If you’re a proud cat owner, you’ve probably already encountered this scenario: you’re cozying up on the couch or in bed, and your furry friend immediately climbs on top of you and starts napping. But why exactly is your body the preferred sleeping spot? Let’s take a look at the reasons behind this adorable (and sometimes uncomfortable) feline behavior.

1. Heat is irresistible

Cats are true “heat lovers”. Their normal body temperature range is around 38–39°C, which makes them sensitive to the cold. Your body radiates constant heat, making it the perfect “cat heater”.

Especially during the cold seasons, this desire for warmth becomes even stronger. You are their mobile radiator!

2. Your scent soothes them

Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell and recognize your scent. It brings them a sense of security and comfort. When they are on you, they literally immerse themselves in your familiar scent, which acts as a “cat’s lullaby.”

3. Territorial behavior

Cats are territorial animals and love to mark what they consider “theirs.” When they lie on you, they leave their pheromones – a way of declaring that you are part of their territory.

This is a kind of compliment: “You are mine and I love you.”

4. Proof of affection

Contrary to the opinion that cats are cold and distant, they are actually very affectionate towards their owners. Sleeping on you is an expression of trust and love.

This behavior is usually observed in cats that feel completely safe and comfortable in your presence.

5. Heartbeat

Cats love rhythmic sounds, and your heartbeat is one of them. It calms them and reminds them of the time when they were kittens, snuggled up next to their mother.

This explains why they often prefer to sleep on your chest, where they can hear the rhythmic beating.

6. Comfort and Viewpoint

Cats love high, protected places from which they can observe everything. Your body – be it your chest, legs or belly – is comfortable and offers them an ideal vantage point to control “their territory”.

What does this mean for you?

If your cat likes to sleep on you, it’s a great sign that she trusts you completely. You are her source of warmth, comfort and security.

What to do if it’s uncomfortable?

Although the behavior is endearing, it can sometimes be annoying – for example, when you wake up with a numb hand or a heavy feeling in your chest. Here’s what you can do:

• Provide alternatives: Arrange a cozy bed near you. Add a soft blanket or something with your scent to make it inviting.

• Restrict access to the bed: If you want to sleep peacefully, you can train your cat to use his own bed.

• Encourage daytime play: A tired cat is less likely to climb on you for a nap. Sleeping on you isn’t just comfortable for your cat—it’s a way for her to express her love. Your presence is her home, and your warmth is her sanctuary. So the next time your cat snuggles up to you, remember—she’s saying “I love you” in her own language.

Illustrative Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-cute-sleeping-cat-416160/

Women’s tendency to drink alcohol without moderation is stimulated by a hormone – estrogen. This is shown by the results of a study published in the peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal “Natural Communications”.

Specifically, estrogen causes women to “subject” themselves to alcohol in advance or to consume large amounts of alcohol without moderation in the first half hour after it is offered, the results show.

This study provides the first explanation for gender-related differences in alcohol drinking, says senior researcher Kristen Plyle, an associate professor of pharmacology at Cornell University School of Medicine in New York.

“Estrogen has a very powerful effect on many behaviors, especially in women,” Plyle says, adding, “So it makes sense that it would modulate binge drinking.”

During the pandemic lockdowns, women have increased their consumption of hard alcohol more than men, recent studies show. Women also have more alcohol-related hospital visits than men.

For the study, the researchers fed lab mice alcohol while monitoring the mice’s estrogen levels.

They found that when female mice had high levels of estrogen in their blood, they drank more than when their estrogen levels were low.

Binge drinking was also associated with increased activity in an area of ​​the brain’s limbic system that has previously been linked to drinking behavior, the researchers added.

“When a woman takes the first sip from a bottle of alcohol, these neurons go crazy,” says Plail. “And if she’s in a high-estrogen state, they go even crazier.”

This extra boost in neural activity means that the mice drink even more, especially in the first 30 minutes after it’s given, the researchers found.

The team also notes that estrogen directly excites these neurons—a surprising finding, considering that the hormone usually influences behavior through a process that takes hours to change gene activity, rather than by targeting brain cells directly.

“We think this is the first time anyone has shown that estrogen, produced by the ovaries, can use such a rapid mechanism to control behavior,” Plail says.

The researchers plan to study whether the same system can regulate drinking in men. “The whole infrastructure is there in men: the estrogen receptors and the basic organization of the circuit,” Plail says.

The only difference is the source of the estrogen, the researchers explain – estrogen in men is created by the conversion of the male hormone testosterone into a female hormone.

These results could also point to a way to treat alcoholism by suppressing either estrogen levels or estrogen’s effect on brain cells, the researchers conclude.

