It is a cat’s natural instinct to climb. It is in its blood after all! So if you see it jumping on things out of the blue, then you should not be surprised. Not just on objects, cats may even jump on their owners when they are completely off guard. Many cat owners find this behavior unusual, and often wonder, why does my cat jump on my back?
Well, that is what we are here for! In this article, we will look into the different reasons your cat may jump on your back, and what you can do to stop it if it gets out of hand. Let’s get straight in.
Should I be worried if my cat jumps on my back?
Jumping is a learned habit of cats from the litter. Cats only jump on people’s backs when they feel close to them, feel threatened, or if they simply want to grab someone’s attention.
If it jumps on your back with this intention, there is nothing to be worried about. However, if a cat feels threatened by you, it may jump on your back and push its nails into your skin as a defense mechanism.
It may also bite you. But this should not be uncalled for because you can see very clearly from a cat’s behavior when it does not like you.
This behavior is often only activated when a cat feels that you are about to attack it, hence it will jump on your back to prevent itself from any possible harm.
However, in most cases, if you have an average or good relationship with your cat, then it will jump on your back for different reasons, none of which involve violence.
So what reasons does your feline friend jump on your back for?
Reasons why your cat jumps on your back
Here are some of the explanations for your cats’ weird behavior of jumping on your back. DO keep in mind that this is just a bunch of the most common reasons, not every cat is the same so it could have different reasons for its behavior.
One thing is for sure though, if you feel that your cat is getting violent when jumping on your back, then you should seek a vet’s help as soon as you can because this situation can get serious very quickly.
Let’s take a detailed look at these reasons.
Your cat is trying to mark her territory on you
You know cats and their possessiveness. If you happen to have more than 1 cat in your home, you may be a victim of different cats marking you as their territory.
It is not a bad thing! But it can definitely cause some fights between your cats if they find their friends near or on their favorite human.
When the cat jumps on your back, it may be using its paws to mark its scent in you, or it could be trying to take in your scent so it can recognize you easily.
This can be a bit annoying if your cat does it very often, but it helps create a better bond with your cat because it spends time in close proximity with you.
Cat wants some attention from its owner
When was the last time you properly gave your kitty the attention it needed? Well, they need lots of it, and may try to drop subtle hints that they are feeling neglected.
If your cat is jumping on your back too often and at very random times like when you are sleeping, then maybe it is time to sit down and spend some time with it.
Once it feels satisfied, it should not jump on your back again, unless it feels the lack of attention again, that is!
Your cat may also jump around the house and show other signs that it wants attention. Just pay attention!
It is in a mood to play
Many cat owners set proper play times for their cats so they get to spend time with their feline friends and the cat can feel happy as well.
You do not have to set specific times, but you should still try to take some time out from your day for your cat to play with it.
If you do not play with your cat, it will not be as active, and a lazy cat is prone to sickness too. So if your cat is active and used to playing with its owner, then it may let you know that it is time to play by jumping on your back.
Older cats usually grow out of this habit, but it is important to teach your cat the right thing before it develops into a permanent habit.
They just want to be in your company
If your cat is constantly jumping on your back and even with reprimanding, it does not stop, then it may just be trying to be clingy.
Clinginess is not the end of the world, but it can be tough for your cat if it has to stay separate from you for longer periods of time.
But if your cat is satisfied with some cuddles and petting with the owner, and does not follow you around all the time, there is nothing to worry about.
It is, however, for the best if you teach your cat to be okay with not being with you 24/7, because at some point it must learn to be independent.
Your cat is trying to reach your shoulder
Is your cat trying to jump and climb up your back? This is a common thing in cats, especially young cats when they discover their jumping capabilities.
The reason for this is to reach your shoulder. It would jump high and sit on your shoulder, and then get a clear view of their surroundings leveraging your tall height.
Your cat may also do this when you refuse to pick it up and place it on your shoulder yourself. Also, it may use its nails to get a grip from your clothes and climb on your shoulder.
This can be painful, so you will have to teach your cat not to jump on your back. How do you do this without ruining your relationship with it?
How to stop your cat from jumping on your back
Now that we have seen all the different reasons your cat may jump on your back, let us look at the different ways to stop it, because let’s face it, no one likes their cat on their back 24/7, do they?
Train it not to jump on you
The first thing you can do is to train your cat not to jump on you. Now, training a cat requires a lot of patience. You will need to be strict with your cat for it to take your word seriously.
Start small and then let your cat learn. As soon as you think it is coming to jump on your back, try to stop it and put it back down.
Your vet can help you with different ways to train your cat based on what works for cats of your breeds.
Simply move away and have a disinterested attitude
Another way you can get your cat to stop is to not entertain your cat when it is jumping on your back.
So lets say if it is trying to jump on you, then you can pick it up, put it down and walk away. Do not engage with your cat and give it some space.
You can also use a disapproving voice to teach your cat that you do not like this action.
Hopefully your cat will learn that this action is not acceptable and will adapt to it soon.
Engage your feline friend in different activities
If your cat is too clingy and wants to climb up your back multiple times a day, you can try introducing it to some new activities that it would find interesting.
This can be playing with a toy, playing with other cats around the house, or spending some time in nature with other animals or humans.
The point is to make your cat become more independent and not jump on your back all the time.
With time, your cat should stop the habit completely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, why does my cat jump on my back?
There are many reasons for it, but it is nothing to be worried about. If your cat becomes violent during the process, then you may need medical attention, otherwise it’s okay.
Your cat may frequently jump on your back because it wants affection, it wants to spend time in your company, it may want to play with you, or it may be trying to mark you as its territory.
Sometimes your cat may even want to jump on your back so it can sit on your shoulder to get a view of its surroundings.
But what if you do not want it to jump on your back? Well, there are a number of things you can do.
You can either train it to not jump on your back, you can move away and let it comprehend that you do not like this behavior, or you could get your feline friend to do some other activities instead of jumping around.
Just be gentle with it because these actions can directly affect your relationship with it.
Sooner or later your cat will learn your rules and behave the way you want around the house.
Cats show strange behaviour such as sleeping between legs, moving its kittens, scratching mirrors, tail hitting, bedroom door waiting, eye sniffing, chin biting, black boogers, foot standing, back jumping, sighing, peeing in the bathtub and toe licking may actually have solid reasons behind. Its important we educate ourselves about possible reasons and then act timely for any fix.