Sleeping with a furry is one of the best experiences we can have, with our dear four-legged friend. When his eyes are closed and he breathes calmly, it is inevitable to smile, and very difficult not to caress him. However, sometimes what should be a peaceful sleep turns into moments that can be very tense.
This is an animal that, as we know, spends a large part of the day sleeping, but will only rest at night if it is really tired. If not, problems could arise. If this is what happened to you, and you would like to know why does my cat attack me when I sleep and what can I do to solve it, do not hesitate to follow our advice so that everything returns to normal 🙂.
Why does a cat attack?
The cat, even the calmest, you can attack at any time if you feel like your life is threatened, if you feel very stressed or anxious, or if you are sick or in pain. But you can also do it to draw our attention to something, for example, when humans do not dedicate quality time to it.
It often happens that the furry one spends hours and hours sleeping, because he has nothing else to do. When the family arrives after work, they immediately lie down on the sofa to rest and the furry one stays there, to one side, waiting for them to play with him. But that never happens, and when night comes, the feline can't take it anymore and plays with people. Not in the most appropriate way, of course, but she is the only one who knows it will wake them up. Of course, after having brought them out of their REM phase, they will most likely end up taking him out of the bedroom and closing the door so that he cannot enter, which is a mistake.
How to prevent it from doing so?
The answer is actually simple: you have to dedicate time and set limits. In the same way that a lot of time is spent educating a child, you have to do the same with the cat, from the first day it comes home. You have to let him know that can't scratch nor bite, but he can have a great time playing with us every day with a ball, a feather duster, a rope or a simple cardboard box.
If we can afford it maybe living with two cats is a good idea. Both will keep company in our absence, and surely more than once they will make us laugh with their antics. But, yes, this is a decision that must be considered well: a second cat can be a joy, but if the cat that we already have at home is not very sociable, it is most likely that he will not accept it. Before adopting one, It will always be more advisable to act as a foster home to see how both adapt.
Should you let your cat sleep with you?
With all of the above in mind, is it a good idea to allow your cat to sleep with you? Cats can creep into our hearts, bringing comfort and joy to anyone they choose to adopt. That can include snuggling up in bed at night ... even if it's hard for him to attack you at first.
While some cats may not be interested, others want to be as close to their human counterparts as possible. And many humans seem to prefer it that way. There are many cat owners who love to sleep with their feline pet. There are good things in this fact, such as that both feel great security, both emotionally and physically. It brings you calm and helps you sleep faster, its purr seems to have some magic in your sleep!
Although of course, if it bites you or if your cat is restless at night it could bring you some sleep problems that you will not like having.
How can it affect your sleep?
It is pleasant and comfortable, in most occasions, for your cat to sleep with you. Some on your head or on your feet. If your cat is calm during the night you will sleep better, but what if not? The downside is that cats are nocturnal animals. Human sleep can have your sleep interrupted in the early hours of the night or be awakened very early. Sleeping with a cat can backfire on a person's typical wake-sleep patterns.
Many cats like to play and scratch or even chew on human feet moving under the covers. Also there may be other problems such as allergy to cat dander or, if fleas are not under control, humans can be bitten by these parasites. In addition, if there are babies in your room, it is better that the cats are not near them at night, as it could be dangerous, especially if the cat attacks to play or if it decides to sleep near the baby's head ... this could suffocate him .
In addition, if the cat is scared, it can bite, scratch or step on the baby while it runs or jumps. Cat scratches and bites are common ways that cats can transmit diseases to a baby.
Then there is the question of whether your cat shares a bed with other animals besides humans. Some cats won't mind, but others might see them as a threat and that could create unwanted chaos in the bedroom ... attacking you if they feel threatened. Having your cat in your bed can also promote mastery of the animal. They start to feel like it is their territory and might become agitated if someone else enters the bed.
Indoor vs outdoor cats
While some cats are perfectly content to never go out and reign supreme over their inner kingdoms, other cats duel indoors and outdoors. This can pose different threats. Outdoor cats are exposed to more disease carriers. This includes other outdoor cats, feral cats, prey, worms, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and a host of other insects.
All of these carriers have the potential to transmit diseases such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and many other infections.. It's also important to note that the indoor cat litter box can also pose a disease risk to humans in the home.
What kinds of diseases? Gastrointestinal worms, giardiasis, tub, toxoplasmosis, plague, yes, that plague, and hantavirus infection… This is in addition to the typical allergens that pet dander can create. During the summer months, when ticks and other parasites are most active, pet professionals recommend checking your cat's fur and skin regularly. to detect potential threats that spread disease. This is good for both human and feline health ...
The best way to reduce the risks of catching these health risks is for pet owners to regularly take their cats to the vet so they are up to date on their vaccinations. This way, it will also be less dangerous to sleep with your feline.
With patience and love, everything will work out in the end.