Illustrative Photo by Toni Cuenca: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lemonade-on-brown-surface-616836/

• The funding will enable Ukrainian communities to continue implementing 151 sub-projects in 2025 and beyond, focusing on schools, kindergartens, hospitals, social housing, heating and water systems and other social infrastructure.
• Backed by an EU guarantee, the funding is earmarked for the EIB’s Ukraine Recovery Programme.
• In 2024, several sub-projects were completed, including a sewer pressure collector in Zhmerynka, Vinnytsia Oblast, that was finalised on 25 December and will provide over 33 000 residents with reliable wastewater management and improved sanitation.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided €55 million in EU guarantee-backed funds under the Ukraine Recovery Programme to reconstruct hospitals, social housing, educational facilities, heating, water and waste systems, and other critical social infrastructure in 2025 and beyond. The funding can be used for any of the 151 sub-projects allocated under the programme across Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Chernihiv oblasts. This contribution is part of the EIB’s Ukraine Solidarity Urgent Response package developed in close partnership with the European Commission, highlighting the European Union’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s recovery.

In 2024, several sub-projects were successfully completed under the programme, including a water supply facility in Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, two schools in Vinnytsia Oblast, a paediatric infectious disease department in Zhytomyr Oblast, and now a sewer pressure collector in Zhmerynka, Vinnytsia Oblast. The sewer collector was completed on 25 December at a cost of €526 000. It involved rebuilding a 2.64 km sewer pipeline with durable pipes and advanced sensors. This upgrade will ensure reliable wastewater transport for the next 50 years, benefiting over 33 000 residents – including 4 000 displaced people – by enhancing sanitation, public health and environmental protection.

The Ukraine Recovery Programme is a €340 million EIB framework loan supported by an EU technical assistance grant and aiming to help communities rebuild vital social infrastructure. It is being implemented by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, with local authorities managing recovery sub-projects and UNDP Ukraine providing technical assistance to support quick implementation.

EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who is responsible for the Bank’s operations in Ukraine, said: “Together with our EU partners, the European Investment Bank remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s recovery and rebuilding. This €55 million disbursement under the Ukraine Recovery Programme will help communities restore critical infrastructure, renewing schools, hospitals, heating, housing, water and waste facilities, and other essential services for all. Despite the challenges of war, Ukraine continues to rebuild, and we are glad to support this effort.”

European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis said: “The EU’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine and its people in the face of Russia’s illegal and brutal war comes on every level: political, financial, military and humanitarian. It includes the reconstruction of small-scale community infrastructure as well. That is why we fully support this new €55 million Ukraine Recovery Programme disbursement for hospitals, schools, housing, heating and water systems, as well the opening of a small wastewater treatment plant in Vinnytsia Oblast. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Ukraine, the EIB and all other partners to support Ukraine further in meeting its needs.”

Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine — Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba said: “The EU’s support is critical to our efforts to rebuild key infrastructure across the country. This funding from the European Investment Bank will help us restore schools, hospitals and essential utilities, significantly improving the quality of life of millions of Ukrainians. Together, we are laying the foundation for a resilient Ukraine, where communities can rebuild and move forward despite the challenges of war.”

Ukraine’s Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko said: “Rebuilding our cities and strengthening our economy are critical for Ukraine’s recovery. We appreciate the European Investment Bank’s funding of recovery programmes, which restore vital infrastructure and improve the well-being of our people. The EU’s steadfast support is essential as we work to rebuild and ensure a better future for our communities despite the challenges we face.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers said: “At UNDP, we’re dedicated to empowering communities by leveraging our technical expertise and strategic partnership with the EIB to foster transparent and sustainable recovery. With the successful completion of several sub-projects under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, we’re working alongside Ukrainian municipalities and the government to rebuild resilient infrastructure that truly meets the needs of the people. Together, we’re striving to ensure a brighter, more inclusive future for all Ukrainians.”

Background information

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of the Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. With Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships, alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices around the world.

EIB recovery programme in Ukraine

The upgrade of the sewer pressure collector in Zhmerynka, Vinnytsia Oblast, was carried out under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, one of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) multi-sectoral recovery framework loans. Overall, the EIB is investing in three recovery programmes totalling €640 million, complemented by up to €15 million in EU grants. These programmes empower Ukrainian communities to restore social infrastructure and improve living conditions for their people and the internally displaced persons they host. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, jointly with the Ministry of Finance, coordinates and oversees the implementation of the programmes, while local authorities and self-governments are responsible for fully managing recovery sub-projects. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provides technical assistance to Ukrainian communities in implementing recovery sub-projects on the ground along with independent monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability.