How Can That Be Comfortable: How Cats Can Sleep in Such Weird Positions

Sometimes, you wonder if your cat is really made of some kind of gummy material instead of skin and bones. Is his brain also made of mush? Otherwise, how can it be comfortable for kitties to sleep in such strange positions?

Is Your Cat Trying To Tell You Something?

Although you’ll never truly know what’s going through your cat’s mind, you can hazard a guess by some of her body language. According to Vet Street, when your furry feline is awake, you can gauge her mood by her tail. A tail that’s held high and curls smoothly back and forth is a sign of a happy cat. A twitchy tail indicates interest. If your cat is holding her tail low or between her legs, she might be frightened or sick. When her tail puffs out like a Halloween cat, she’s especially terrified.

When your kitty is sleeping, her tail might still wag and twitch. This tends to mean that she’s feeling at ease. A happy tail combined with a cat lying on its back is an indicator that your pet completely trusts you. When you come across her lying like this, you might think it’s one of the strangest cat sleeping positions, but what it means is that your feline doesn’t feel the need to protect her belly, which is one of her most vulnerable areas. But be careful. She—or you—might be in for an unhappy surprise if you try to snuggle that fuzzy tummy while the cat’s asleep.

A cat that lies curled up may have gotten one too many raspberries blown onto her unsuspecting stomach while sleeping. In truth, curling up can be an instinctual defense against predators. This position makes animals feel secure. It can also help them regulate their body temperature. However, cats that sleep in tight balls may be too tense to get restful sleep. You can help your cat feel more secure by providing her with a cozy bed into which she can nestle while relaxing her muscles.

Have you ever seen your cat lying with back legs out? You can think of this as the froggy splat. This is one of those weird cat positions that must just be relaxing. Although it doesn’t look so comfortable to us, cats have more limber spines than we do. They can contort their bodies in ways that we just don’t understand.

The most common cat sleeping position is probably the kitty loaf. When your pet sleeps like this, she is lying lengthwise on her belly with her paws tucked up under her. Her head might be perched upright or resting on something. You might wonder how a cat can keep her head looking so alert when she’s asleep. It’s because she’s really plotting to take over the world.

Don’t be alarmed if you find your cat sleeping with it’s head down. Sometimes, you wonder how your cat can breathe in her strange sleeping positions. Well, a kitty can’t always be plotting. Sometimes she has to sleep deeply. If your cat is pressing her head on walls and other flat surfaces while she’s awake, this could be cause for concern. Head pressing, the compulsive act of pushing the head firmly against an object for no apparent reason, can be a sign of a medical condition. This is different than the normal head butting that your cat might do when she’s purring and excited, though.

Why Do Cats Like To Sleep On Things?

Cats have quirky sleep behavior. If you’ve ever tried to read the newspaper or finish up some homework when your cat is around, you have probably ended up with a purring feline in front of your face. Cats will sleep on your laundry, mousepad, purse, and towels. They might even try to curl up on a cutting board that you leave out on the counter. That’s dangerous, kitty.

In some cases, they do this to be closer to you. They know they can squeeze out some extra snuggles this way. They may also do this because your scent is lingering on the clothing, towels, or bags. Your scent on those items tells your pet that they’ll be safe there if they curl up and close their eyes. You’ll protect them.

Cats also like to lie in defined areas. Although your bed may look like a large, unprotected expanse, the recently ironed shirt that you carefully laid out appears to be a more intimate space. That may be the area in which your cat chooses to sleep. She’s not just trying to make more work for you.

What If Your Cat Doesn’t Have Normal Sleep Behavior?

There are a lot of acceptable idiosyncrasies when it comes to cats and sleep. Cats like to be known as individuals. That’s why we love them so much. If your cat is exhibiting strange sleep behavior, it’s more likely to bother you than anyone else.

For example, it can be irritating when your cat gets the “midnight crazies.” This refers to that zany behavior that your cat may exhibit in the middle of the night. You might hear her jetting across the house, meowing wildly, or playing with that expensive toy that she pretends to ignore during the day. She might even wake you up rudely by biting your toes.

This is normal behavior in kittens that aren’t familiar with your family’s routine. However, it could also be a sign that your cat is anxious. Help her relax by sitting with her and petting her, if possible. If your cat is new to the family, putting an item from her old home in her bed can help make her feel secure. You can also play with her more during the day so that she’s more restful at night.

The Best Place for Your Cat to Sleep

Cats can be comfortable sleeping just about anywhere. Don’t worry about your cat’s strange sleeping positions. If she’s sleeping through it, then she’s obviously not uncomfortable. Although you might want your cat to curl up in bed with you, she might find it more comfortable to wrap herself around the radiator. As long as she’s safe and isn’t keeping you up all night, let her choose her favorite sleeping spot.