April 11, 2024, 3:48 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
As soon as you sit at your desk, the cat comes and sits right on the documents you were about to work on. Books or binders are also popular as sleeping spots. Why do cats have this preference for lying on paper? Cat behavior expert and PETBOOK editor Saskia Schneider knows the answer.
If you’re a cat owner, you can try the following experiment: Place a sheet of paper on the table. Usually, it doesn’t take long for your cat to sit right on it. If there are several documents on the table, they often prefer the one you’re currently reading or working on. Sometimes cats also roll on the paper stacks, tear up sheets, or even eat parts of them. But where does this behavior come from? Do cats have a particular fascination with paper, or do they just want to annoy their humans? There are actually several reasons for this.
Cat Wants Attention
One of the main reasons cats suddenly appear and sit right on the piece of paper or book we’re holding and reading is attention. Many cats love to be the center of attention and receive attention from their humans.
If we’re busy, they simply insert themselves between us and the thing we’re paying more attention to, to make themselves noticed. Usually with success, as many cat owners start petting their pet, talking to it, or putting it on their lap. From the cat’s perspective, the behavior of sitting on paper or a book has paid off, and they will show it more often.
Cats Like the Smell
While for us humans, sight plays the most significant role in our daily lives, for cats, it’s the sense of smell. Cats love to leave their scent on strategically important places in their territory. That’s why they like to lie on sofas, chairs, or our beds.
Especially where their humans leave their scent, our cats also want to lie. This creates a kind of group scent that signals to the animals: We belong together–this is our territory. Even if we don’t perceive this scent, it lingers on paper that we handle a lot and could be one reason why cats like to lie on it.
Cats Want Company
Many cats like to be involved everywhere–even at the desk. They then prefer to lie on documents to be as close as possible to their human and keep an eye on everything.
Cats Are Curious
Cats are good observers and see that we pay a lot of attention to the paper on the desk. That needs to be inspected more closely! Especially young kittens start playing with the documents and find that paper can be a lot of fun. It crinkles and can be easily shredded with claws.
Cats Love the Crinkle of Paper
Cats quickly develop preferences for certain textures. My cat Sweety loves not only the yoga mat but also all kinds of paper. Whether it’s a newspaper, magazine, or mail-order catalog–as soon as it’s laid down, she occupies it. With her paws, she loves to go between the individual sheets and work the paper with her claws. Therefore, you should keep a close eye on your cat and make sure she’s going after yesterday’s newspaper and not important documents.
Cats Love Squares
Cats love tight spaces like boxes. The spatial limitation gives the animals a sense of security. For some cats, it seems to be enough if this space is only suggested. Social media is full of videos where cat owners mark squares on the floor with tape, and cats sit right in them. A similar effect is achieved with a sheet of paper.
Also interesting: Why cats love to lie in boxes
Paper Insulates
Cats love to lie warm. The insulating properties of paper are just right for them. Especially stacks of documents or books insulate well. It’s simply warmer to lie on them than on the bare tabletop. This is also one of the main reasons why cats like to lie on laptop keyboards, as most devices emit a pleasant warmth.
13 Signs Your Cat Is in Charge at Home
Why Do Cats Always Want Attention When You’re Busy?
How Should I React When My Cat Sits on Paper?
If you’re bothered by the cat constantly lying on paper or important documents, you have two options: Either you completely exclude the animal or find a compromise. For example, by placing an extra stack of old newspapers or paper on the table where the cat is allowed to lie. Most quickly accept this alternative.
If you exclude the cat–for instance, because you want to work undisturbed–you must expect that the animal will not understand this at first. Loud meowing and scratching at the door must be endured and consistently ignored–even if it’s hard and may take days or weeks for the cat to accept the new situation.
A major disadvantage here is that this time takes away from the time spent with the pet–and that is important for cats. Even if we might have the impression that the cat is just lying next to us and sleeping.
Sources:
- catster.com, “Why Do Cats Like to Sit on Paper? 10 Interesting Reasons” (accessed April 11, 2024)
- catbehaviorassociates.com, “Why Your Cat Always Sits on the Paper You’re Reading” (accessed April 11, 2024)