# Why does the cat sleep on my backpack? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219 "2011-07-07T19:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/1 "2011-07-07T19:12:10Z")
I have a small daypack that I use to carry my work folders home with me. Pack goes on the bed, files to be worked on go to the left, finished files go back inside – if the cat isn’t sleeping on the bag. Why does he sleep on my pack? There’s a whole bed to sleep on, with a nice comforter. ISTM the bag would be rather lumpy, and the coarse nylon doesn’t seem as nice to sleep on as the blanket. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/2 "2011-07-07T19:25:07Z")
That’s cats for you. Cats would rather sit/lie on _anything_ rather than the perfectly good floor or bed. One of mine seeks out the lumpiest, most uneven surface he can find to sleep on. He looks horribly uncomfortable, but he prefers it. Cats is weird. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/3 "2011-07-07T19:34:03Z")
Hey, our cat likes our boys’ backpacks, too. He also likes newspaper and paper grocery bags. Anything but the bare floor or, you know, his cat bed. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/4 "2011-07-07T20:08:04Z")
It’s a cat thing, you wouldn’t understand. and if you did, he would have to kill and eat you. Ignorance is bliss in cat world. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/5 "2011-07-07T20:09:12Z")
I have a canvas briefcase that is a total cat magnet. Also if I try to work on needlepoint or a hooked rug, both of which involve stiff, scratchy canvas, he will rub his face on it, scritch on it, try to eat it, and after he does all that, sleep on it. He also had himself a fine nap one day on top of a plastic coathanger. Cats is indeed weird. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/6 "2011-07-07T20:12:33Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > He also had himself a fine nap one day on top of a plastic coathanger. > > Cats is indeed weird. Talk about sleeping on [coathangers.](http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/funny-pictures-cat-closet-clothes-hangers.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/7 "2011-07-07T20:14:41Z")
One of my cats will sleep on my kid’s backpack any chance she gets. She loves that freakin’ thing. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/8 "2011-07-07T20:20:04Z")
Because it has your sweat in it and therefore smells like you? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/9 "2011-07-07T20:24:37Z")
I think “cats is weird” pretty much covers it. I bought my husband a little putting green for the basement for a present last winter, and his cat likes to lounge on the ramp going up to the green like it’s her own personal chaise lounge. One thing you can (almost) bank on is, if you paid good money for a cat-specific thing, they won’t have anything to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/10 "2011-07-07T20:25:53Z")
I sometimes wonder if it is also a symbol that you are home and available to do their bidding. And you don’t leave home without it, so obstensibly, you won’t leave without them knowing. My old roommate’s cat would lie on her suitcase or mine whenever we were packing for a trip - it’s like they know what it’s for and they want to claim ownership of it like they claim ownership of you. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/11 "2011-07-07T20:28:48Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > I sometimes wonder if it is also a symbol that you are home and available to do their bidding. And you don’t leave home without it, so obstensibly, you won’t leave without them knowing. > > My old roommate’s cat would lie on her suitcase or mine whenever we were packing for a trip - it’s like they know what it’s for and they want to claim ownership of it like they claim ownership of you. I doubt it- my cat’s not that fond of my son and probably couldn’t give a shit less if he is home. She just likes his backpack. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/12 "2011-07-07T20:36:38Z")
Cats like weird smells and tastes, too - my cat likes to lick plastic and smell paperbacks. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/13 "2011-07-07T20:36:49Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > Because it has your sweat in it and therefore smells like you? I think this is it. I left a rather smelly sweatshirt on my bed when I went to work once. When I got home, Katya was curled up on it. We always leave our bed unmade. Our excuse now is that the cats like to have a soft place to sleep that smells like their people. (Of course, we left the bed unmade before we got cats, too, but that’s a nitpick) Our house _is_ pretty much run for the comfort and convenience of the Neville kitties, though. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/14 "2011-07-07T20:38:56Z")
[Kitties is weird.](http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/06/11/funny-pictures-ur-point/) ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/15 "2011-07-07T20:40:45Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Cats like weird smells and tastes, too - my cat likes to lick plastic and smell paperbacks. Some paperback books do have a good smell. They probably also pick up some of the smell of the people who read them, too, as well as possible food smells if you eat while you read. My Luna rubs against the corners of books while I’m reading them, probably to add her scent to the smell of the book. ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/16 "2011-07-07T20:45:22Z")
Mine has two of his favorite sleeping pillows laying on my bed, in an attempt to keep his asthma attack inducing fur to a minimum. Guess where he’s sleeping now? On my pillow. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/17 "2011-07-07T21:18:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Why does the cat sleep on my backpack Because he wants to be a cute, fuzzy pain-in-the-nuts. That’s why. ---
**Author:** ![AntiCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@AntiCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntiCoyote)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/18 "2011-07-07T21:31:42Z")
My neighbor has a dog that sits in the mud. I love it when they pay a hundred bucks to get him cut, groomed and washed. Then five minutes after the dog is home, it’s back to his next of leaves in the mud. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/19 "2011-07-07T21:54:29Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > One of my cats will sleep on my kid’s backpack any chance she gets. She loves that freakin’ thing. One of my cats also does that. I have no idea why. I’m just glad her teacher was not allergic to cat hair this year. Because kitty managed to get his hair all over the damned backpack at least once a week. She would go to school looking like her homework assignment involved a pet store as I vainly tried to get some of it off. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219/20 "2011-07-07T22:07:50Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > My old roommate’s cat would lie on her suitcase or mine whenever we were packing for a trip - it’s like they know what it’s for and they want to claim ownership of it like they claim ownership of you. Could be worse. My friend had to watch her suitcases vigilantly when they were out to be packed. Otherwise the cat would piss in them lest there be any ambiguity about his displeasure in being abandoned yet again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-cat-sleep-on-my-backpack/588219.md?page=2)