Why do cats lay over things that you are trying to read?

Question

I'm not kidding. It never failes! Everytime I read a book or the news paper, my cat sits on it and won't move! Why do cats do that?

Answer 1

Cats want more than anything to be the center of your universe... at THEIR convenience, not yours. And if something ELSE is the center of your universe (i.e., attention), they will do what they can to change that.

My cat will come up on my lap while I'm playing Gameboy or DS and push under my hands and the game then paw at my face, purring and mewing the whole time. As soon as I put the game down, she'll lie down for 2 seconds, then jump down and flop onto the floor. She achieved her objective: I stopped paying attention to the game and starting paying attention to her.

Try petting her for a few minutes, gently remove her, and try reading again. If that doesn't work, take the paper to another room and shut the door. :-)

Answer 2

Cats just do whatever they want to do and we don't really know why. Sounds like the cat could be jealous of the time you are spending reading instead of paying attention to him, and I've heard some cats are obsessed with newspaper. You could go the library and find books about cat behavior and maybe figure it out. Or go to google.com and type in "cat behaviors," and I bet you get some good resources.

Answer 3

The fact that you are sitting down reading makes you a captive audience and they want your undivided attention. Its not just reading though. My mom was on the phone one night and the cat kept bugging her. She made the cat get out of her lap and the next thing she knew the phone went dead. The cat chewed through the cord.

Answer 4

Remember dogs have owners but cats have staff. You are like their personal assistant! Cats are territorial. They head butt humans as a sign that they 'claim' them. They also knead a lap or soft blanket to comfort them selves. They often seem disinterested in "their human" until "their human" is not available to them. This is why they lay over a keyboard when you type or reading material. They see that your attention is away from them. It's like a child who is not interested in a disgarded toy UNTIL someone else expressing interest in this toy.

Answer 5

my cat likes to lay across the keyboard of my laptop (like right now). I think he is jealous that I give it attention. it is warm and makes noises and I think he thinks it is alive! Your cat is probably lookin for some lovin from you. and also trying to figure out why you are paying so much attention to paper! they are naturally curious and want to see what we find so interesting.

Answer 6

They might need water. Usually they just stare at you for that though. Or food. Or to empty their poop box. But basically what someone else said... you're their human, and you should be paying attention to them. You exist for them. They see an opportunity to stop you from paying attention to something else, and they'll act. I'm sure they would stand in front of the tv if they could. A strange jealousy, that we all kind of possess. Sometimes I wonder if my cat is trying to protect me though. She does come and comfort me when I'm sad. It's difficult to know the kinds of things that they understand.

Answer 7

Your cat wants to be the center of your attention.

Answer 8

Your cat wants to gain your attention...much like a human child would do if you were pre-occupied with something else.

Answer 9

they want your attention. so the next time it happens, move your cat into your lap and keep reading. the kitty will either, get into the habit of sitting in your lap while you read, or the kitty will not bother you.

Answer 10

Yea, my cat does this too. They feel you should pay attention to them ALL the time because you are at there for them and only them.