If you’ve ever had a cat jump up on the bed and walk around in circles before lying down, you may have wondered why they engage in this peculiar ritual. As it turns out, there are several possible explanations behind this common feline behavior.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Cats circle their owners in bed as a way to trample down the covers into a comfy nest, mark territory with scent glands, feel safe and guarded, or get your attention for food or playtime.
Creating a Comfortable Nest
Cats are natural nesters – they love curling up in soft, cushiony areas when they sleep. This instinct comes from their days living in the wild, when a comfy nest would help protect them and conserve body heat.
When our furry friends circle us in bed, they’re looking to create just such a nest so they can settle in and drift off to sleep.
Cats are drawn to soft, cushiony areas to sleep
Cats prefer soft surfaces like blankets, pillows, clothing piles, and even their owners to hard floors and furniture. Researchers believe this fondness for squishy nesting spots comes from cats’ days as desert dwellers in the Fertile Crescent.
Sand dunes and other desert features provided insulation and safety for these early felines.
Today, a soft surface helps kitty regulate their body temperature and feel protected while sleeping. Kneading and treading before settling in fluffs up blankets and clothing to recreate the cushiony nest cats love. So when cats circle before lying down, they’re scoping out the coziest spot to snooze.
Circling presses down the bedding
Ascats walk in circles before nesting, the motion presses down any lumps or piles in the bedding. This creates an indented area for kitty to settle into. By clearing space, flattening the surface, and framing the spot with their body, cats create the perfect little nook to keep them warm, safe, and comfy.
Cats also dig their paws into blankets or clothing while treading and circling. This motion turns bedding into the soft sides of a nest. So circling ensures kitties have puffy yet stable walls surrounding them as they sleep.
It’s an instinct that harkens back millennia but still keeps our cats cozy today.
Fluffing up bedding with paws
After circling to clear an area, most cats knead or “make biscuits” before finally lying down. Here, they’ll dig their paws deep into blankets, clothing, or even their snoozing owner. This motion puffs up the bedding and frames the nest.
Kneading brings blood flow to cats’ paws and calms cats. But it also turns loose bedding into the walls of a nest. Your cat is recalling behaviors passed down from ancestors who had to sculpt shelters from desert sand.
The result is a soft, enclosed space that provides warmth, safety, and comfort for sleeping.
Marking Territory
Cats have scent glands on the pads of their paws that secrete pheromones. When a cat kneads or scratches an object, they are depositing these scent markers that communicate information to other cats. Areas marked by a cat’s pheromones become familiar and comforting territories to them.
Cats have scent glands on paws
Cats have special scent glands located in between the pads on the bottom of their paws. When they knead or scratch against objects, these glands release pheromones that mark the area with that cat’s unique scent signature.
This allows them to effectively mark objects and locations as their own territory.
Rubbing deposits pheromones
As cats go about their daily activities, they will often briskly rub up against furniture, doorways, and even people’s legs. This deposits some of their facial pheromones onto these areas from glands around their mouth and cheeks.
When your cat rubs around you in bed, they are transferring these territorial pheromones onto you and your sleeping area.
Signals ownership of prime sleeping spot
By circling around and rubbing against you before settling in for a nap, your cat is signaling that you and this spot on the bed are part of its territory. Cats are very protective of their sleep spaces, so marking an area like this shows they have claimed ownership of what they consider a prime location to sleep.
Feeling Safe and Secure
Being near trusted humans is comforting
Cats often feel most relaxed and secure when they are near their trusted human companions. They view us as part of their social group and family unit. By circling around us in bed, your cat is likely trying to get close to you and feel protected.
This behavior shows that your cat feels a strong bond with you and sees you as a source of safety and comfort.
Some key reasons why being near you makes your cat feel safe:
- Your presence lowers your cat’s stress levels and anxiety.
- Your scent and familiar form are reassuring.
- You provide food, shelter, and affection.
- Cats feel more secure sleeping near their “colony members.”
So when your cat snuggles up beside you or purrs nearby, it’s a sign they feel right at home and comfortable with you watching over them. The closer they can get to you, the more secure they feel.
Guarding behavior shows protectiveness
Another reason your cat may circle around you in bed is to act as your protector while you sleep. Cat’s have an innate guarding instinct that surfaces around valued members of their social circle. By circling around you, your cat is essentially “standing guard” to ensure you remain safe as you rest.
Signs that circling is a protective, guarding behavior:
- They position themselves between you and the doorway or other entry points.
- They sleep lightly and awaken to any noises that could signal an “intruder.”
- They patrol around the bed periodically while you sleep.
This guarding behavior shows your cat feels protective of you and is watching out for potential threats. It’s their way of returning the sense of security you provide them.
Your presence offers safety
Cats generally prefer to sleep and rest in places where they feel most secure from harm. Since you provide food, shelter, affection, and safety, being near you while sleeping is incredibly comforting for cats.
Key reasons your presence offers safety:
- You deter unwanted visitors like insects, other pets, or loud noises.
- Your bed has your scent, which is familiar and calming.
- You act as a warm, trusted barrier between them and the outside world.
- You provide a sense of protection from predators.
So when your cat circles around you in bed, they are essentially creating a safe little nest or den beside the human they trust most. Your presence allows them to fully relax and get the deep, restful sleep they need.
Seeking Playtime or Food
Walking on you gets your attention
When a cat walks over you in bed, it is often trying to get your attention and initiate playtime or ask for food. As natural hunters, cats like to stalk and pounce, so by walking on you under the covers, they are putting those instincts into action.
It can be an annoyance when trying to sleep, but it is normal cat behavior. Try playing with kitty for 10-15 minutes before bed to burn off some of that extra energy.
Chance to initiate play or treats
Circling around you in bed provides an opportunity for felines to request affection, treats or playtime. According to a 2021 survey by ASPCA, 76% of cat owners play with their cats before bedtime. So if you didn’t have a play session, expect to get circled until you give in.
It’s their chance and they will take it. Keep treats nearby to reward the request or have toys available to divert the interest into a quick playtime.
Learn to interpret your cat’s signals
Pay attention to your cat’s body language to understand what they want when encircling you at night. Ears perked up and eyes wide can signal an invitation to play. Meowing persistently may indicate it’s time to fill their food dish.
If their tail is swishing quickly side to side, they are showing feline frustration. Learning these subtle cues will help you provide what your cat actually needs when they disturb your sleep.
In the end, even though the circling may be bothersome when you want to sleep, try to have patience. They are only behaving naturally as playful and inquisitive felines seeking your attention the only way they know how.
Conclusion
In conclusion, feline circling behavior on beds often comes down to comfort, communication, and bonding. By trampling down covers, leaving scent markers, and snuggling up close, cats create ideal sleeping areas while also staking claims.
And when accompanied by meows, nuzzles, or playful nips, it may be your cat’s way of saying it’s time for quality time together.
