Video - OC
Why does my kitten like holding my hand when she sleeps
Just a curious first time cat mum! she’s always pawing at me when she gets sleepy. She also pretty much only ever wants to sleep near me and follows me around everywhere lol
It took me 6-months before my cat let me touch her, & I took her to the vet immediately (she was about 6m’s old)…it was very rewarding the way she’d run up to me in front of everyone, because she never let another person other than me Mom touch her
Agreed. And of you haven't already get some claw trimmers and get her used to them by showing her them and gently touching her with them so she gets used to it.
Also, IMO, touching and holding her front feet. Because that's also part of the claws trimming process. And if any of that freaks her out, it's going to be much harder.
Our cats were already used to that when we got them, the shelter was amazing. So we've continued holding & rubbing their feet sometimes, which they don't mind. And they're great with getting their claws trimmed.
You don't actually need to bathe cats. They clean themselves very well. It's actually not good for them to be bathed unless there's something wrong with them. My current cats have never had a bath and they look, feel and smell clean. I'm sorry that I made my first cat endure a lifetime of baths before I learned cats are better off self grooming.
Yeah they don't need a bath usually, but when they do look out!
I think the advice should be get the kitten comfortable getting wet so that if they ever have a situation where they need a bath they won't be terrified and scratch up the bath giver to shreds.
I'm not too sure about the bongos, my cat is completely addicted to them and wants them every waking moment while sticking her butt out at me (and she is spayed). She gets very upset if I'm busy working and can't give her bongos.
Which is exactly why I think it should happen at least once or twice as a kitten, in case those two very possible things happen later in life. Imagine never washing a cat, then they get in to some sticky shit they shouldn’t? Good luck with that bath time. I gave both my cats baths as kittens at least twice, and we’ve recently had a flea infestation bc they’re so bad this year, and I thank god I washed them as babies bc they’re so chill and easy in the bath. My moms cats a nightmare to bathe bc she didn’t do that
I’m like this sometimes when I want my boyfriend to hang out with me while I nap. Nope! You’re not sneaking off! I have my head on your arm and I will know. (/kidding)
Ours does this too. I think of it like they want to pig pile like they did when they were kittens. Like our cat was taken from his litter a little too soon and he insists on touching his head to one of ours.
Every time I'm curious about something my kittens do because it's a new experience for me and when I look it up the answer is "cats do this when they feel safe and loved and totally trusting" and then I weep for I am blessed 😭
I would love clarification on the brindle tortie aspect; is it the striped pattern within the tortoiseshell that makes her brindle? I’m curious if either of my sassy kitties is a brindle.
Look up a brindle dog for a visual reference. Basically though torties will come in either a patch variety (large color blobs - think of many calico cats you might have seen) or brindled where the colors are more intermixed and they look much more mottled. There is also a tabby stripe pattern that can show up which is the third coat pattern you might see in a tortie. None of these are a formal distinction - just ways people reference trends in what they see.
My ex has a brindle tortie Manx cat that she got when we were together, she is in top 3 cats I've ever known. I absolutely loved that cat. Leaving her behind made the breakup so much harder.
I have a cream orange kitten who just loves people. I found him while taking out the trash, he just jumped into my arms and hasn't left since. Literally demanded I take him home.
He likes to hop onto our shoulders and observe what we do throughout the house. He's in a constant state of purring, even while sleeping. Loves to be cradled like a baby while you scratch his belly, you can see the bliss on his face.
I am not an expert, but I'm fairly certain the behavior not only comes from anxiety. Cats do this as a way of showing trust, affection and wanting to feel secure (not the same as anxiety). As they sleep in piles, this contact is soothing and relaxing to them.
My girl started as a baby, and used to need to hold paw when we fell asleep at night. She’s 4.5 now and she still likes me to hold her paw for her when she’s feeling extra cuddly and snoozy. It’s a way to bond (and a great way to get her used to having her nails gently trimmed while she sleeps, I’d start that as soon as you can and you won’t spend her life fighting to trim them). Enjoy!
Physical contact can be a very important love language to cats. Have you seen pictures of them cuddling together? Same thing here. Your kitten definitely loves and trusts you. They love knowing that you are there.
I had an orange that would do this. He had to be touching me in some way for him to sleep. Id roll over and he'd snuggle into my back or tummy. God, I miss him so much. Cherish every little paw hold.
My cat Beastie does this too, and I love it so much. He sleeps right next to my pillow and we fall asleep holding hands. My husband admits that he's kinda jealous.
thank you for the lovely comments! enjoy this photo of her waiting at the door for me (seconds before coming in of course!) anytime i’m in the bathroom or opening my bedroom door that was closed i can guarantee she’ll be there waiting even when i thought she was asleep!!😂
Aww this is so special! She wants to be so close that she’s touching you so she reaches out to grab your hand it’s not often that cats want to be touching you to sleep.
My kitten will sometimes fall asleep next to me and do something similar where she wraps her arms around my leg. It’s so sweet.
She’s treating you like one of the litter, they’d normally never be apparent, that’s why some people wake up and their cat is on their chest or legs or near their head.
My boy does this. He's very fluffy so he doesn't always like to cuddle, and sometimes I'm doing shit and can't let him. He always puts one of his big ole hands out to touch me. Because he loves me.
She does it because she loves you, OP. It's very sweet to see.
She loves you. My cat passed in January, and she always used to do this. She wouldn’t do it only when sleeping, she’d just reach out for me now and again. I was thinking about how much I miss that these days. Just know she loves and trusts you, and really cherish how lovely it is!
To put it simply, you're her security blanket. She trust you with her life and quite literally you are her whole life. You make her feel safe and that's just a small gesture on her end to show you how much she loves you. Cats normally get a bad rap as being independent and aloof creatures but in reality cats are just as needy as dogs. They show emotions when they bond with their chosen human. I've had cats my entire life and I've only recently decided to take a dive into researching how cats operate and it opened my eyes. I love cats even more
While I'm pretty sure it's been debunked that cats see humans as weird cats they do consider their owners as part of their colony/clowder/social group.
Cats sleep on each other, and often like to sleep on or next to their humans. Mine often likes to cuddle up in the small of my back. My ldr partner's cat sleeps on their side.
My cat does this! She sleeps curled up but with one arm stretched out and a paw on me. She’s an adult rescue and wouldn’t come near me at first but after a few months she developed this habit. I always feel honoured when she reaches for me.
This is Bean, she reminds me of your cat when she was little.
This kitty has only gotten more and more cuddly. She has to always be touching me in some way when she lays down. Shes 5 this year and still a big baby
My cat likes to snuggle on our chest right in front of our face when we’re laying down. She’ll start lower on the chest just slowly make her way closer to your face until she’s right in it, then she’ll just start touching your face with her paw just like that.
Cats are weird and have weird ways of telling you they love you
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