Last Updated on April 13, 2020
I have seen this all over the web and while it should be taken very seriously with dogs, it’s not so straightforward for cats. Cats are known for sleeping in weird positions, from sideways to upside down. Knowing the difference between head pressing and normal cat behavior will help you better care for your cat.
What Is Head Pressing?
Let’s touch on this for a minute if you don’t know.
“Head pressing is a condition characterized by the compulsive act of pressing the head against a wall or other object for no apparent reason“ – petMD
There are many conditions that can cause this to happen but the most widely recognized is hepatic encephalopathy. This is the result of the liver not functioning correctly so toxins are left in the bloodstream causing nerve damage.
Other causes of head pressing include:
Hepatic encephalopathy is the most common cause
What’s the Difference?
Cats who are sleeping with their face down, this is normal cat behavior. Some cats are just most comfortable like this.
When it comes to head pressing, you will see your cat doing this against walls while sitting, and while awake. They will press their head up against something, unrelaxed.
You must know your cat’s behavior and when to have cause for concern, and be aware that this can happen at any age. Seek medical help for your cat if it is sleeping/sitting like this with diet changes (eating less/more), disoriented behavior, walking in circles, walking into walls, sudden drooling, crying when being picked up, and depression.
When to see a Vet
If you see your cat sleeping with their head pressing down and they are relaxed, there is likely no cause for concern. However, if they are awake and sitting or standing with their head against a wall (or other objects) then they must see a vet asap.
Examples of differences
Below are five pictures of my cat, Joey, sleeping in a “head pressing” position. This is considered “normal cat behavior“ and you can see that he is relaxed.
Now here are some pictures of actual head pressing, you can see the difference! These cats are not relaxed at all, this is when to be concerned.
I hope this clears up any confusion and concerns you may have had. If you have a question about your cat head pressing, leave a comment below!
My cat does not head press but lately sleeps with his head very close to a wall but not touching… What could it be
Thanks for your comment Bree. Without knowing anything about him, I can’t say. It is likely nothing to worry about though.
I have a kitty who does this when she has a “headache”….What I call a “headache” is when she is extremely tired, cold (sneezing), not enough to eat/drink (I monitor–I have 3 kitties right now and make sure they all eat), “chats less”, etc. If your kitty has never done this before, acts in pain or is doing other “odd” behaviours, my suggestion is call your vet. You know your baby best, so trust your instincts….Purrs and Headbutts to all 😀
Thanks for your comment Melissa. Yes, I agree. If it is not a normal behavior, it must be checked out. Not all cats sleep this way and a sudden change can mean something is up.
Can cats breathe we they sleep this way i sometimes worry
Thanks for your comment Katie. Yes, they can breathe but sometimes their breathing becomes shallow and this can cause them to be put into a DEEP sleep. I usually adjust my cats head when I see this happening just to make sure he is getting enough air.
So my cat has been acting really weird lately. When she comes into my room, she jumps right to my pillow and bites it in one spot then she rubs her face against it. I know when she’s in heat she rubs her head on the males of the family but I’m a single female so there shouldn’t be any cause from that. I’ve tried washing my pillow when she started but it didn’t change anything. Everyone’s saying not to think about it but it’s making me a little nervous. I tried talking to her and she was breathing really heavy when she looked at me. Any ideas? Thanks!!
Thanks for your comment Alexa. So your cat is not spayed then? Without knowing the age it is hard to say what she is doing. I know this isn’t head pressing as that involves the head being “pressed” on something in a stationary fashion. When she is in heat, she isn’t seeking out attention from human males either. She likely just smells other animals on them since they do not live with you. Has she been outside at all? She is likely using your pillow to rub her scent on to attract males. Cats have scent glands all around their bodies (see this post for reference: https://purrfectlove.net/2017/01/scent-glands-on-cats/ ). I don’t think you have anything to worry about but I do recommend getting her spayed asap.
Hi, I have a 5 year old cat who likes to sleep with his head against the wall or up against the side of the cat bed however he doesn’t do it all the time. Should I be concerned? Thanks.
Hi, I have a 5 year old cat who likes to sleep with his head against the wall or up against the side of the cat bed however he doesn’t do it all the time. Should I be concerned? Thanks.
Thanks for your comment Amy. If he is relaxed and comfortable, there shouldn’t be any cause for concern. Some cats do this to block out light from their eyes to sleep better.
