Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

What Is It With Cats & Printers? Vet-Verified Facts

Share

If you’ve ever lived with a feline companion, there’s a good chance you’ve wondered why cats love printers so much. Cats are notorious for sitting and napping on them, indiscriminately hitting buttons (sending paper flying), sitting in the paper trays (causing paper jams), and batting at the paper as it leaves the printer (creating chaos).

Cats are frequently attracted to computers and laptops and often sit on keyboards to help their owners when they’re working. Printers are nice and warm and located on top of desks, making them cozy lookout spots. They make fun noises that cats can respond to and randomly produce paper for them to bat at. Felines often enjoy being part of activities that appear to really interest their humans.

divider 3 paws

The 4 Reasons Why Cats Like Printers

1. Printers Are Warm

Cats generally love to hang out in warm places. They prefer to relax in temperatures far warmer than most people find comfortable; it’s one of the reasons they relax in comfy cat beds in cozy, sunlit locations. It’s also part of why they love to snuggle and sit on or near their favorite people!

When printers have just been used, they’re usually warm, making them just right for cat naps! Even if your printer hasn’t been running, your cat knows it will heat up as soon as it starts going, making it a pretty good place to relax.


Image Credit: foaloce, Shutterstock

2. Printers Are Often Great High Perches

Printers are placed on top of desks, which is an ideal location for cats to survey their territory. Cats have strong preferences for relaxing in spots that give them great views of what’s going on.

Indoor cats love to hang out in high places with great views where they can watch birds fly by. Printers placed in front of windows are perfect for that.


3. Printers Make Great Toys

Cats love to play with objects that are slightly unpredictable; it taps into their hunting instincts, as mice and insects often make quick random movements when trying to escape. Printers are kind of like toys for cats in that they suddenly start, stop, beep, and spit things out at different speeds.

Between the noises and the flying paper, printers pretty much hit all the high notes regarding entertainment. The sounds printers make right before they kick out pages let cats know it’s time to get set for action.


4. Printers Are Interesting to You

Cats love their people and enjoy hanging out and spending time with them. Many become attached to their humans and form bonds like those between children and the people who care for them. Cats frequently show interest in what their owners are doing and are happy to be involved in whatever they’re up to.

They know that people often settle in for the long haul when working on computers. Pets who like to spend time close to their humans find ways to get comfortable in the vicinity of where their person is working, which sometimes involves hanging out on printers.


woman working on her laptop with her cat
Image Credit: Bogdan Sonjachnyj, Shutterstock

divider 2 cats

Conclusion

Printers are the perfect cat toys; they’re warm, make great places to nap, and provide fun activities. There are beeps to investigate and paper to chase, and they’re nice and warm. Printers are also located on top of desks, giving cats high places to kick back with a view and keep an eye on their surroundings.

Cats enjoy participating in activities with their humans and are happy to help out when their favorite people are working on the computer.


Featured Image Credit: Apolonia, Shutterstock

Want content like this delivered to you?

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News, insights, expert advice, and everything cat

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.




How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.


Catster's Digital Magazine is Back!

Vet-approved health & behavior advice

Real cat stories & community features

Chatting About the Importance of Spaying/Neutering, Cat Retail Shopping Ban & Red-Level Storms | Chatty Cattys, Episode 30

In this episode of Catster’s Chatty Cattys podcast, Nicole and Dr. Karyn are celebrating a major legal win for pets before diving into...

Is Your Cat Happy? Here’s How You Can Tell

Cats have a reputation for being indifferent, even inscrutable. But despite their seemingly ambivalent appearance, cats experience many emotions, including happiness, and they...

Human Brains Age Like Cats – New Study Debunks the 7-Year Rule

If you’ve ever caught your senior cat staring blankly at a wall, wandering the halls at 3 am, calling out for no clear...

Chatting with Devin About Here! Have a Kitten, Fostering, & Why Two Are Better Than One | Chatty Cattys, Episode 29

In this episode of Catster’s Chatty Cattys podcast, Nicole & Dr. Karyn sit down with Devin, the founder and one-woman show behind “Here...

More related

Can Cats Drink Tap Water? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

As humans, we have so many options when it comes to what to drink each day. Coffee for breakfast (or all day), juice,...

How Long Do Obese Cats Live? Vet Approved Facts & Health Tips

It’s easy for your cat to become obese. They’re too adorable when they beg for food with those big eyes. However, obesity can...

What Are the Pros & Cons of Having Two Cats? Vet Approved Advice

Adopting a cat is a huge commitment, and bringing home a second cat or even two at once can be twice as challenging....

How to Introduce a Third Cat to Your Home (11 Vet-Reviewed Tips)

If there’s one thing to know about cat lovers, it’s that they cannot get enough of their cat. You can find many cat...

Keep reading

How to Cat Proof a Toilet Paper Holder: Vet-Reviewed Explanation & Tips

Cats are notorious for unraveling and shredding toilet paper, driving many a cat parent to despair. If your cat is wreaking havoc in the bathroom, it’s time to start looking into how you can cat-proof your toilet paper holders and...

mackerel tabby cat playing with roll of toilet paper

Can Cats Drink Lemonade? Vet Reviewed Health Risks & FAQ

When summer hits, it’s not uncommon to have a pitcher of lemonade sitting around with which to cool off. Lemonade makes the perfect hot weather drink: it’s sweet, tart, and, most importantly, cold. But, if you’re a cat owner who...

Can Cats Drink Lemonade

Does Heat Kill Fleas on Cats? Here’s What Science Says

If your cat has fleas, they can be a nuisance and are incredibly difficult to get rid of without flea treatments. But these treatments can be expensive, so many pet owners are left wondering how to treat fleas on their...

Cat with fleas

How Do Professionals Cut Cat Nails? 7 Vet-Approved Useful Tips

Cat claws can shred, tear, and destroy objects in a matter of seconds. So, what do you do when you know that it’s time to give them a trim? Can you even do it at home? It can be stressful...

close up trimming cat nails

Why Do Cats Arch Their Back? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons for this Behavior

Cats have limber bodies and can squeeze through the smallest gaps. They can also arch their back in ways that seem impossible, but have you ever wondered why cats arch their backs? Is there a particular reason for the behavior?...

siamese cat arch his back

Why Do Cats Stick Their Tongue Out While Sleeping? 4 Vet-Reviewed Possible Reasons

Cats stick their tongues out often, usually to the delight of their owners. You may even notice your cat sleeping with their tongue out, which can be alarming. There are a few reasons for your cat to be sticking their...

ginger cat sleeping with tongue out

What Is a Cat Massage Therapist? Vet-Reviewed Facts, Procedures & Tips to Become One

Animal massage therapy involves hands-on techniques to apply animal anatomy and physiology knowledge to improve pets’ physical well-being, like your cat. Animal massage therapists specialize in a specific species since a horse’s physiology and anatomy differ from a cat’s. Cat...

cat showing ownership

Will a Cat Eat Rat Poison? How to Use It Safely Around Them

Everyone has heard the old adage that curiosity killed the cat, but anyone who’s spent time around cats knows just how dangerously curious they can be. Cats lack the same type of self-preservation that humans have, which often leads them...

Poison for mice in a cardboard box

Love Cats? So Do We! Join the Catster Community

Stay informed with expert pet care insights delivered straight to your inbox! Discover professional guidance on animal behavior, feeding tips, trusted product picks, and much more.




Sign up for the Catster Email Newsletter

Stay informed with expert pet care insights delivered straight to your inbox! Discover professional guidance on animal behavior, feeding tips, trusted product picks, and much more.