Oh yes I know exactly what you mean.
Beau is my bed cat, he has slept on my head for 12 years now.
Most mornings he's by my feet waiting for me to wake at around 4.30am (to pee - am getting old now), that's his cue. When I get back to bed Beau resumes his customary position on my pillow and snuggles in with the biggest purrs you ever heard. I've tried to ignore him, he just snuggles his backside into my face and makes room for himself that way, so its much easier to accommodate him than try to breathe through bum fur.
Most days I stay awake and give in at 6am to start my day, but this is his time. With 6 other cats competing for attention, I seldom let Beau down by ignoring him at this point of the day, as he has little else from me during waking/working hours (everyone has their own few minutes attention from/with Meowmi, it's a sort of rota we all sign up to).
Only at weekends do I afford myself the luxury of a sleeping pill and earplugs combo that knocks me flat until 7am, and Beau seems to know that I need this extra time, but he also knows that week-end means sausages for breakfast in bed, so he's happy to wait for his snuggle with added sausage. So long as he gets this, Beau is happy.
Love my Beau. He is my best friend (of the 4 legged kind) and the quieting influence in our crazy cat house.