Curious why my cat will touch me with his paw

benda_starr

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
18
Purraise
3
Location
Denver, Colorado
***this isnt a behavior problem, but a curiosity***

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me why my cat would do this:

I will be laying in the bed an he will come up beside my head and lay down. (sometimes he lays down above my head on the pillow). Soon, I will feel him put his paw on my shoulder. Sometimes he will touch my face-- but lately- he is putting his paw on my shoulder or if he is beside me - will put his paw on my arm before he falls asleep.

This isnt a problem at all, I actually like when he does this. :-)
 

mrblanche

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
12,578
Purraise
119
Location
Texas
You will notice that if two cats are sleeping together, often one will put a paw on the other one. I've always taken it to be a gesture of reassurance and trust.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

benda_starr

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
18
Purraise
3
Location
Denver, Colorado
I think that I have seen Spencer and Gracie do that. :-) Im glad they are happy!!!!!
 

cheylink

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
8,259
Purraise
102
Location
queens, new york
Absolutely correct! He is seeking comfort and expressing his trust, love, and bonding with you. As kittens they find comfort from the body warmth, breath, and heart beat of their mother as well as each other. As adults they seek this same comfort from those they feel closest to!
 

addiebee

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
7,724
Purraise
17
Location
Michigan
Ghostie and Jake will do this with me. Jake likes to touch my face.


Prowler likes to wrap himself around my ankle and rub on my foot.
 

silva_unt

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
624
Purraise
10
Location
Plano, TX
Neko sleeps on me! she also touches my face. but its more like a constant tap with a little bit of claw...ouch. She does this in the early morning, i think she knows that doing this will wake me
 

otto

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
9,837
Purraise
197
Tolly sleeps in my arms and Jennie at my knees or on my hip, Mazy sleeps at my neck, but must always have just one part of herself touching me, whether it is tip of tail or a paw resting on my ear, something.
 

jennyr

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
13,348
Purraise
593
Location
The Land of Cheese
Ellie sleeps with both paws round my neck and her head on my chest. She has very long legs so it is easy for her to do this! Dushka taps me with a paw at night when she wants to crawl under the duvet, so that I can lift it up for her. Then she sleeps with both paws on my arm.
 

trillcat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
Messages
1,738
Purraise
2
Location
Wisconsin
Originally Posted by jennyranson

Ellie sleeps with both paws round my neck and her head on my chest. She has very long legs so it is easy for her to do this! Dushka taps me with a paw at night when she wants to crawl under the duvet, so that I can lift it up for her. Then she sleeps with both paws on my arm.
I also get the paw tap to lift the covers so Ginger can burrow under to snooze. She will then sleep wraped around my feet. She also like to play "footsies" so I have little cat feet right up on my feet,
 

lizi59

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
10
Purraise
1
At night my four cats will line themselves up from my head to my feet on my right, and my husband is to my left. Since they refuse to budge, if I have to get up during the night I have to slide myself out like a letter out of an envelope! And there's just no graceful way to do that
 

mira's_mommy

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
191
Purraise
2
Location
Upstate New York
Kipper does this too but he tries to make it look unintentional by stretching first, like in the movies when a teenage boy stretches and puts his arm around the girl
. It's so cute though. He actually likes to sleep with his paw in my hand and when I start to fall asleep and my grip loosens, he'll gently touch his claws to my palm to remind me he's there.
 

audiocat

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2007
Messages
433
Purraise
13
Location
Austin TX
Many times I've seen Zachary go up to Lilly when she is sleeping on the couch and pat the side of her face with his paw. It's the sweetest thing ever!! He just loves her....but Lilly is the typical calico/tortie girl and could care less. Poor boy.

Soft paw taps are a sign of affection.
 

sweetpea24

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Feb 5, 2009
Messages
568
Purraise
24
Location
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
My cat puts his paw on my eye. I don't know why!! Not all the time but if we're sleeping facing each other, boink on my eye. At least he knows not to use his claws!
 

jscottpp

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
13
Purraise
1
Location
USA
I get a similar thing in the morning. Gracie paws at me so I'll move my arm from under the covers so she'll have something to curl up against.
 

bellaandme

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
2,001
Purraise
22
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Rattles would gentle pat me on the eyelids in the mornings to wake up and feed her. At bedtime, if I had my back turned to Little Man Tate, he would reach his paw over to my shoulder and try to pull me back over to face him! He only did this twice, but I was amazed at how he figured that out. It's communication of love and affection. Bella always has a paw on me while she naps. In case I move then she wants to know where I'm going
 

jadeleaf

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2014
Messages
57
Purraise
7
My Sabbath does this kind of thing often. He's not and is never likely to be a lap cat or much of a cuddler but he does this innocent stretch and ends up with paws on my back, my arms or my legs. He will also hold my hand while he sleeps (actually gripping it).

I always took it to mean he wanted to make sure while he slept that I wasn't going anywhere. He apparently gets a wee bit of separation anxiety if I leave the house even briefly. He's very bonded to me I think, he doesn't really do this with anyone else in the house.

I'm assuming it's also to suck a bit of heat from me. The cold nights are when he tends to sidle up and do this more.

 
Top