9 Cat Sleeping Positions & Their Meanings
Curled up or sprawled out, your cat’s sleeping position can reveal their unique personality. Here are 9 of the most common ones, what they mean, and how they can help catch on to a health issue early.
Cats are well-known as expert snoozers. After all, cats even have a type of nap named after them! Whether your kitty is taking a catnap or is in a deep sleep, they often rest in adorable or just plain weird sleeping positions. Let’s explore what these cat sleeping positions mean in this post – and how tracking your cat’s sleep can help you stay on top of their health and wellbeing.
Are cat sleeping positions important?
Your cat’s sleeping positions can give you clues to their likes, dislikes, comfort level – and how much they trust you. (Like a type of body language.) Besides, these might be affected by the season, what’s going on in your home, and your cat’s overall mood. But why do cats sleep in certain positions? It has to do with their evolutionary history.
Your cat’s wild ancestors are hunters (and technically, so is your kitty). So like their wild cousins, cats may sleep lightly and be semi-alert while dozing. Their instincts guide them to stay aware of approaching predators or prey. This is a behavior that’s hard-wired into your kitty. So even though your furball isn’t prowling the savannah for a meal, they may still have the sleep habits of a wild cat.
Of course, it’s possible that your cat’s sleeping positions have no underlying secret meaning. Your cat may just be trying to get as cozy as possible! In fact, cats sleep from 12-18 hours per day. So it makes sense that they would seek the ultimate in comfort and security for this important endeavor.
⚠️ Cats that are unwell may suffer from poor sleep. Which you can pick up on to earlier with a Sleep Tracker for cats, which we’ll cover in detail a little further below.
Common cat sleeping positions & what they mean
Cats are adorable 99% of the time, and even cuter when they are asleep. Some cat sleeping positions perfectly embody the self-assured yet goofy demeanor of our kitty cats. All cat breeds demonstrate these cat sleeping positions.
Here are nine of the most common cat sleeping positions. (And what they could be telling you about your cat’s personality.)
1. Cat loaf
Can a cat resemble a loaf of bread? Well yes, if they are snoozing while sitting upright in the classic Cat Loaf position. Aka, with the front and back legs tucked neatly under the body and the head upright in a sphinxlike pose. Your cat is probably taking a quick cat nap and is not in a deep sleep. In the Cat Loaf position, your kitty is still alert to their surroundings while appearing completely chill. (It’s actually how they protect their vitals from a potential predator.)
While in the Cat Loaf position, your furball is also conserving body heat. That’s why the Cat Loaf may become a preferred sleeping position when the weather turns cold.
2. Belly up
Sleeping with the tummy facing the sky means your cat trusts you and their environment. Exposing the belly makes a cat quite vulnerable because their vital organs are unprotected. Only when a cat is completely at ease will they sleep Belly Up. This sleeping position can also help your cat to cool off in warm weather, because the belly has less fur and loses heat more rapidly than the rest of the body.
If your kitty sleeps in the Belly Up position, they are telling you that they feel relaxed and safe. We dare you to walk past a cat in this adorable position and not rub their belly. Just be prepared to pay the price with a little nip from your startled cat!
3. Superman
A sleeping cat lying belly down with the front legs stretched forward and the hind legs extended backward is in the Superman position. Sometimes, a cat splayed on a tile floor in the Superman sleeping position is trying to cool off.
In general, a cat in the Superman sleeping position is relaxed, unafraid of being bothered, and headed for a well-deserved superhero snooze.
4. Crescent
The Crescent sleeping position, also called the Tight Curl or Donut, is the most common sleeping position for cats. Your kitty will lie on their side curled in a ball, with the head touching the back feet and the tail tucked in. In a variation of the Crescent position, your cat might twist their neck so the top of their head is resting on the ground, and the chin is pointed to the sky.
The Crescent position allows your cat to conserve body heat, so you are more likely to see your cat in this position during the winter or in cold weather.
Similarly, most wild cats sleep in the Crescent position, because it protects the belly – which is the cat’s most vulnerable area – from predator attacks. Even though your home has no wolves or hyenas roaming the hallways, the instinct to curl up and protect their vital organs is still present in our furry friends today.
