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Why Does My Cat Sleep on Me When I’m Sick? Does My Cat Know I’m Feeling Ill?

April 22, 2019 By Johnny Salib 19 Comments

Over the years, we’ve noticed that our cats like to spend lots of time with us whenever we’re sick.

Our cats sleeping with us when we’re sick isn’t shocking because our cats almost always sleep with us, but when we’re sick they never leave our side!

On a regular day, I would say that each of our cats spends between 1-2 hours sleeping intermittently in our laps. The time spent on our laps includes days where I spend the majority of my time in bed.

Our cats will ignore if they’ve “had enough” of us, but again, it seems like they can’t have enough of us whenever we’re sick and will spend almost all of their time with us.

As mentioned in past posts, when my partner and I are sick, we choose not to share the same bed as we both have jobs that require us to be physical and interact closely with other people. So, in hopes of trying to make sure that at least one of us can continue to work, we choose to try our very best not to spread germs.

You’d think that that would be somewhat difficult, especially with two cats, but that doesn’t seem to be the case since the cats seem to ignore the healthy one of us unless we feed them or try to play with them. Interesting, eh?

Another weird thing that changes about our cats when we’re sick is that they fight less and spend more time sleeping. While their activity levels vary from day to day, it is relatively easy to tell that our cats 

So, does that mean that our cats understand that we’re sick?

Are our cats trying to make sure we feel better?

Are our cats worried about us?

Why is it that our cats seem to understand that we’re sick, and what are they thinking?

beau-cuddling-bed-me-johnny

SHORT ANSWER

Although human-feline relationships haven’t been extensively researched, there are a few studies that show that cats can emotionally bond with their owners.

Though at the time of writing this article, there is not enough scientific evidence to confirm how much cats can understand us or bond with us, we do know that they do understand a limited amount of our language. 

There are several forums, blogs and other forms of social media in which owners share their experiences bonding with their cats, and many experiences seem much like our very own.

Although blogs and forums aren’t scientific journals or research since a lot of the documentation is similar, it is safe to assume that the pet parents are onto something!

GALVAN AND VONK STUDY

In 2015, Moriah Galvan and Jennifer Vonk from Oakland University did a study on 12 cats based on how cats react when owners smile or frown at them.

Although the sample size was much smaller than most research studies try to have, this is currently the most well-known and referenced study of its kind.

So what did the study say? Well, the study showed when owners smiled, the cats scented more, purred and even sat on their owner’s laps. The study also showed that cats were less likely to want to spend time around their owners when the owner was frowning. 

Now, though the results showed that cats could understand facial features over time, it does not prove that cats are empathetic.

To read more about this study, click here.

CATS ARE MASTERS AT LEARNING BODY LANGUAGE

Ever have a cat who won’t stop staring at you? We have one of those in our household, and while it can be creepy at times, it’s an instinct our cat, Beau, has to help him understand what’s going on.

Speaking of, do you have a cat who always runs to the kitchen whenever you walk in that direction?

Do you have a cat who is trained to do a specific task or trick based on how you vocalize or by doing a particular action? 

Do you have a cat who will jump onto the couch whenever you pat on it?

Do you have a cat who will run if you hunch yourself over as if you’re going to pounce?

Well, chances are you have a cat who has one of these qualities or behaviours, if not more, that I haven’t even mentioned. 

It is assumed that cats will begin to understand when it is you’re sick based on being able to recognize when you cough, sneeze, sniffle, etc. similar to other stimuli you provide.

beau-closeup-eyes-couch-hiding
Photo from What Does It Mean When Your Cat Stares at You? How to Understand What Your Cat Is Saying

 

CATS THRIVE ON ROUTINE

I’m sure everyone has had their cat remind them that it’s time to eat by either meowing incessantly or, if you have a cat like Beau, by walking into the kitchen and standing in the same spot until you feed them.

Cats will recognize when there is a change in their routine based on the changes you have to make while being sick.

