Cat Sex Position: Coital Alignment Technique

What It Actually Is

Missionary, but the giver shifts UP. Movement becomes grinding instead of thrusting.

CAT was developed in the 1980s by sex therapist Edward Eichel. The technique is technically simple: in standard missionary, the giver scoots forward 6 to 8 inches, so the base of the givers pelvis is now pressing directly against the receivers clitoris. Instead of thrusting in and out, the bodies rock together. The movement is essentially a slow grind.

Quick aside. The acronym CAT is unfortunate. Yes it sounds like a small fluffy animal. Yes it makes the position hard to talk about with a straight face. We did not name it. Edward Eichel did. He is in his 80s and we are not going to bother him about this. Move on.

Why CAT Even Exists

THE PROBLEM

Standard missionary doesnt directly stimulate the clitoris

Many receivers struggle to reach orgasm from penetration alone

Most penetrative positions ignore clitoral stimulation entirely

Couples often add a hand or toy. Works, but breaks rhythm

CATS SOLUTION

Forward shift puts pelvic bone on the clitoris

Grinding motion stimulates clitoris through every movement

No hands needed, no toys needed

Built into the position itself

How To Actually Do It

01
Start in classic missionary
Receiver on back. Giver between legs. Penetration. Get into position before adjusting. Trying to land in CAT cold is harder than transitioning into it.
02
Giver scoots forward
6 to 8 inches forward, up the receivers body. Givers shoulders should now be PAST the receivers shoulders, basically. The angle of penetration becomes more downward. The base of the givers pelvis is now pressed directly against the receivers clitoral area.
03
Receiver wraps legs around
Legs go around the givers thighs or hips. Not high, not low. Pelvic contact has to stay constant. The leg position is whatever maintains that contact.
04
Now ROCK, do not thrust
This is the part that breaks for everyone learning CAT. You are not thrusting. You are not pulling out and pushing back in. You are GRINDING. Slow rocking motion, like a small wave moving through both bodies. Pelvic contact never breaks. The friction stays on the clitoris the whole time.
05
Receiver, talk
CAT requires fine adjustment. Half an inch matters. The receiver should communicate which way to shift. More forward. Slightly back. A tiny bit to the left. Couples who get good at CAT essentially learn the receivers map. Worth the effort.

Why It Works (When It Works)

CAT is the position where the math finally adds up. Pelvic bone plus clitoris plus rhythm equals problem solved.

Couples who finally tried CAT after hearing about it for years

Standard missionary often misses the clitoris entirely because the angle of penetration takes the giver AWAY from the right anatomy. CAT fixes the geometry. The forward shift puts the pelvic bone exactly where it needs to be. The grinding motion keeps it there. Thats it. The whole reason CAT works is that simple.

Quick aside. CAT is taught in some sex therapy practices specifically because it gives couples a tool to address penetrative orgasm difficulty without making it FEEL like therapy. Its a position, not an exercise. Both partners can enjoy it. The receiver gets clitoral stimulation. The giver gets full body contact and the receivers reactions. Win across the board.

A note on what this article is NOT going to do: claim a specific percentage of women orgasm from CAT. The internet is FULL of articles citing made up specific numbers about this. We have specifically chosen to not invent numbers. Try CAT. See if it works for your bodies. Thats the actual data point that matters.

Common Mistakes

Thrusting instead of grinding. Going back to old missionary mechanics. Defeats the entire point. Fix: NO IN OUT MOTION. Just rocking.

Not enough forward shift. Giver moves up an inch or two. Pelvic contact doesnt happen. CAT becomes regular missionary. Fix: shift forward MORE. Six to eight inches. It feels like a lot. Thats correct.

Not communicating. Receiver doesnt say which way to adjust. Giver guesses wrong. CAT becomes mediocre. Fix: receiver talks. Half an inch right. A bit forward. Slower. Faster.

Bailing too early. CAT takes a few minutes to find the right alignment. Couples who quit at minute three never get to experience CAT done correctly. Fix: keep adjusting. The first few sessions are calibration. By the third or fourth time, you have it.

The Bottom Line

CAT has a terrible name and an actually great technique.

Forward shift, pelvic contact, grinding instead of thrusting, communication. Thats the entire formula. Its missionary with one geometric correction. Most couples who learn CAT add it to their permanent rotation. If your missionary has been mid for years, the issue might just be that you have not been doing CAT.

CAT