Cat Sleeping
Sleeping is one of the most important parts of a cat’s day. The cat has perfected the art of snoozing to such a degree that it has effortlessly invented the concept of the catnap.
Do you own a cat and have you ever found your cat asleep in an uncomfortably positioned position that cannot possibly be a comfortable one? It’s amazing how different sleeping positions for cats – whether it’s upside down or curled up in a ball – reveal a lot about their personalities and emotions.
Find out exactly what your cat’s sleeping positions can reveal about his mood, health, and characteristics.
Here are some other helpful articles about the same subject!
What are some common sleeping positions for cats?
A cat’s sleeping position appears to have a much wider range and variety than that of a human. When you share your home with cats, you will come across weird and wacky ways for them to sleep.
In light of the fact that they spend anywhere between 12 and 20 hours per day in the land of nod, it would make sense that one of the best cat beds would be the obvious thing to do. However, there is one thing you might not have considered: the way they sleep can help you to understand their behavior in a more intuitive way.
As a result of their different position, we can get a glimpse into what they might be feeling and thinking. Every pose that your cat strikes tells a different story, from relaxed and content to on guard with a need for alone time.
By learning how to understand the meanings behind your cat’s behavior, you can create a harmonious living environment together with your cat.
Cat Sleeping Positions Meaning
As you can see, cats usually adopt the following positions when they are asleep:
- Cat Sleeping Curled Up
This is one of the most common positions that cats sleep in. They start off curled up with their paws tucked under them and sometimes with their tail wrapped around them too.
Oftentimes it is just their head that they curl into while other times they will keep their whole bodies curled up. This is a comfortable position for them because it makes them feel safe and secure, almost like they are in the womb again!
- Cat Sleeping Belly Up
This position can be seen when your cat is taking a nap on his back right in front of you while you’re watching TV or even when he’s sprawled out across your lap after being petted. It can be very cute to see your kitty spread out completely with his paws completely stretched out in front of him.
Sometimes they will fold their legs up into their chest which can look just like a baby resting on its stomach. When cats are sleeping most people think that all fours are tucked underneath them but this isn’t true for many cats who prefer to sleep with their belly up.
- Cat Sleeping Eyes Half Shut
Some cats seem to have no problem sleeping even when they are in a room full of activity going on around them. Others can be easily woken up by all types of different sounds and movements going on around them. When your cat is sleeping you will often notice that his eyes are completely shut, only opening briefly every now and then for short periods before closing again.
However, some cats almost always keep their eyes half-shut when they’re asleep because it makes them feel more vulnerable which helps calm down their natural instincts. Instead of being able to see everything happening around them all the time, these cats will keep a small part blocked out so that they can rest while still being on ‘guard’ to see if anything happens.
- Kitten Position
When cats are first born they sleep most of the time but as they grow older they slowly start spending more time being awake. By the time a cat is an adult, it will have established some pretty common sleeping positions but oftentimes when kitties are very young you might notice them sleeping in unusual ways.
For instance, sometimes kittens like to curl up with their paws stretched out above their head (almost like they’re jumping or doing something active even though they’re asleep).
Or maybe they’ll be curled up only on one side of their body while leaving the other side completely uncovered (almost like someone cut off half of them)! It can be a bit strange to see your kitten sleeping in odd positions but it’s nothing to worry about.
- Cat Sleeping On Side
Most cats sleep on their stomachs but some cats prefer to sleep with one paw stretched out and lying across the side of their face so that they are resting on their side instead. Many humans also like this position because it allows them to cuddle up against their kitty without feeling like he’s right on top of them (in fact, many humans enjoy taking naps together with their cats this way).
You might notice that when your cat is laying on his side sometimes his eyes will be slightly open and other times they will actually be completely shut all the way. This is normal because sometimes it’s just more comfortable for your cat to keep his eyes closed instead of leaving them half-open like he does when he’s on his stomach.
- Loaf of Bread
Cats love squeezing themselves into small spaces, a leftover instinct from when they would need to hide from predators hiding in small areas such as trees or under rocks. Sometimes you might notice that your cat is sleeping with both of their front paws tucked up underneath their body while also curling up with their head tucked down against their chest. It almost looks like a loaf of bread with four ‘corners’ sticking out instead of a full circle!
This is another common position for cats to sleep in and it’s not unusual for them to start out sleeping on their stomach but then roll over while they are still asleep so that they can curl up more.
Usually, you won’t be able to see your cat’s eyes when they’re in this type of position, instead, you might notice movement under their eyelids suggesting that he is dreaming or awake even though his body is relaxed.
- Cat in a Box
They say that cats have 9 lives and maybe this is because they do seem to love squeezing themselves into spaces where they shouldn’t fit. Perhaps you’ve noticed your cat sleeping inside of shoe boxes, bookshelves, drawers, or even just small gaps between the wall and the couch.
If you ever watch your kitty carefully while he’s sleeping, you might notice that he will start to wiggle around every now and then before settling back down again much like when you try to get comfortable in bed after rolling around for a bit.
While it can be cute to see your cat cuddle up inside of these types of places, please make sure that there aren’t any hazards present such as electrical wires or objects that could be dangerous if your cat were to accidentally fall on them.
- Front Leg Stretch
Like humans, cats are also able to stretch their legs out when they wake up or even during the middle of a nap. When kitties are sleeping they will sometimes look like all four of their paws are positioned directly underneath them so that all their weight is being held up by just their shoulders and chest.
If you ever see your kitten looking like this you might want to gently nudge him so that he knows you’re there because it’s possible for his legs to become twisted around each other (which can oftentimes lead to injury).
However, another reason why cats sleep like this is not only done it feels good, but it also helps them get their blood flowing and allows them to wake up faster.
- Side Paw Rest
Just like humans, cats seem to love sleeping even more after they’re done exercising and getting all their energy out. You might notice that your cat is starting to get tired after a long day of playtime and naps, but then once he gets into bed with you he will stretch out his paws with an expression on his face that looks like a big sigh of relief!
You can move any extra pillows or blankets away from underneath your kitty’s head so that he isn’t touching anything uncomfortable when his paws are stretched out in front of him. When you see your cat sleeping in this position, try not to disturb him.
Just like us, cats get even more relaxed when they’re in this type of rest so he might not appreciate you waking him up to pet his tummy or give him a treat!
- Straight Up
Lots of times you will see your cat sleeping with its back and neck completely straight while the rest of its body is curled up into a little ball underneath them. This position makes it look like your cat isn’t touching anything except for the floor (or whatever surface he’s resting on) but sometimes if there is no surface available, they’ll sleep standing up leaning against something such as a wall or chair.
While it’s normal for cats to do this every now and then, if your kitty does it frequently it could be a sign that something is wrong. Perhaps he’s been losing weight lately or maybe he’s not eating as much as usual, this could cause him to lose his appetite and be less motivated to exercise which would make him tired all the time even if he isn’t showing it by sleeping in weird positions.
- Eyes Half Shut
If you ever see your kitty’s eyes looking like they’re only half-open, it probably means that she is pretty comfortable where she is positioned. You might notice her paw around her face with one of them over her nose so that everything smells familiar to her (which also helps cats remember where their safe spaces are).
If your cat looks like this you can try moving just slightly but just keep in mind that you don’t want to physically move your kitty because that could startle her and she might scratch you. Instead, try gently shaking a pillow or blanket that’s nearby so that it makes a rustling noise that should catch her attention without startling her.
- Eyelid Twitch
Just like humans, cats can also twitch their eyes from time to time as they sleep. It usually happens when your cat is really comfortable and close to waking up but not quite there yet. When this happens, the twitching will stop after a second or two and then your cat will slowly open his eyes as if nothing happened!
This is just one way for them to rest even more comfortably before getting ready for the day ahead of them.
- Curled Paw
If you ever look down at your cat’s paws, you might notice that they are in a completely different position than what they were before (especially if you watch them sleeping for an extended period of time). This is another way for cats to get comfortable when they’re taking a snooze because it allows them to wiggle their toes and stretch out their claws which can be really satisfying.
Conclusion about cats sleeping positions
It is no surprise that your cat would find so many ways to sleep since he sleeps some 70% of his life. While he must have a safe position in which to fall asleep, he must also have a comfortable position that allows him to doze as he digests his high-protein diet.
The more you know about how your cat sleeps in his home, the better you’ll be able to judge how he’s feeling in there. In this way, you’ll be a better assistant to the real king or queen of the domain!