What do I mean by that? Well, if you’re someone who has a full-time job, your cat will recognize that you are at home spending time in your bed instead of being gone. If you’re too sick, they may notice you sleeping more.

If you’re sleeping, you may even miss a feeding, sending them the red alert that something is wrong, and their food delivery service is out of commission (at least for now!) 

Cats may get stressed when their routine changes and may turn to their owners for comfort or answers. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a cat that is spending time with their sick owner is stressed out.

A break in routine may be another way your cat begins recognizing that you’re not feeling well when you’re sick.

YOU’RE WARM AND COMFY

Often when we’re sick, our body temperature rises, making us the perfect cuddle spot for cats. Body temperature is a big reason why cats sleep by our feet at night, although it is not the only reason.

Whether or not you have a fever, your cat may be attracted to the fact that you have extra body heat and are spending a lot of time on the couch or bed, not moving.

Funny enough, this is also one of the reasons cats love paper and cardboard boxes so much.

kalista-sitting-on-backpack
Photo from Why Does my Cat Sleep on my Backpack?

CATS MIGHT BE HYPERSENSITIVE TO ILLNESS

This topic is one of the gray areas of this post since there isn’t a whole lot of scientific evidence to support this claim. That said, it is a known fact that cats are aware of each other’s illnesses and will try to protect and provide extra support for sick members of their pack. 

Housecats have also made their owners aware of another cat’s illness by overgrooming them on the affected area. It’s a reasonably odd phenomenon, but some cat owners have reported similar behaviour with their cats’ human counterparts.

After researching and reading several posts, blogs, and asking friends, it seems like some cats are hypersensitive or overly aware of human illnesses. Ordinary behaviour cats exhibit to their owners is massaging them or even licking them in hopes of making them feel better.

Many blogs claim that this frequently happens when the owners have headaches or migraines, while some others claim that their cats were aware of fatal organ failures, including, but not limited to, kidneys. 

Now, this is a fairly bold statement, and I will repeat that there are no scientific studies on these happenings, but it is fantastic to read so many stories of cats bonding with their human counterparts when they are sick.

I do hope that vets try to conduct studies or research on these happenings, although it would be somewhat tricky. Perhaps a survey group to begin!

CATS HAVE SAVED LIVES

We so often hear about the fantastic work dogs do for firefighters, paramedics and other rescue groups, but did you know that cats have been known to do a lot of the same work?

There have been multiple reports of cats waking up family members when another family member is experiencing medical difficulties. Some of these medical difficulties have included seizures, heart failure, and choking/trouble breathing.

Some reports even claim that cats were aware of the symptoms even before anything drastic happened, and cats who wouldn’t typically bite or meow would yowl and bite their owners to make them aware of the danger they were in.

Weirdly enough, some reports have even claimed that their cats were aware that their blood sugars were too low, and their cats kept them awake until they had taken their pills and done their second reading. Interesting, eh?

Cats have even been known to wake up their owners when there is an increase in carbon monoxide and fires.

The fantastic thing about these stories is that there aren’t just a few of them, the internet is flooded with them. Not only that, there is plenty of documentation of these events from law enforcement officials, medical experts, animal support organizations as well as credible news sources. All of these proving how amazing cats are.

beau-sleeping-bed-steph-plaid-cute-cat
Photo from Why Does My Cat Sleep on My Feet? Why Do They Only Sleep at the Foot of My Bed?

BUT HOW CAN ALL OF THIS BE POSSIBLE?

Well, not only do a number of these medical experiences have visual ailments such as dizziness, fatigue, etc. A number of them cause the chemicals to shift in your body.

Since cats have a much stronger sense of smell than we do, it is assumed that they can tell when these chemicals switch in our bodies. The simplest example, being blood sugar.

It can be assumed that if your cat catches wind of these chemical changes, they will relate it to some of the symptoms above, even if you are asleep.

