Coital Alignment Technique: 4 Tips for the CAT Sex Position

The coital alignment technique (or CAT position) is a variation on the missionary sex position in which the penetrative partner rests slightly higher up to stimulate the bottom partner’s vulva and clitoris, rocking or grinding their pubic bone to create friction rather than using a typical in-and-out thrust. Psychotherapist and sex researcher Edward Eichel coined the term.

The focus on clitoral stimulation makes the CAT position useful for vulva owners who enjoy clitoral stimulation or struggle to reach orgasm through vaginal penetration alone. It can also be a valuable position for partners who want to experiment with simultaneous orgasms. However, some sex experts critique the coital alignment technique as a heteronormative or penetration-normative position that maintains the importance of penetration in the vulva owners’ orgasm. The CAT position can be a useful tool for vulva owners who enjoy penetration and clitoral stimulation, but there are other vehicles for clit-focused sexual activities.

The coital alignment technique’s downward angle is the central advantage of the position. With the receiving partner on their back, the penetrating partner lies on top but in a higher position than in standard missionary, so their chest is above the bottom partner’s shoulders. In this higher position, the shaft of the penis or strap-on dildo can contact the vulva owner’s clitoris, a sensitive erogenous zone that contains thousands of nerve endings.

As the pair grinds, the shaft of the penis or dildo stimulates the clitoris (and the vulva surrounding it), leading to an even higher potential for pleasure and orgasm than through vaginal penetration alone. In addition, the technique uses a rocking or grinding motion to stimulate the clitoris more consistently, rather than the sporadic stimulation that can come from thrusting.

Here’s a step-by-step guide so that you can introduce the coital alignment technique into your sex life:

1. 1. The bottom partner lies on their back. The receiving partner should lie on their back in a comfortable position with their legs spread.
2. 2. The penetrating partner faces them on top. Like in the classic missionary position, the penetrating partner should get on top of their partner’s body so both partners face one another.
3. 3. The penetrating partner shifts several inches upward. To turn the missionary position into the coital alignment technique, the top partner should shift several inches upward so their chest is about eye level with the bottom partner.
4. 4. The penetrating partner enters the vulva. Once both partners are in position, the penetrative partner can enter the bottom partner. It can help to just insert the tip of the penis or strap-on dildo at this stage, to allow both partners to get comfortable with the motions. You may find that you prefer using just the tip, or you may decide to introduce fuller penetration.
5. 5. One or both partners begin to grind. A grinding or rocking motion begins the stimulation, rubbing the shaft or base of the penis or dildo on the clitoris for stimulation. The motion should be slow, small, and rhythmic rather than explosive or significant—the key is to keep constant pressure on the vulva and clitoris for continuous stimulation.
6. 6. Experiment with variations. Try exploring different angles and options. The penetrating partner may choose to support themselves on their hands or forearms, or the bottom partner may choose to wrap their legs around their partner or straighten their legs underneath them. Each variation changes the angle and pressure of the stimulation; find an approach that works best for you.

Here are a few tips when experimenting with the CAT position in the bedroom:

1. 1. Embrace the closeness. While many other penetrative sex positions focus on an in-and-out thrusting motion, the coital alignment technique emphasizes grinding and rocking. This offers a unique physical closeness in which each partner’s body rubs up against the other. Consider using this closeness as an opportunity for even more intimacy—touch one another's bodies, hold each other closer, or use your mouth to kiss, lick, or nip.
2. 2. Determine if the position is right for you. Some sex therapists criticize the coital alignment technique for emphasizing penetrative sex over all other sexual activities. If you or your partner struggle to find pleasure with the coital alignment technique but want to explore other types of clit-focused sex, there are a many activities you can try, including cunnilingus (vulva-focused oral sex), clitoral masturbation, and non-penetrative grinding.
3. 3. Introduce additional stimulation. Once you get the hang of the technique, you can introduce additional stimulation and sensations to explore new avenues of pleasure. Lubricant or stimulating oil on the clitoris can increase or change the kind of pleasure the vulva owner experiences. If using a strap-on dildo, try one with gentle vibration for even more stimulation; a vibrating penis ring can produce similar effects for penis owners. You can also incorporate other sex toys into the position, including bullet vibrators, butt plugs, and blindfolds.
4. 4. Use a pillow. Each person’s body is different—including the angle of the vaginal canal. You and your partner or partners may find that the technique’s intense angle is more of a challenge than other sex positions. To help with the angle, try using a pillow underneath the vulva owner’s hips to shift the vagina in different directions until you find an angle that feels best. If you or your partner cannot find an angle without discomfort, avoid forcing it—another sex position might be a better option for you.

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