Why do cats come lie next to you when your sick?

It's flu season again, and you might just be in the thick of it. You're tucked under a blanket, tissues within reach, and then suddenly you feel a warm body against you. Your cat comes to lie down with you. It might seem like a coincidence, but cats can sense when something's wrong. In this blog, you'll learn why cats become extra attentive and cuddly when you're sick.

1. Cats are masters at reading subtle signals

Cats pick up on changes in your behaviour straight away. You move a bit slower, your voice sounds different, your routine shifts, and that doesn’t go unnoticed.

Your body language changes: you move more slowly and you’re often quieter. To cats, that feels calmer and more inviting.
Your scent changes slightly: with fever, stress or illness, your scent shifts just a bit. Cats are highly sensitive to even small scent differences.

2. Warmth

Cats love heat, and when you’re ill, you’re basically a little radiator.

Your body temperature rises when you have a fever.
You’re usually wrapped up in a thick blanket.
You move less, so your warmth stays in one place.

For cats, that’s a luxury heated mattress. But don’t be fooled: they don’t come just for the warmth. They stay because they feel safe with you.

3. Your cat cares about you (in its own way)

Some cats become surprisingly caring when their owner feels unwell.

Think of:

gentle head bumps
curling up in your neck
purring against your chest
watching you closely
lying on top of you as if they’re “guarding” you

Cats may not be carers like dogs, but they do form strong social bonds. Your comfort matters to them, and they show it by staying close.

Want to learn more about cat behaviour?

The cold stare of my cat: Does my cat hate me?

24.09.2025

Do you know that feeling? You walk past your cat, your eyes meet… and you get a frosty, filthy glare that makes you question your very existence. Did you forget to feed him? Does your cat actually hate you? Or are all cats like that?

You’re definitely not the only one who’s wondered. In this blog, we'll dive into the mysterious phenomenon of the ‘cold cat stare’ of your cat. What does it really mean? And more importantly: how can you tell if your cat actually likes you or not?

4. For relaxation

Did you know purring can be healing? The sound and vibrations of a purring cat fall between 25–150 Hz, the same frequency range used in physiotherapy for:

muscle relaxation
stress reduction
faster healing of bones and soft tissue

No wonder it feels soothing when you’re ill. For your cat and for you.

5. You’re less active, and your cat loves that

On a normal day you’re walking around, doing things, turning devices on and off, talking, working on your laptop…
But when you’re sick, you’re quieter and calmer, and that makes you very appealing to a cat.
When you’re ill, you’re:

a safe spot
warm
quiet
predictable

6. Your bond is stronger than you think

In the end, it comes down to this: cats aren’t the aloof animals many people think they are. They can form deep attachments to their owners. When you’re not quite yourself, they come to check on you.

So if you’re ill, let your cat do what they do best

Stuck in bed with a cold? Let your cat curl up against you, enjoy the moment (if you can), and get some much-needed rest.

How does your cat behave when you’re not feeling well?

Tell us in the comments. We’d love to hear your experience!

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