Sleeping on the bed

Why do my cats wait until I'm asleep before they climb up on the bed to sleep?

Because they love you, it's comforting and warm to be near to you I expect

I don't think that cats can tell if we are asleep or awake really, we might just look like we are lying still or something in cats eyes? Who knows

Originally Posted by Gilly

Because they love you, it's comforting and warm to be near to you I expect

I don't think that cats can tell if we are asleep or awake really, we might just look like we are lying still or something in cats eyes? Who knows

Click to expand...

Well, they don't jump on the bed if I'm awake reading or talking on the phone. I don't mind them sleeping near me. I'm puzzled why they wait.

Perhaps you move to much when you're awake?

Originally Posted by ullis_p

Perhaps you move to much when you're awake?

Click to expand...

My cat also waits until I'm asleep to get on the bed

That makes sense. They must be waiting until I'm least likely to roll over on them!

They might be waiting until your comfy and settled. I know Rosie and Sophie don't jump on the bed until the lights have been out for at least 10 minutes

Originally Posted by rosiemac

They might be waiting until your comfy and settled. I know Rosie and Sophie don't jump on the bed until the lights have been out for at least 10 minutes

Click to expand...

That sounds likely.

Dax waits for me to get settled with my pillow before she settles down half on my shoulder. I cant count the number of uncomfy nights because I want to roll over but I cant bear to disturb her!

Dax will also not go to bed if it is just my partner in there. She waits by the desk, or at the bathroom door, staring at me as if to say "hurry up mummy! I want to go to bed!"

I find that too. When I go to sleep the boys are on the floor or playing in the living room, yet when I wake up they are both next to me.

Lily has a certain "patrol" she does each night before finally sleeping. It involves checking what's going on outside by sitting looking out of my study window; she sits "guarding" the top of the stairs and daughter's door for a while. She regularly checks us during this time - it involves three trips to the bed where she checks hubby and me before getting down. The fourth time on the bed she comes up and starts kneading and purring and then goes to sleep.

It is her routine and we both, independently reached the conclusion that she was patrolling her patch.

Yeah, Nano waits until the human(s) are settled in before jumping on the bed.

I can invite her earlier by thumping the flat of my hand against the mattress twice -- two slaps/taps against a surface is her cue to jump so she treats it as an invitation.

I wish they were quiet when they jump on the bed so they wouldn't wake me up!!

Those are really cute stories.

Both of my cats have learned to wait until I stop tossing and turning before they even attempt to lay on my bed at bedtime. They know it's SAFER to proceed with caution and it's better to lay on the floor at my bedside!!

Pipsqueek only jumps up on the bed when he is needy. Frantic lays next to my purring away till I fall asleep and then he moves down to the end of the bed. I've tried just laying still, but he doesn't move till I've actually fallen asleep. So I think they can tell we're asleep by our breathing pattern.

Cats love to sleep in groups, generally. It's beacuse thier body heat drops when they sleep. That's why they tend to sleep on your comfy blanket, sweater or you. It also means they are comfortable with you and want to curl up with you.... I like personally

We don't normally leave our bedroom door open during the night for our kitties, but have gotten into the practice during this hot summer season to allow for the air conditioning to venture back there.

During this time, I've noticed the same thing. I think it's like the others have mentioned...I think they just wait until your quiet, comfortable, and unmoving because I've noticed that if you move in the least, cats tend to jump down. I think it's them avoiding disturbance, and trying to allow themselves uninterrupted sleep. Cats are very protective of their sleep time, and will go to great lengths to find the most undisturbed spot in the house to sleep in.

For example: Sunny tends to sleep under my daughter's dresser (whether my daughter's home or not), and Hobbes tends to sleep on top of our dresser (because I spend most of my waking time out here in the rest of the house).

Or, hey, maybe they sit there watching you toss and turn for your most comfy spot, and when you're sleeping you just look so warm and comfy for them, they just can't resist! Sweet lovey kitties!