Cat Asleep in a Cozy Armchair

About this drawing

Chances are a cat on an armchair has done its homework and found the warmest place in the room. House cats descend from wildcats that lived in hot, dry regions, and that love of heat never really went away.

A cat's body runs a little warmer than ours, and keeping it that way takes energy. Lying on something toasty cuts down that effort, especially during sleep, when the metabolism slows. So cats follow the sunbeam across the floor all afternoon, and they settle on laptops, radiators and piles of warm laundry fresh out of the dryer.

Their skin is also less sensitive to heat than human skin. A cat can comfortably lie on surfaces that would feel too hot for us, and that can be a problem, since it may scoot too close to a stove or fireplace without noticing. A sturdy screen is a good idea in homes with both cats and open flames.

There is an emotional side too. Upholstered furniture soaks up the scent of the people who sit there, and that familiar smell is reassuring to a cat. It may be why your pet slides into your seat the moment you stand up. The cushion is warm, it smells like you, and from the cat's point of view, it has just become available.

• cat
• armchair
• cozy home
• sleeping cat