Blood sugar drops? My owner always stumbles when I smell this. They always ingest something. They always use a machine twice. They’re not doing it. Maybe I should wake them up to remind them!

CONCLUSION

Although there are countless accounts of cats being able to suspect when their owners are sick, there is unfortunately not enough scientific evidence to prove the claim. 

Now, that’s not to say that it is a fallacy or a lie that cats can tell whether or not you are sick, it is, however, to say that we should probably get some funds to research this! 

I do recommend doing a deeper dive into the stories of cats saving lives, both medical as well as in cases of fires. I have to admit that my deep dive lasted several hours and a few thousand teardrops later, I have learned to love and respect cats even more.

While I have never been in the situation where my cats have saved my life, I am grateful for the time they have spent sleeping by my side when I’m sick and their countless kisses, healing purrs and cuddles.

So pet parents, what do you think about all of this? Do your cats seem to be aware of you being sick? Have they ever saved your life? Let me know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Cat Care, Cats, Pet Care

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About Johnny Salib

Johnny is a twenty-something-year-old pet blogger and the proud pet parent of two cats and a chinchilla. He also writes music directly aimed to help keep cats chilled out and stress free.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth says

    August 23, 2021 at 8:14 am

    Currently, I’m suffering from a 4mm kidney stone that has been wrecking a path through me for two days now. I have a 10 year old, 18 LBS, bengal cat named Flynn that has not left my side the entire time but to eat and use his litter box. Actually, he’s not finishing his food in favor of being near me. Even when the meds are masking the pain really well, Flynn won’t leave my lap. It’s like he KNOWS I’m still dealing with the stone. When I’m having a full on peak in pain and I’m making noises, holding my back, curling up in pain, crying, etc, he’s right there watching me, sticking his face in mine, and then laying with me as soon as I settle and the pain subsides. Last night I woke up in pain, got some medication and then sat in a chair for an hour until I felt well enough to try sleeping again. Flynn followed me from the bed, laying on the floor beside my feet, and then back to the bed when I returned there. I recall when I had gastric bypass surgery and couldn’t leave my chair for nearly a weak, he was in my lap the entire time. Flynn also similarly does this when my dog has been sick with digestive issues that keep him bed ridden. He’ll lay near the dog bed until Max is well. Flynn also seems to pick up in emotions because when I’m really sad, he’s right there. Flynn is a very special cat and maybe he’s not sensing my emotional and physical health as much as I think he is but I’d like to think he is. I’m very blessed to have such an amazing cat to care for me when I’m sick. He’s definitely helped me feel better while I’ve been dealing with this stubborn kidney stone. I do agree more research needs to be done on cats and how they bond with people.

    Reply
  2. Van says

    February 11, 2021 at 9:27 pm

    Currently reading this as my girl, Penelope, is nestled on a pillow next to me purring in my ear while I’m sick with Covid-19. I’m a bit concerned for her because I’ve read that it can spread to cats (though it doesn’t seem to be as bad in them as it is with humans) but I’ve given up trying to distance myself from her since she refuses to leave! I’ve been trying my best to keep my head turned and make sure I put hand sanitizer on my hands (surprisingly she doesn’t mind the smell) after I cough and before I pet her head.

    Reply
  3. Katie says

    October 27, 2020 at 8:32 am

    I found this post while looking for answers to why my cats behavior. He seemed to care when I sprained my ankle. This was a stray cat we took in and named Juniper. I was in alot of pain, sitting with my seat reclined and my feet elevated. Juniper came and sat across my shins, then moved to my sore ankle, positioned his body beside it, laid his head on the top my lower shin (right above the ankle), and placed his elbow in a pressure point on top of my foot. He laid there while the foot went partially numb and I felt the pain decrease. I had to crawl to my room that night and he walked right beside me the whole way. My other cat did nothing Lol.

