide an outlet for both.
For example, you can put a cozy cat bed underneath your bed or perhaps on a lower shelf of the bedside table – if the furniture allows.
At the same time, provide some vertical space by adding a cat tree or cat condo with a variety of shelves and hiding spots.
It is a well-known fact that cats are particularly fond of cardboard boxes, and studies show that having access to an enclosed space helps shelter cats adjust and better manage their stress levels in unfamiliar settings (Vinke et al., 2014).
So boxes are great options too with the added bonus of reducing any residual stress your kitty might be feeling.
Admittedly, they may not look the most elegant, but your cat will love chilling out and spending time in them.
You can also place your cat’s travel box in a strategic spot, either on a shelf or in a quiet area, as some cats do like to sleep in them with the door open.
This is also a handy way to acclimatize your cat to his carrier so he won’t be so freaked out about it when you next have to take him to the vet,
A high shelf in one of the bedroom cupboards is another option for an alternative cat sleeping place. Or consider a heated cat bed.
The only limit is your imagination!
#3. Teach your cat to love his alternative sleeping arrangements
I can already hear you saying, Well that’s all well and good – but how do I actually convince my cat to sleep in one of these new places?
The goal is to teach him to love his own bed, cat tree, cardboard box, shelf in the cupboard, or wherever else it is.
You can start by creating some cozy bedding with a T-shirt you’ve slept in so it has your scent on – just like when he’s in the bed. If you have created several sleeping spots, then do the same for all of them.
You can also make his alternative sleeping areas even more appealing by spreading catnip or silvervine on the bedding and hiding tasty treats for him to forage for.
This all helps him build up a positive association with being in his new snooze spot.
You can also use yummy treats (our cats love Dreamies and Temptations), cat toys, verbal praise, and attention any time he’s in his new sleep zone.
Catering to his preferences is key, too – choose a reward that really gets him motivated. For example, you could give him a dish of tuna fish or whatever else it is that he loves as a reward for hanging out in his new bed/sleeping area.
As your cat starts to spend more time in his new sleeping spot, you can keep rewarding him by offering treats intermittently.
This way, he never knows when the next treat is coming and he will be even more motivated to stay in his spot to make sure he doesn’t miss out.
What should I do if my cat jumps up on the bed?
This is all going to be something of a learning process and your cat may still revert to old behaviors at times.
If he does jump up onto the bed, lure him down with a piece of string, throw a toy for him to chase, or wave a wand toy about. Any of these options will appeal to his hunting instincts and most likely get him moving in no time.
Once he’s on the floor, you can continue your interactive play session by luring him to his new snooze spot and then give him a jackpot reward (i.e. give him lots of treats in rapid succession, one after the other) when he gets there.
You may also want to invest in a puzzle feeder and load it with tasty treats. Place this in his new bed and it’ll keep him busy while building an even more positive association with being there.
By the time he’s done all that, with any luck, he’ll be tired and relaxed after that physical and mental workout and will settle down for a long nap.
Clicker training
People often say you can’t train cats but that’s not true at all.
Just like with dogs – and lions, and dolphins, and alligators – cats can be trained by using positive reinforcement. In other words, behaviors that get rewarded get repeated.
A fun option for teaching your cat to stay off the bed is to use clicker training and reward him for going to/being in his alternative sleeping spot.
Not sure where to even start with that? Here’s a great little video from Cat School Clicker Training demonstrating some of the amazing things you can train your cat to do:
They’ve even compiled this handy guide that shows you specifically how to train a cat to go to his bed:
Give it a try – I guarantee it’ll be fun!
What NOT to do when trying to keep your cat off your bed
I was shocked to see how much stuff there is on the internet about using aversives, such as unpleasant scent sprays, double-sided tape, sticky tape, aluminum foil, a water spray bottle, creating some sort of impenetrable barrier, or even just shouting “No!”
None of these teach the cat what to do instead. Nor do they address the underlying reason for the behavior. Also, “No!” isn’t a behavior or a trained cue. It doesn’t give your cat any information about what to do.
All your cat will know is that you’re yelling at him for some reason, most likely making him feel anxious and insecure.
He won’t be learning anything either – because you haven’t taught him an alternative behavior to the one you don’t want.
This is just plain unfair. And yet, sadly, quite common.
If you block your cat’s access to something he really wants (in this case, to sleep on the bed with you) and don’t provide an appealing alternative, he’ll just end up feeling stressed and frustrated and seek another outlet for those feelings.
And who knows where that could go? Aggression? Peeing outside the litter box? You definitely don’t want that.
You don’t want to scare him either (e.g. if you spray him with some sort of nasty scent) and he may learn to associate you with the punishment.
This has several potential risks, including making him feel unsafe around you and causing permanent damage to your relationship.
Another problem with punishment is that you have to be present. What about when you’re not around? Your kitty can still jump up on the bed then and enjoy a cozy nap – unless you have kept the door shut/locked and he’s not a handle jumper like Spencer.
Put simply: punishing your cat won’t prevent this behavior—it will only make him wary of you and potentially ruin your bond with him.
So ditch the aversives and instead try out the strategies that I’ve presented. They will bring you much better results in the long run.
Oh, and as for creating some kind of barrier? In my experience cats can get around, under, or over just about anything if they think the end result is worth it. So I don’t recommend that either.
Sorry internet, but sometimes your advice is just plain wrong!
While it might all take a little time, patience, and effort on your part, in the end, both you and your kitty will be happy and enjoying a good night’s sleep. Sweet dreams!
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Resources
- Attachment bonds between domestic cats and humans – Kristyn R. Vitale, Alexandra C. Behnke, & Monique A.R. Udell
- Cat Training 101 – Why You Need A Clicker! [Video] – Cat School Clicker Training
- Cat Tricks: Clicker train your cat to go to their bed, or a mat [Video] – Cat School Clicker Training
- Family Member, Best Friend, Child or ‘Just’ a Pet, Owners’ Relationship Perceptions and Consequences for Their Cats – Esther M. C. Bouma, Marsha L. Reijgwart, & Arie Dijkstra
- Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners – Eva Heidenberger
- Human and cat personalities: building the bond from both sides – Kurt Kotrschal, Jon Day, Sandra McCune, & Manuela Wedl
- Will a hiding box provide stress reduction for shelter cats? – C.M.Vinke, L.M.Godijn, & W.J.R. van der Leij
NEED HELP FROM A CAT BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST? If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a certified feline behavior consultant. They will be able to offer you tailored advice for your cat(s) and situation. Good places to start are: - International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants - COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers - American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