I have a cat that is 20 years old, almost 21. She is losing muscle in her hind quarters and also keeps trying to eat the ashes from the fireplace. I’ve seen her acuople times eat her litter. What could be going on?
Thanks for your comment Karen. This sounds very odd indeed. I can’t tell you for sure what is causing the muscle loss but she is craving sulfur. That is why she is trying to eat the ashes. You can add a small amount of MSM powder to her food. I use the brand NOW Foods myself. It is completely safe for humans and animals to take. This should lessen the cravings. She does need to see a vet ASAP though because muscle loss is not a good sign, specially in elderly cats.
Thanks for your comment Karen. This sounds very odd indeed. I can’t tell you for sure what is causing the muscle loss but she is craving sulfur. That is why she is trying to eat the ashes. You can add a small amount of MSM powder to her food. I use the brand NOW Foods myself. It is completely safe for humans and animals to take. This should lessen the cravings. She does need to see a vet ASAP though because muscle loss is not a good sign, specially in elderly cats.
Very helpful…I adopted a 3 year old calico that came forme an abused home. She is very fearful of running water and sudden movement’s but doesn’t mind hair dryers or vacuum cleaners. She presses her head on me every chance she gets especially my face. I’m mostly the only one she’s like that with. We share a love of peace and quiet!
Thank you for your comment Lisa. I am glad it helped you out! Yes abused cats tend to need more one on one time and extra love. Often times pressing their heads against the person their are bonding with is pure affection. You may find my post on cat trust helpful as well through your bonding process or maybe to help with others bonding with her. https://purrfectlove.net/2015/03/how-to-earn-a-cats-trust/
Thank you so much for this info! The comments really helped me out too. My cat (4 years old) started pressing her head against me (nothing else) about 6 months after I got her when she was 1. I thought it was just affection then someone recently told me it’s a bad sign. She doesn’t sleep like that, she’s just purring super loud and getting comfortable then relaxes on me. I was getting concerned with everything else I read, but it seems from reading here that it really is just affection. Phew. Thank you for this info!!
Thanks for your comment Ennay, I am glad this information helped ease your mind!
hey! my cat comes and sits on my lap and just rests her head on my stomach (an extended headbutt of sorts) during this her back is arched, are these symptoms and is she in any danger?
Thanks for your comment Hannah. When she is “headbutting” your stomach, her butt is in the air? Is she awake and purring by chance? If she is doing this and just sitting like that in what looks like an uncomfortable position, she could be doing it to get your attention or she possibly has an ear infection. It is hard to tell you if she has a serious problem or not based on what you said. If this is new behavior, it is best to get her checked out to be sure. Cats with ear infections will seek out warm surfaces to ease the pain and press their heads and ears into it.
Wow, did not know this!
Hello. I was wondering if you could help me and clarify a few things. MY 14 year old cat likes sleeping in a box on my bed lately I’ve noticed her resting in there with her head pushed up against the side of the box. She seems to be sleeping but I can’t actually tell if I touch her she grunts and looks at me right away. I am Wondering if a cat is head pressing how often will they do it and how easy is it to snap them out of it. She stops doing it as soon as I say her name and she seems to always be resting should I be concerned?
Thanks so much for your time . I have been trying to research this on my own but am not having much luck
Thanks for your comment Stephanie. This sounds like normal behavior to me. When cats are doing actual head pressing, they space out and sometimes become unresponsive all together. Most of the time they are awake while doing this as well. She sounds like she is doing this because it is comfortable. If it happened out of the blue, like recently started happening.. She could have an inner ear infection. Most clear up on their own but since she is older, you will want to take her in to see a vet and double check. Fluid in the ears can cause them to seek pressure on the head to relieve head pains. They also do this to trap heat inside the ears.
Hi I have noticed my 17 year old cat sleeping on my night stand with her head down – looks mighty uncomfortable. But she is fine when I come in and she sleeps there and on my pillow and on me all night. Should I be worried about the hanging head?
Thanks for your comment Theresa. I am not sure what you mean about “the hanging head”. Is her head hanging off the nightstand?
Yes her head is hanging off the nightstand – below where her body is
Hi! I can’t tell whether or not my cat is doing this for affection but she will push her face into me (while purring) really hard! Into my arm mostly. She’s been doing it for a long time and I figured it’s just affection but I’m not sure now? She doesn’t do it at any other time to anything else. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for your comment Jessica. Yes this sounds like affection to me! Some cats will do a firmer head rub when they are overly stimulated (happy, playful, ect) and purring along with this is a good sign it is purely affection. Nothing to worry about 🙂
How about this. My cat was sleeping with his head pressed against the arm of the sofa. Face first deep in it. I wish I could upload the photo. He also likes to sit and stare into the wall and corners. I just thought he was a bit of an oddball :-/
Thanks for your comment Nic. My cat does this as well. He likes to sleep pressed against surfaces. It doesn’t mean there is anything necessarily wrong, some cats just like to feel like they are in tight spaces. Think of it as a security thing, just like cats liking to get into bags and boxes. As for the wall staring and corners, is he older? A lot of cats do this with age. It can come as a result from lack of interaction, stimulation, and just being bored. When a cat is under-stimulated they will “imagine” prey. Think of yourself as a kid being stuck in a house all day with nothing to do. Most kids will use their imagination to entertain themselves. For more information on this, read Domestic Cat Hunting : Play or Prey.
lately my cat has been facing the wall – but not pressing (NO TOUCHING) but usually she has to watch us do whatever we are doing – why is she now looking away??
Thanks for your comment Dakota. Without knowing your cat on a deeper level I can’t answer that. How old is she? Have you recently moved, got a new pet, any new people in your life?
My cat has been sleeping all day with his head pressed against the side of the window (he is sleeping in the window sill) should I be concerned? I have never seen him press his head against anything while sleeping before.
Thank you for your comment Shira. Because this is a new behavior your cat is doing, it is a good idea to have him checked out to be 100% sure nothing is wrong. There is a chance he may have an ear infection or fluid in his ears. Cats will lean their heads on warm or cooler objects when they have an ear ache for some relief. Severe ear infections accompany other symptoms you can read about HERE. Head pressing is generally done by a cat in a very uncomfortable manner, specially when awake.
Thank you for explaining the difference and setting my mind at ease! My girl likes to press her head against our arms when she sleeps in our laps (never against the wall or anything like that). I never thought much of it before, but like others in the comments, I got a little worried when I saw that article about head pressing.
Thanks for your comment Jen, I am glad it helped you out!
Thanks so much for sharing this information! After I saw an article about head pressing I tried not to get worked up because my cat sleeps in that position but of course there was a little bit of worry and this helped to ease that.
Thank you for your comment Jasey, and I am glad the information eased your worries! 🙂
My cat does not butt her head against the wall but she constantly rubs the sides of her face against something. We adopted her at 4 months and she has always done it. She is very vocal and does pace a lot but is the sweetest and smartest cat. She is also very obedient for us. Should we be concerned?
Thank you for your comment Shelby, and not at all! This is normal cat behavior. Some cats do this more than others. What she is doing is releasing her scent on the walls and objects she is rubbing. This is her way of “claiming” them. She can be rubbing more if you have other animals in the house or if you use room deodorizers or sprays that may rid her scent off of the objects. You have nothing to worry about!
Thank you so much for clearly explaining this. I see stuff about head pressing all over the net. I was never sure if my was head pressing or not. Thanks Again!
Thank you for your comment Donna, and not a problem. I know a lot of cat owners were getting worried over their cat’s sleeping habits. I just wanted to make sure they knew the difference.
My cat pushes his head against my thigh like this. Can I assume it’s affection? Please don’t share my email address or send “updates.” Thank you for answering my question.
Thanks for your comment Dorothy. Yes, in most cases when a cat rests on us it is a form of bonding and affection. My cat pictured above does it quite often. A lot of cats enjoy being against something firm, bonus points for it being warm. Since the leg tends to be firm and warm, it is the perfect resting place for a feline who enjoys this. Joey will do this on my hand and arm as well when I am lying down or going to bed. Some cats just prefer the comfort of touch while they sleep.
What about if the cat is sitting close to the wall and just stares? Not pressing his head against the wall, just staring. Is that also the same thing?
Thanks for your comment Xiomy. No, just staring is not the same thing. The actual pressing in the issue here because it implies that their may be pressure on the brain or in the skull somewhere. Depending on the age, some older cats will stare at walls and just think/ponder. Sometimes they are just spacing out and relaxing. If you can easily break the consecration of a cat doing this, there is nothing to worry about.