    Reply
  4. Edith Martinez says

    December 5, 2019 at 1:46 am

    I looked up this subject because my precious TigerLily is one of those cats that will be by my side for as long as I’m sick, recovering from surgery, or depressed. I’ve been sick with a sinus/cold causing me to cough. Today, during her brief stint away from me, while I was in the bathroom and started coughing again, she came running into the room. My heart is so comforted and warmed just knowing that she is by my side. She also likes to sleep in my bed while I’m reading a book. It seems like she enjoys the reading material as well. I love the telepathy that we share. Blessings to TigerLily!!!!

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      December 5, 2019 at 2:39 am

      TigerLily seems like such a sweet cat <3 I'm glad you have her by your side.

      Reply
  5. Liza says

    November 13, 2019 at 11:54 am

    Reading this as I’m sick right now on the couch. One of my cats is normally not too affectionate and the moment I went to lie down on the couch, he spread his whole body out on top of me and stuck his face right in mine. Then the other one came to join him and she is now sleeping on top of my legs and purring loudly. Also, the female cat seems to come to me any time I am feeling upset. I’ve told my observations to my partner and she is certainly not convinced!

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      November 13, 2019 at 1:50 pm

      Oh trust me, my partner was not convinced at first, but I’ve made him a believer!

      Reply
  6. LRay says

    October 18, 2019 at 1:53 pm

    I’m currently reading this as I’m sick with a common cold, and my Mina laying in my lap.
    My cat is an indoor/outdoor cat who typically only wants inside to eat, but she has been glued to me since my sick started yesterday. She honestly hasn’t given me much thought in months because she’s still a kitten and wants to go play, but she notices when i do anything abnormal like I sit in a different spot/room and comes to check that I’m okay.

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      October 18, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      That is so sweet! I love that cats always seem to make sure we’re okay and cuddle us when we’re sick.

      Reply
  7. Andreas says

    October 12, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    I was going through a painful divorce, my cat Lydia was always with me, and would lick away tears and quietly meow in my face with a nose nibble to make me smile (always worked). she became very sick, but hid that from me. she did everything she could to comfort me and not let me know her condition. she passed, but knew even that would hurt me, she said goodbye with the sweetest nibble on my nose, a head bump, and went into the other room to sleep forever on her favorite towel by my desk. i miss her and our lively conversations that made my friends laugh so hard.

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      October 13, 2019 at 1:01 pm

      I’m so sorry to hear about Lydia, but I’m so glad that you and her shared such a strong and fruitful bond. Cats are remarkable and what they pick up on is even more remarkable!

      Reply
    • zetametallic says

      October 15, 2019 at 9:45 pm

      Lydia sounded like an amazing cat. May she rest in peace. X

      Reply
    • Vanessa says

      November 28, 2019 at 4:56 pm

      So sorry she passed. Cats to me are beautiful souls that look into ours. I am sure you will have wonderful memories of her.

      Reply
  8. The Swiss Cats says

    April 24, 2019 at 1:34 am

    Of course we can feel it, and we’re the best nurses ! Great post ! Purrs

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:41 am

      I definitely love it when the cats are my nurse 😀

      Reply
  9. mommakatandherbearcat says

    April 23, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Cats are so misunderstood – and way more intelligent and loving than most people assume!

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:41 am

      I’m actually so surprised how little studies there are on cats in comparison to dogs. I wonder why that is?

      Reply
  10. da tabbies o trout towne says

    April 23, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    this is an interesting post; enjoyed reading this one. thankfully no one in the family has ever
    experienced a “medical issue” but daisy a few years back, let my parents know there was a
    water leak in the spare bathroom; which is hardly used; by continually going in there and sitting
    by the toilet. the drip was so slow that unless you actually “saw it” you’d not known about
    it, then they spotted the water on the floor ! ☺☺♥♥

    Reply
    • Johnny Salib says

      April 23, 2019 at 2:54 pm

      Glad Daisy let you know that there was a leak! That’s actually very useful! Hopefully, my cats will warn me if something is wrong with the house!

      Reply

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