Why do cats sit on everything important?

Question

My cats seem to sit on all my work and important peices of paper, leaving muddy pawprints all over the place! Does this happen to any of you?

Answer 1

Cats believe--and maybe they're right--that they are the most important people in the room. They like to be the center of attention. If they perceive that the affection/attention they're getting is being impeded by some other thing, often they will make their feelings known.

Sitting on things is not so bad (although I'm sorry you're getting muddy footprints...do they make kitty galoshes?)...Last month, I chided my cat for sitting on my laptop keyboard (he likes it because it's warm.) He moved away, and then not two minutes later, crossed the room, came back and THREW UP on the laptop. Thankully, I'd just closed the lid :)

Maybe your cat sits on your papers because s/he picks up your smell on them, and s/he misses you. That might be the answer if this is happening while you are away from home. However, if the cat's sitting on your papers while you are there in the room, try this:

Try and fake the cat out. I've mastered the technique. If he's coming near some papers or my keyboard, I will stop what I'm doing, and pretend to move my attention to something else, something CLOSE to me, but not right on top of me (or my work.) More often than not, the cat follows me, and nestles down in the "decoy" area.

Of course, that's the wimpy "the cat is the boss, not me" way that I've chosen. You could always opt for a more pro-active squirt from the water bottle as a "no-no" lesson. Careful though, cats can be as vindictive as they are loveable.

If all else fails, you could put your more important papers in a drawer (but far be it from me to lecture people about cleaning up, since my desk area is a wreck! :)

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes, my cat does this all the time. I'll be sitting here writing out checks for my bills and have some papers spread out. Hobbes will just sprawl out over everything, including on whatever I happen to be writing on at the time. Sometimes she even lays on the pen so I can't find it. I just know she's thinking "Car payment, electric bill, ahh it can wait, I am The Cat so Mom needs to pay attention to ME!"

Answer 3

Cats sit on everything, especially on the things you value the most. Why? Because they seem to think that they are the most important "thing" in your life and nothing else matters... What to do about it? Nothing! Its one off the facts off life and we'll just have to deal with it... Besides, doesn't it make you laugh when they look at you with a face like "what... ain't I cute... don't you love me... o did I do anything wrong..." So, put your important papers aside, and cuddle up in the sofa with your furry friend(s)!

Answer 4

I was cracking up reading this when i looked over and saw my cat sitting on my papers.

I dont know what it is. Anytime i put paper on the counter or the floor, my one cat foes for it. She also loves grocery bags, but I am afraid she will suffocate, so i try to hide them.

Big squishy pillow -no
Soft blanket- no
visa bill- yes
dont get it, but i love my crazy cats

Answer 5

That happens to me all the time, every cat I have had has done it! They want attention and love, no matter how much they already get! Cats know that we spent too much time on these other things, like bills, and too little attention is payed to them.

Answer 6

There is nothing more important than the cat so it is only natural that kitty will sit on things of less importance.

Answer 7

Oh yes, but they only care about that stuff when I'm trying to work with it. My zorro wants to sit on whatever I'm working on and will do so til I put him in my lap. Once I'm not interested in it any more, neither is the cat.

Answer 8

My kitten does this all the time, he will sit on books/uni folders, the PC keyboard, the piano. just before i read this i had just finished shifiting him from sitting on my laptop. He sees you are giving your attention to something else and so by eliminating that something else, your cat will get the attention instead lol!

Answer 9

lol as i write this (and last night as you know, coz u were talking to me on msn) i have my chin resting on the cat, who is trying to step on the keyboard, whilst my other cat is trying to catch the mouse on the screen. And just the other day, diggy walked all over my french prep with muddy paws...i still have the evidence...lol

(-=

Answer 10

If it is important to you then you are paying attention to it and not her, and to cats that is unacceptable. I am fighting off my cat Weiner as we speak, he is pacing back in forth on my desk trying to block my view of the monitor, so I will love on him. They are attention whores!!!!!