Why Do Cats Like to Sit on Paper? Our Vet Explores 4 Likely Reasons

Whether it is the daily newspaper print or that pile of documents on your desk, it seems like your kitty does not leave anything in their territory unclaimed. For some strange reason, paper on the table or desk is to your cat what a couch in the living room is to us. Simply an irresistible invitation to sit. What is it about it? Why does something as ordinary as paper seem to have an especially magnetic effect on kitties in households around the globe?

Believe it or not, there are some pawssible explanations behind this odd kitty preference. As a recurrent behavior among our beloved furry kids, there must be some advantage. So let's explore the likely reasons.

The 4 Likely Reasons Cats Like to Sit on Paper

1. Warmth and Insulation

Have you ever noticed how your cat gravitates towards the sunny window, the fireplace, the heater, that fresh-from-the-dryer basket of clothes to fold, or your blankets at night? Cats love warmer areas and purposefully seek them out. The reason? Their body temperature. A cat’s average body temperature falls between 100°F and 102.5°F, which is warmer than our human  97°F to 99°F range. This alone explains why a cat would prefer to sit on a newspaper than on the cold metal of your desk. If you have ever had a fever and felt cold even when the temperature outside is what you would normally classify as hot, you can understand a cat's attraction to warmer areas.

Papers, newspapers, and cardboard are all made of cellulose, an organic compound derived from plant cell walls that helps them remain stiff and upright. Cellulose has insulating properties, and since a cat releases body heat mainly through their paws, it makes sense for them to prefer putting them on warmer surfaces that do not conduct their body heat toward the colder environment.

In fact, an old behavioral study published in The Journal of Physiology concluded that cats’ paw sensitivity can be compared to that of the hand of a primate, and cats can feel temperature fluctuations of just 1°C.

2. They Like How It Feels

Since cats' paws are so sensitive, another possibility is that cats simply enjoy or prefer the feeling of paper under their very sensitive paws. Think about it: if you enter a room and are faced with two options, a metal stool or a wooden chair, where would you prefer to sit?

3. Marked Space and Boundaries Appeal to Their Territoriality

Another thing that cats seem to enjoy is anything that marks or delimitates a space. Since sitting over paper does not really provide a sense of security like a cardboard box would, we are left to wonder if this appeals to their sense of territoriality. Yes, this is a weird theory, but have you ever stopped to see a map? Our states and even countries have imaginary limits that we have created, and yet each has its own territory, laws, and sovereignty. A cat may feel reassured just by having a marked space with a clearly defined boundary.

4. Paper Absorbs Scents

As science evolves, we are more aware of how incredibly sophisticated the cat’s sense of smell is. With over two million scent receptors and a functioning vomeronasal organ, cats navigate the world and their social environment based on scents and pheromone-induced chemical signals from the moment they take their first breath. Cats have specialized glands around their face, tail, and paws that secrete chemical messages that cats use not only to communicate with other felines but also to reinforce their sense of “familiarity” and “territoriality.” A cat that is in a familiar environment or territory is more likely to feel safe. One of the characteristics of paper is that it absorbs scents. It is likely that a cat gravitates toward it because of this very fact; it creates a sense of familiarity and security or simply reassurance by allowing them to smell their own pheromones in proximity to it. This same scent-absorbing characteristic of paper means that if you were handling it, it may also carry some of your smell, and chances are that is another bonus point for your cat.

Conclusion

Cats have funny and peculiar behaviors, and when a similar behavior repeats in different households with cats, we can conclude that there is a reason for it. While there hasn’t been a specific scientific study to help us understand why cats like to sit on paper, science does offer us some pawssible reasons for this recurrent behavior.

One likely reason cats gravitate to and like to sit on paper is that it appeals to their sense of territoriality by establishing a clear delimitation. Another possibility is that it appeals to their sense of security and familiarity by absorbing your cat’s pheromones and your own scents. Paper may also simply allow them to preserve their body temperature due to its insulating properties. Chances are that cats also simply like the feeling of paper under their paws and prefer it over other surfaces.

One thing is for sure: you won’t be able to talk them out of this behavior. So if you have important documents or papers you don’t want your cat to sit on, keep them inside a closed drawer! Otherwise, enjoy the fact that something so readily available and cheap can make your cat feel comfortable in your home.

Featured Image Credit: papa1266, Shutterstock