affection
Burrowing Into Your Armpit
Comfort & Security
Your cat pushes its head and body into the crook of your arm or armpit, wriggling in to hide its face against you and settle there to sleep.
The Behaviour Behind It
Tucking into your armpit hits several of a cat's comfort buttons at once. It is warm, enclosed and dark — much like the snug hiding spots cats instinctively seek out to feel safe — and it is saturated with your scent, which a bonded cat finds deeply reassuring. Pressing its face into you is an act of trust, since a cat only buries its vulnerable head against someone it feels completely secure with.
Scent is a big part of it. By nestling into a spot that smells strongly of you and rubbing against it, your cat both soaks up your familiar scent and leaves its own, mingling the two in the way cats do to mark members of their social group. The steady rhythm of your breathing and heartbeat adds to the sense of calm, echoing the comfort of huddling with littermates.
What You Can Do
Simply enjoy it — this is one of the clearest signs of a trusting, affectionate bond. Let your cat settle and try not to disturb it once it is tucked in. If the position is awkward for you, gently guide your cat to a warm blanket that carries your scent nearby, which often makes an acceptable substitute. Provide cosy, enclosed beds around the home so your cat always has a snug den to retreat to.
🐾 Most common in
Seen especially in affectionate, closely bonded cats, and often in those hand-raised or separated early from the litter. More common in cooler weather and in cats that like to sleep pressed against their owner.