The bug
When a tamed cat goes and sit on a chest, you can't make it stand up again using right click, and even by pushing it away from the chest you are still unable to make it stand up. Only by hitting it, you are then able to control them with right-click.
Linked issues
is duplicated by 6
MC-148822
cats cant stand when put on beds and chests
Resolved
MC-149201
Whenever a cat (maybe other sitting mobs too) gets onto a chest or bed by itself it immediately sits and cannot stand up; it must be pushed off first
Resolved
MC-149966
Cat can't be sitted/unsitted when sleeeping on the bed while I sleep
Resolved
MC-151216
Cats Are Glitched in Reference to Beds
Resolved
MC-167114
Cats can't stand up while stting on chests
Resolved
1 more links
That's normal. Cats will sit on chests and prevent you from opening them. The only way to get them off the chest (trying to use them doesn't work) to either push them off or I believe lure them with fish, but the former definitely works.