This Cat Has a New Best Friend and It’s a Halloween Skeleton
Every fall, skeletons return to porches and windows, but this year, they’ve picked up some unexpected admirers. Across social media, cats have been caught napping beside—or squarely on top of—plastic skeletons. Polke, Roswell, and Ferguson are just a few of the cats who’ve turned these motionless figures into steady companions.
It’s funny at first glance, a pet cuddling with fake bones. But animal behaviorists say it makes sense. Cats are drawn to things that don’t move or change for the same reason they favor a certain chair or blanket. A skeleton, fixed in place and scentless, offers the comfort of something that never surprises them.
Polke Prefers a Skeleton’s Lap Over His Owner’s
Image via Reddit/Future-Ad4214
When a Reddit user placed a Halloween skeleton named Miss Petunia Bones in her sunroom, her cat Polke immediately climbed into its lap. The owner’s mild jealousy quickly turned to amusement when Polke refused to move and started treating the skeleton like his new favorite person.
Roswell Finds Comfort in Familiar Companionship
During a Halloween shopping trip, Lindsey Kuzmin spotted a skeleton cat decoration and thought it might amuse her sphynx, Roswell. The moment she brought it home, he was fascinated. He rubbed against it, licked its head, and began grooming it as though it were another cat.
He greets it each morning, brushes past it affectionately, and naps beside it while she works. The skeleton even joins him in his stroller for outdoor rides. What began as a seasonal prop soon became part of his daily life. Kuzmin now leaves it out year-round and describes it as family.
Ferguson’s Quest for the Perfect Scratch
An orange cat, Ferguson, took his fascination with a skeleton a step further. He typically sits in the lap of a life-sized skeleton and waits for it to pet him. His owner helps by moving the skeleton’s rigid plastic hand, which delivers the kind of firm scratches he loves. Ferguson prefers hard textures, which is probably why he even enjoys belly rubs using a Swiffer duster.
Why Cats Form Attachments to Objects
Cat behavior expert Pamela Merritt, author of The Way of Cats blog, explains that cats often connect emotionally with objects that represent routine and safety. These items, which she calls “security objects,” can include blankets, furniture, or even decorations. Predictability provides reassurance, and a skeleton’s motionless form fits perfectly into that need.
Research also supports this idea, with studies showing that cats develop emotional attachments comparable to those seen in dogs and even human infants. Their affection isn’t limited to living beings. Instead, it extends to familiar shapes and scents. These connections help reduce stress and reinforce a sense of territory. A stationary figure like a skeleton becomes part of that mental terrain and offers comfort in its unchanging presence.