Is a Cat Sleeping Under a Blanket Safe?

It is safe for a cat to sleep under a blanket. Even a heavy comforter will not create a significant risk to the cat, especially due to their nature. Cats are survivors with a strong sense of self-preservation. If they feel like they are being too constricted or at all unsafe, they will find a way to exit the situation immediately.

As stated in the introduction, not all cats will enjoy having a blanket placed over them. This is due to their need for self-preservation. When we lift a sheet or blanket over a feline, it can give them the sense of being trapped. Especially if they are feeling insecure, having a sheet placed over them can trigger their instinct to get away as fast as possible.

For cats that enjoy being under the covers, their reasons are the same as our own. Cats are particularly sensitive to the cold, generally preferring an ambient temperature of around 77–86ºF (25–30ºC). Being under the covers can keep them warm on a particularly cold day. It is the same reason why a cat will enjoy sleeping on top of us because we provide additional warmth from our body heat.

Comfort is also important for cats. While a feline may be able to sleep in places we think would be very uncomfortable, they do prefer areas with soft cushioning. This is especially important for cats which have osteoarthritis or other issues which prioritize the need for a comfortable resting place.

Hairless cat breeds may be particularly fond of sleeping under blankets. Their lack of fur can make them more susceptible to the cold, the reason why many need the help of cat clothing to help protect them. Whether the cat will accept this depends on the individual feline. Certain longhaired cats such as the Maine Coon or Norwegian forest cat are better protected against the cold thanks to their incredibly thick fur.

You can tell a cat is cold while sleeping if they are curled up very tight against themselves. While this may be more for comfort than to keep warm, they tend to spread out if the ambient temperature is hotter. When very cold, the cat can even shiver. We need to be careful to ensure this is due to low temperature and not that the cat is shaking due to a pathological problem.

The risk of a cat suffocating under the covers is minimal. For suffocation to occur, the space will need to be airtight and prevent the cat from inhaling oxygen for respiration. Even very thick blankets should be sufficiently breathable to allow oxygen to enter. If the covers were made of a material such as vinyl or leather, their lack of breathability can provide a potential suffocation risk.

Sleeping under a blanket is considered safe for cats. For a threat to their well-being, there would need to be certain extenuating circumstances. Some of the unlikely risks of a cat being harmed while under a blanket include:

• Overheating: if the ambient temperature is high and the cat is under a very thick blanket, it will be difficult for heat to escape. In these cases, the cat's body can overheat and cause heat exhaustion. This could be exacerbated if they have a health condition which means they are already overheated. This is unlikely because the cat should simply get up if they feel too warm.
• Being trapped: some of us may think it is cute to tuck our cat in tightly in a blanket. Many cats will not let us do this because restricting their movement often makes them feel very insecure. If the blanket is weighted or very tight knit, this could restrict them somewhat. However, they would still likely be able to escape if they felt trapped. Very weak cats or those with mobility issues may struggle to get out in this situation.
• Injury: if a cat enjoys going under the covers of their own accord, it is possible we will not see them doing so. In these cases, we may flop onto a bed or throw something heavy on top without realizing the cat is there. This can cause serious injury, especially if they are restricted in making a quick escape.

As we can see, suffocation is not a significant risk when a cat is under a blanket. Not realizing they are there is more of a safety issue. This is the case if we allow the cat to share our bed. In these cases, we may roll on top of them in our sleep. However, a cat will make it known very quickly if we are on top of them.

Learn more about the risks of letting a cat sleep with you in our article on a cat with fleas sleeping in my bed.

If you think a cat is cold or could use a little more comfort, you might want to try placing a blanket over them. Whether the cat allows you to do this will depend on their individual personality and boundaries.

The first thing to know is that we should not force the cat to do anything they do not want to do. We should never grab the cat and wrap them in a blanket just because we want to see them in a cute position. We should also be careful not to disturb their rest.

If we see a cat is lying down or curled up in their chosen sleeping position, we can carefully place a blanket on top of their body. Do not cover their head as this can make them feel claustrophobic. Use a light blanket and not one which will restrict their movement at all. We should not worry about them getting too hot as the feline will remove the blanket if this is the case.

Learn more about how to tell if a cat is cold with our article on why a cat has cold ears.

Cats generally prefer a comfortable and secluded place to sleep. This relates to their wild ancestors since they needed to best ensure safety in their habitat. By keeping small and finding a remote place, they can better protect themselves from inclement weather and potential predators. Despite living in a safe home environment, this instinct will never completely leave them.

When a cat covers their eyes when sleeping, it can be one of the cutest gestures they can make. However, this may also be related to their natural instinct to stay safe. It can also simple be a way to ensure comfort. Reasons why a cat covers their eyes with their paws include:

• Sleep better: covering their eyes with their paws can allow a cat to feel more comfortable and may help them to achieve better rest.
• Keep out the light: if it is very bright, this can help them rest better.
• Keep warm: similar to wrapping their tail around their body, covering their eyes with their paws can allow a cat to maintain as much heat as possible.
• Noisy environment: if there are noises or other distractions in their environment, covering their eyes can help them feel protected from them.
• Exhaustion: in this case, it can be an involuntary action which they do when they are feeling very tired, similar to how we might stretch when we yawn.

If a cat is covering their eyes when resting, they may be more disposed to having a blanket placed on top of them. Use the technique explained above if this is so.

The way a cat sleeps can inform us about their state of well-being. Discover the meanings of different cat sleeping positions to learn how.

If you want to read similar articles to Is a Cat Sleeping Under a Blanket Safe?, we recommend you visit our Basic care category.