My cat won't leave my 4 year old alone when she is sleeping, is this normal?

Question

I have a cat that is not quite a year old, and when my daughter lays down anywhere or goes to sleep "SPOOKS" (the cat) jumps on her and bites on the blankets and pulls them off of my daughter. Is this normal? I have no clue, this is my first cat. While she is biting the blankets, she is stepping all over my daughter, like she is "nesting" or something, but she isn't pregnant. Please let me know if any of you have any ideas about this, it gets kind of irritating sometimes, and she only does it with the 4 year old. Take care all! :)

Answer 1

This "walking on" is called kneading or making her bed. It is a normal cat behavior. They knead at a place they are going to lie down, knead a person for comfort and attention, knead to mark territory with the scent in their paws which is not like peeing to mark territory. She is probably wanting her playmate to get up and notice her or she may be getting ready to join her in a nap. If she disturbs your daughter's rest or if it bothers you that she does it either shut the door to your daughter's room or put the cat in another place and shut that door. Just because it is normal for her to do this does not mean she has to be allowed to do it. If your daughter isn't bothered by it and you don't really mind much you can just let her be. That's really your call. Cats do many things that seem odd from the human perspectivce but make sense from theirs.

Answer 2

If it were possible, I would keep her seperated from your 4 yr old until she behaves. If you can't close the door of your 4 yr old to keep the cat out, maybe putting a nice fleecy blanket at the foot of the bed where your daughter sleeps will work. I have some cats who just love certain blankets- maybe your daughters blanket has been targeted? The thing she is doing is pretty normal as far as some cats go- I always give up my once favorite throw to Cleo when she sits by me or I expect to be grappled and sat upon. Just try a few different things for a bit and see what helps your cat. I'm sure others will write in with smart advice from their own cats.
Good luck!

Answer 3

My dear, one thing only will work. If you don't feel safe letting the cat sleep on your daughter's bed, then you have to give an alternative to the cat. Get a table that has the same hight than the bed and place it next to the bed, close to your kid's head pillow. Then place a supremely comfy pillow on the table after you let your daughther hold the pillow while sleeping many nights in a row so that her smell would stick to the pillow. When your daughter is going to bed, let her carry the cat close to her, whisper nice things to her ear, talk sweat words to her and then in a reassuring manner and an affectionate way, place the cat on the pillow and tell her to sleep well. You might think this is silly, but believe me, cats understand. Specially if your cat considers your kid her chosen one, then she won't make her angry. That way, they still connect, the cat gets used to sleeping on her favorite pillow and your kid can sleep without disturbance.

Answer 4

Sounds like Spooks wants to snuggle up with your daughter and is exhibiting nesting behavior. This is pretty normal, especially the kneading on your daughter which is a behavior left over from kittenhood. Eventually she'll settle down with your daughter and go to sleep. As long as your daughter is not bothered, there is no harm in letting Spooks snuggle up with her.

Answer 5

Ok, Spooks is still a babe, and instinctively knows that your daughter also is just a babe, so Spooks is nesting next to her.

It means great affection and love, even if it freaks you out a tinge!
I think she's not biting the blanket but suckling on them, like a little baby kitten would do, which means Spooks loves baby!

Answer 6

My daughter got a kitten for Christmas and she ("Noel") does the same thing. My daughter is 3 and the kitten drives her nuts. I've had a couple of cats in the past and when they are kittens, thats just what they do. Eventually the cat will calm down and not bother your daughter like that. I make sure that when "Noel" starts to bother my daughter I scold her so she knows that its not ok. She doesn't bother her while she's sleeping anymore. Now its just when she's awake! lol

Answer 7

Not to worry, "SPOOKS" as bonded with your daughter. If you just watch eventually "SPOOKS" will curl up next to her and go to sleep also. Then you'll have to worry that you daughter doesn't roll over in her sleep. Just joking on that last one. I've had my cat for 12 tears now and she still insists on sleeping at the top of my head.

Answer 8

My kitten does something similiar, but to my husband and I when we're in bed. He likes attacking our feet moving under the covers. It freaks my husband out so bad he has to make the kitty leave and he closes the door. I agree that your kitten is responding to your daughter's age and recognizes her as a playmate and good pal. When your daughter sleeps/naps just put her in a bedroom and close the door.

Answer 9

Maybe you should try to keep the cat away from your daughter to condition her to not behave like that, cats are very good at learning what they're not allowed to do and in a short period of time she'll get used to it!

Answer 10

Yes it is, or behavior that is very similar to that. Your kitty sees that you look after your daughter in much the same way as you do to with her. So she assocaites with your daughter as part of the "litter." My cat used to wake my grandsons too after they've gone to bed. It stopped when I kept my cat in my bedroom at bed time to sleep with me. After two weeks, he forgot about going into the kids bedroom to wake them up for play.