Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day, and even more as they get older. You’ve probably seen cats sleeping in a variety of positions, some of which may be pretty strange.
So what does it mean when your cat sleeps curled up instead of right next to your head?
Much of a cat’s sleeping behavior stems from social tendencies: despite their reputation for being aloof, cats are social creatures who can form bonds with their owners and other pets.
Cats seek warmth from body heat while they sleep, so they often sleep on or next to their owners. Self-heating cat bed To help with this.
Other cat sleeping styles date back to their wild origins. Cats are both predators and prey, so being careful when in the wild and outdoors can mean the difference between life and death.
This makes cats very observant of their surroundings and tries to protect themselves – this is why they sometimes sleep curled up, for example.
With a little insight, you can decipher your cat’s sleeping position and find out what it says about their state of mind. Here are 20 different positions you may find your cat sleeping in and what they mean.
1. Curl up
Cats often sleep curled up, nose to tail. This position helps them conserve body heat, as cats like warm places. It also protects the vital organs in the abdomen by surrounding them with less vital, but more elastic, muscles and bones.
2. Lie on your back
You’ve probably seen cats sleeping on their backs, with their front paws resting on their stomach or stretched out over their head, leaving their bellies completely exposed. Cats instinctively want to protect their weaker organs, so when a cat sleeps on its stomach it means it feels very safe and confident.
Although your cat may feel safe, it’s best to avoid trying to rub its belly when it’s in this position, as most cats will try to defend themselves by biting, slapping or scratching if touched in the belly area.
3. Sleeping on your side
Cats also like to sleep on their sides with their legs stretched out. Like sleeping on their backs, this position exposes their vital organs. This, again, means that your cat feels very secure with you.
However, sleeping on its side makes it easier for a cat to jump up or run if necessary, and for prey animals this provides a kind of insurance, helping the cat sleep more peacefully.
4. Shape into loaf
This position resembles a loaf of bread. Cats sleeping in this position have their front legs curled up under their body and their head elevated. This position helps conserve body heat and protects their vital organs.
Cat sleeping in bread position They may be relaxed, but are ready to spring into action and use their claws if suddenly in danger.
5. Superman Pose
In the Superman position, your cat will lie on its stomach with its front legs and feet stretched out in front of it and its back legs and feet stretched out behind it, just like a flying Superman.
This position allows your cat to relax, but with all four legs stretched out and ready for action, and it also has the added benefit of protecting its vulnerable abdomen.
Lie down on something warm, Fluffy blanketwhich also helps keep them warm. However, if the weather is hot or the heating in your home is on high, your cat may choose to lie on the tile or hardwood floor to cool off.
6. Perching on furniture and appliances
It may seem precarious for a cat to sleep perched on the back of a couch, the arm of a chair, or even on top of a refrigerator, but this sleeping position also has its advantages.
First, your cat’s elevated position gives them a great view, protecting them from predators while they sleep. In your home, it may also protect them from other pets, children, and strange visitors.
And since cats are predators themselves, the perched sleeping position gives them a panoramic view from which to keep an eye on prey. In your home, your “prey” likely consists of: Cat Toys They substitute for mice and squirrels, but the motivation for cats is the same.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Cat tree with high perches Instead of furniture, provide an elevated spot for your cat to nap.
7. Strange Positions
Cats can sometimes sleep in positions that seem very uncomfortable, but unlike dogs, cats are very flexible, so even if a position seems very uncomfortable, it may actually be very comfortable for the cat.
The discs in a cat’s spine are very elastic, allowing a cat to bend its body into odd shapes, and a cat’s shoulder blades are loosely attached by muscle rather than bone like in humans, giving the shoulder joint a very large range of motion.
8. Sit up straight
The way cats sit may seem cute, but it’s also a sign of trust in their surroundings. A cat sleeping in a sitting position has its belly exposed, which is a sign of security.
Additionally, sitting makes it easier and less effort for your cat to clean its tummy between naps, and cats that sleep in a sitting position may do so to support their back muscles.
9. On the chest
There are many reasons why your cat may sleep on your chest: if your cat has a strong bond with you, they may do so because they want to be close to you, or they may do so because they find your voice reassuring and want to be closer to your mouth.
Your cat may also find the sound of your heartbeat and the rhythmic movement of your breathing soothing, just as the sound of a beating heart soothes a baby. Sleeping on your chest also provides your cat with an excellent source of body heat.
10. Next to You
Just because your cat sleeps next to you but not on you doesn’t mean they don’t have a bond with you – in fact, sleeping next to you means they trust you and are comfortable being vulnerable while they sleep.
Some cats don’t like sleeping on top of their owners because they prefer the security of a small buffer zone, and this sleeping pose is a sign that they are deeply bonded with you, but that they need a little extra space, at least for that moment.
11. On Your Head
If your cat sleeps close to your head, it may simply be that she found a soft spot to nap on — after all, when you lie down, your head is usually on a soft pillow, and since your head moves less than the rest of your body while you sleep, your cat won’t be disturbed as much.
Also, since many cats will adapt to your sleep schedule (no matter how gradual), your cat may just want to be near you and sleep when you sleep. Sleeping next to your head gives your cat easy access to you. Being near your head makes it easy for your cat to reach out and wake you up for food, attention, or other requests.
12. Stand Up
When a cat sleeps at your feet, it keeps your legs warm, but it may also be seeking warmth from you. Sleeping at or near your feet not only keeps your cat close to you, but also gives them the security that they can easily escape if they’re at the foot of your bed, couch, or chair.
13. Between your legs
Although having your cat sleep between your legs may be a little uncomfortable for you, it definitely has benefits for your cat: it allows her to be very close to you, and your legs provide a warm, safe nest-like place for her to sleep.
Still, your cat has the security of knowing that there is an easy escape route.
14. Inside the Box
Cats are prey animals and need somewhere to hide from predators, and this need seems to have led them to derive pleasure from jumping into empty cardboard boxes.
A box provides a sense of security and warmth for your cat, similar to a camping tent for humans, and also provides an easy place to escape if something goes wrong. If your cat tries to get into a box that seems too small, it’s doing so in the same way that a baby wants the security of being swaddled.
15. In the bathroom
If your cat is sleeping or lying in the litter box, there is usually a medical reason for it, such as a urinary or digestive problem, so if your cat starts sleeping, resting or lying in the litter box, Contact your veterinarian immediatelyThis could indicate a sudden change in your cat’s health.
Some cats prefer to sleep in the litter box, or they may do so when they have limited space to hide or sleep, such as cats in animal shelters, but it’s best to have your vet rule out any medical issues before assuming this is just a behavioral quirk.
16. Eyes open or half-open
Cats can sleep with their eyes fully or partially open, and in some cases you may be able to see clearly into your cat’s eyes and observe them in rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep), the stage during which humans (and possibly cats) dream.
Cats have a semi-transparent third eyelid that is between the other eyelids and can be seen when they are sleeping. The third eyelid protects the eye from irritants and dryness while the cat is asleep.
Although it’s normal for cats to sleep with their eyes open, you need to make sure there isn’t a medical reason behind it. If you notice any of the following eye problems, take your cat to your vet as soon as possible:
17. Cover your eyes
Sure, it’s cute when cats sleep with their paws over their eyes, but there’s a good reason why they do this.
Cats drape their paws over their face to provide insulation and warmth for both their paws and their face, and their paws also act as a sort of sleep mask, blocking out harsh light, dust, and even pollen.
18. With other cats
While some cats who live in the same household simply tolerate each other, many enjoy each other’s presence and even sleep together.
This may simply mean sharing the same comfy bed, but they may also sleep together because they bond with each other and because sleeping in groups provides warmth. Cats who sleep in groups may find the sound of other cats purring soothing.
19. With a dog
Although cats and dogs are not natural enemies, some animals do have a predator-prey relationship, so introducing dogs and cats together should be done slowly, carefully, and under supervision.
Cats can bond with dogs just as they do with humans and other cats. In these cases, dogs and cats sleep together for companionship, warmth, and comfort.
20. Tucked in
If your cat likes to sleep under your covers, he or she likely enjoys the warmth as well as the familiarity and comfort of your smell.
Cats are very sensitive to noise, so a cover can provide them with an escape from stressful noises, and some cats find comfort in being wrapped or swaddled in a blanket.
It’s generally considered safe for cats to hide under covers or sheets, but be aware of where your cat is at all times to avoid accidentally sitting on him and injuring him. Make sure the material your cat is hiding in is breathable.
