Vet reveals why your cat will steal your spot on the lounge 'even when it's cramped'
If your cat keeps stealing your spot on the couch or bed... stop laughing.
According to Aussie Veterinarian Dr Mark West, this is perhaps the most emotional act cats are capable of.
While the seemingly cheeky move is often misconstrued as a quest for a warm sleeping spot – or the pure stubbornness our feline friends are known for – the reality is considerably deeper than that.
If you've ever noticed your cat sitting in your spot on the couch, there's a truly touching reason for it. Getty Images/iStockphoto
"It has nothing to do with the spot," West revealed in a breakdown on cat behaviour posted to Tiktok.
The long-running assumption cat owners are viewed as glorified can openers by our kitties was also debunked.
"When your cat looks at you, they don't see someone who feeds them," the vet clarified.
"They see their safe place, their territory, their anchor in the world."
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Dr Mark West says cats beeline for their owner's favourite seats as their scent makes them feel safe. Getty
He said this deep bond cats form with their humans is something expressed in subtle ways – including their tendencies to sit on, or around you.
And should your cat begin claiming your seat as its own, you can rest assured you're adored.
"To your cat, that spot is not just somewhere to sit, that is your spot. When they choose it, they are choosing you," West said.
"Your place matters more than any other place in the house.
"They will take it even when it's cramped, even when it's awkward."
Even, according to West, if there are ample softer, quieter and overall comfier nap spots available.
He revealed that to cats, comfort does not take precedence over safety, belonging or being in a spot closest to your scent.
Finding such a spot in turn reassures your furry friend that they're okay, are protected and are home.
By nature, cats are notoriously difficult to read. Unless they're either purring or hissing, interpreting their behaviour can prove near-impossible.
Cats can tend to be hard to read, but Dr West has proved some insight. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Dr West went on to delve deeper into other subtle behaviours cat owners should be aware of, namely an indication that your cat is in pain.
"If there's one thing that breaks my heart, it's how often that silent suffering goes completely unnoticed."
To measure a cat's discomfort, many owners are now catching on to the so-called 'feline grimace scale.'
The scale is characterised by specific clues in a cat's appearance, such as upturned whiskers, flattened ears, hunched posture and a tensed, elliptical muzzle.
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