Why Is My Cat Always Sleeping On The Floor?

Do you find your cat sleeping on the floor instead of the bed you bought? That can be frustrating, especially if the bed wasn't cheap. So why does your cat pick the floor?

Why is my cat always sleeping on the floor? Most often, the floor is simply cooler. When the weather or the room gets warm, cats look for cool spots like tile, wood floors or a bathroom floor. This is normal and usually nothing to worry about.

Below are the other common reasons, plus a few tips to make the cat bed more appealing. These tips come from experience, not research, so expect some trial and error.

6 Reasons Why Your Cat Is Always Sleeping On The Floor

Besides keeping cool, here are the most common reasons cats choose the floor.

The Floor Is Cold

The most common reason is temperature. Hard floors stay cooler than a padded bed.

In summer, you may find your cat stretched out on the bathroom or kitchen floor or in a shady spot. Outdoor cats may lie on cool soil or in the shade.

The Floor Is Much Comfortable

Some cats simply find the floor more comfortable than their bed, especially when it's warm.

If your cat keeps hopping out of its bed, the bed may be too warm, too small or too squishy for its taste.

The Floor Make Them Feel Safe

Cats like to rest where they feel secure. If something unpleasant happened in or near the bed, a cat may avoid it.

For example, the bed may be in a spot where another pet bothers your cat, or near a loud appliance.

In multi-cat homes, a more confident cat may claim the best spots. If your cat seems to be avoiding another pet, offer several resting places in different rooms.

Your Cat Is Not Used To Beds

A new bed smells and feels unfamiliar. Many cats ignore a new bed at first and come around once it smells like home. The tips below can help.

Because They Don't Trust You

If your cat used to sleep on your bed and suddenly stopped, something may have changed. You may have rolled over onto it or bumped it in your sleep, or the bed may now be too warm.

Give your cat time and let it choose where to sleep. Forcing it back onto the bed usually backfires.

If the change comes with other changes in behavior, appetite or litter box habits, check with your vet.

Your Cat Loves To Sleep On Hard Places

Some cats just prefer a firm surface. That's another reason why your cat may pick the floor. If so, try a thinner pad or a flat mat instead of a deep, plush bed.

4 Different Ways To Stop Your Cat Sleeping On The Floor

Sleeping on the floor isn't harmful. If you'd still like your cat to use its bed, try these tips. They are based on experience, not scientific studies.

Put Some Catnip On Their Bed

Catnip is a plant that triggers rolling, rubbing and playful behavior in many cats. Not every cat reacts to it, and young kittens often don't.

A little catnip sprinkled on the bed may help your cat link the bed with good feelings.

Check the video below that explains broadly what catnip is:

Place Your Scent

Put a worn T-shirt or other piece of your clothing in your cat's bed. Your familiar scent can help the bed feel safe. It's free and often works well.

Make Their Bed Comfortable

Match the bed to your cat's taste. If your cat likes firm surfaces, use a flat mat. If it likes soft spots, add a cushion or blanket.

Keep the bed away from noisy areas like the washing machine. Cats prefer a quiet place to rest.

Place Their Bed On The Right Spot

Put the bed where your cat already likes to sleep. If it naps on the kitchen floor, place the bed near the kitchen.

Many cats like resting spots where they can see the room, and many enjoy sunny spots in cooler weather. Raised perches and window seats are popular.

Experiment. If your cat ignores the bed in one spot, try another.

Why Does My Cat Sleep In Different Places?

It's normal for cats to change sleeping spots. They often move with the temperature, picking warm spots in cold weather and cool spots in hot weather.

Cats also choose places where they feel safe and undisturbed, so a change in household routine can send them to a new spot.

Why Does My Cat Sleep In The Litter Box?

A new cat may hide in the litter box when it feels anxious in an unfamiliar home. Give it a covered bed or box to hide in instead.

An adult cat that suddenly spends a lot of time in the litter box may have a medical problem. Lower urinary tract disease, bladder stones or crystals, or digestive trouble can all keep a cat close to the box.

Watch for straining, frequent trips with little urine, crying while urinating or blood in the urine. Cornell's Feline Health Center warns that a male cat that can't pass urine has a urethral obstruction, an emergency that needs immediate veterinary care. Call your vet right away.

Why Does My Cat Sleep On My Clothes?

Your clothes are soft and warm, and they smell like you. A cat that is bonded to you may seek out your scent.

Final Verdict

The most common reason cats sleep on the floor is that it's cooler, especially in warm weather. Comfort, safety and personal preference play a role too.

If you want your cat to use its bed, be patient and experiment with the bed's type and location. Cats choose spots based on their own comfort, not your preference. If floor sleeping comes with other changes in behavior or health, see your veterinarian.

Source: iheartcats.com, sepicat.com, cuteness.com

Sources

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine