If you live with a furry cat you must have noticed they sleep 16 hours a day. Have you noticed your cat sleeping in different positions? Are they pretty strange?
Cats are connoisseurs of comfort – James Herriot
Cats love their comfort. Their every position provides comfort and relaxation to them. The majority of a cat’s sleeping habits are influenced by their sociable nature. Cats are known to be aloof, but they can attach and create social interactions with other pets and pet owners. So, in the journey of exploring your pet let’s go through the Top 10 Cat Sleeping Positions with what they mean.
List of Cat Sleeping Positions
- The Classic Loaf
It is like the shape of a loaf of bread. Cat sleeping in loaf position with head down keep their front paws curled under the body, head up. It keeps the cat’s body heat while preserving its vital organs. Cats that sleep in a relaxed position are not relaxed because they are poised to jump into action and use their claws when danger comes out of the blue.
- Up-right Seated Position
Some cats sleep like old people, upright in a seated position. Some might have their tail hanging between their legs, some might wrap their tail around their paws, and they tend to expose their tummies. Nonetheless, many cats prefer this way of sleeping, yet they won’t remain that way for more than 20 minutes.
- Eyes Half Shut
You must have noticed sometimes your cat looks like they are squinting or, just about to fall asleep, with their eyes half-closed. If your cat is sleeping in a shut position because they are not feeling safe, or feel like they need to be able to act quickly, as they don’t want to be met with any potential threats at the last minute.
- The Log
The next cat sleeping position is Log. When your cat stretches flat on its belly and extends its legs to the max, it takes the log position, personifying carefree confidence. Its vulnerable organs are exposed, yet the cat believes in the safety of its haven.
- The Acrobat
Acrobat is a sleeping position that seems to be most uncomfortable and it’s quite the opposite. There is no such reason behind why cats sleep in this position, but we think that it is comforting for them, as many tend to sleep in this position. Your cat is not in agony if you see it sleeping with its head twisted around and its rear and front legs pointing in different directions!
- The Belly-Up
You have probably seen your cat sleeping on their back, with their front legs either resting on their belly or stretched out over their head, and the belly completely open to view. Now you will wonder how a cat can sleep belly-up, as cats instinctively protect their vulnerable organs. So if a cat is sleeping belly-up it means that they must feel extremely safe and trusting.
- Sitting Upright
You must find your cat sleeping in a sitting position exposing their belly. It can be cute when cats sit up in a way that looks like they are trying to imitate a human, but it’s a sign of confidence in their environment. Again this is the sign that your cat feels safe with you. In addition, sitting up gives a cat easier access to groom their belly with less effort between naps. Cats sleeping in a sitting position may also be doing it to support their back muscles.
- The Cuddle Bug
What does it mean when your cat sleeps next to you? Cats look very cute in their sleeping time. Your cat may fall asleep while cuddling you or hugging you. They might use your hands as their pillow to sleep. If you have more than one cat, friendly felines may even cuddle up to nap together. This is a sign of trust and affection. Just remember that you can’t force your cat to cuddle. Cats are happier when they initiate human-cat contact, including snuggling. So rather than forcing your cat to cuddle let your pet baby come to you.
- The Purr Ball
Your pet baby often sleeps curled up in a ball, with nose to tail. They love the warmth and body heat. This position is also good for their health by surrounding them with less essential and more resilient muscle and bone.
- Superman
A comical sleeping position, especially if you have a particularly furry feline friend. Your pet cat sleeps in this position when they are stretched out while lying flat on their belly. This is another cat sleeping position that shows their trust love and affection towards you.
- Headpress
Your cat firmly presses his head against a wall or solid furniture and sleeps in that pose. You won’t even catch him rubbing his scent glands on any object with his face hidden. Unlike all the other sleep positions introduced here, head pressing almost always points to a serious health problem. Most commonly, it occurs as a sign of hepatic encephalopathy, which is a neurological condition caused by liver dysfunction.
Why Cats Have Different Sleeping Positions?
Just like humans cats have different cat sleeping positions. There are many weird and wonderful ways in which our feline friends sleep. Many instincts come in between when we talk about cat sleeping positions. Cats also have emotional attachments with their parents or owners, so they choose to cuddle while sleeping. They want body heat and to get coy so they choose your lap. Sometimes cats pay complete attention while sleeping for their safety and security, they may choose a ‘ready for anything’ sleeping position.
Conclusion
So, if next time you catch your pet baby sleeping in different positions just figure out the reason behind it. While admiring the new facets of your furry friend’s personality, you may discover new aspects of their personalities. Cheers to decoding, fellow feline lovers!
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