5. Side sprawl
The Side Sprawl is a very common cat sleeping position. A cat lying on its side is probably in a deep sleep and might stay in this comfy position for a while. The Side Sprawl partially exposes the cat’s belly, so it could indicate that your kitty is trusting and relaxed in your home, and is not worried about a sneak attack.
Cats that are feeling overly warm may lie in a cool spot in the Side Sprawl position in an effort to cool off.
6. Monorail
Cats are predators, and as such, they like to perch up high to keep an eye out for potential prey or threats. In the Monorail sleeping position, cats lie lengthwise on an elevated surface such as a sofa arm, a handrail, or a windowsill.
The cat’s front legs, back legs, and tail hang down on either side, similar to a monorail train parked on its elevated track. While your cat probably intends to remain alert for threats while in the Monorail sleeping position, the urge to drift off into a light sleep could be too hard to resist. After all, *yawn* there aren’t any threats to deal with at the moment, right? Zzzzzzzz.
7. Pretzel
When your cat sprawls out and twists their torso so the upper body points in one direction and the lower body faces the opposite direction, they are in the Pretzel position, also known as the Contortionist. It’s not really possible for your kitty to tie themselves in a knot, even though it may look like it when they are in the Pretzel sleeping position.
The Pretzel position, like the Belly Up position, indicates that your cat is completely relaxed and trusting in their environment. While in the Pretzel position, a cat may be in a deep sleep, but they can still spring into action instantly if you give them a gentle poke in the belly. (Trust us, we’ve tried it.)
8. Paw over the face
One of the most endearing cat sleeping positions is Paw Over The Face, when your kitty dozes off with a furry paw covering their face or eyes. In the Paw Over The Face sleeping position, your cat is sending a clear message that they do not want to be disturbed while they are asleep.
If you see your cat with their paws covering their face, think of it as your kitty wearing an eye mask to bed, attempting to keep disturbances to a minimum while they get their beauty rest.
9. Eyes barely open
A cat that is snoozing with their eyes open to little slits is only half-asleep. They are still on the lookout for danger, potential threats, or even the chance to pounce on a meal. This behavior is linked to your kitty’s wild origins, where cats of all types have to find their own food and avoid becoming food for someone else.
The Eyes Barely Open sleeping position is often combined with the Cat Loaf sleeping position. Snoozing in the Eyes Barely Open position allows your furry friend to be semi-alert while getting a little rest.
Should I be worried about the way my cat sleeps?
If you notice a drastic change in your cat’s sleeping habits, it might be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian. If your cat appears restless or uncomfortable when sleeping, they may have an illness or injury. It’s best to let your vet determine if there is an underlying reason for your furry friend’s disturbed sleep.
⚠️ One of the first signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome in cats is a change in their sleep-wake cycles.2 You’ll find this most commonly in senior cats, who are also more vulnerable to cat dementia.
But how do you catch on to changes in your cat’s sleeping habits in the first place? (It’s not like you can stay up all night watching them toss and turn.)
The solution: Sleep tracking
With regular Sleep Tracking, you can use the actionable data of your cat’s sleep minutes to pick up on a change quicker – and have a more productive conversation with your vet.
With its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive GPS both logs in your cat’s every move – as well as how often they’ve been on the move. (Including during naptime.)
Which, with time, can help you figure out:
- How long your cat sleeps on average,
- How much quality sleep they get,
- If there’s a weird change in your cat’s sleep patterns – which could be a potential red flag
So you can take action early and get your cat to a vet for a checkup – much before a budding health problem has a change to worsen.
Sleep tighter with your feline buddy by your side
With all these different cat sleeping positions, you might wonder what they mean – or if they mean anything anyway. But usually, it’s a sign your cat trusts you and feels relaxed around you. (Or they’re trying to warm up, cool down, or stay prepared for any potential threat.)
⚠️ A cat whose sleep is often disturbed might be struggling with sickness or injury – or cognitive decline. So consider using a Sleep Tracker for cats to catch on to a change early on.
“Great little tracker, perfect size and weight for cats. Tracks activity and sleep habits making it easier to spot issues and discuss activity levels with her vet. Also tracks her when she decides to roam the neighborhood.”
– Clayton Ward, US (Source: Trustpilot)
Stay on top of your cat’s wellness
See where they are in real-time, no matter how far they go. Get alerts if they roam too far from home. Find out where they’ve been and discover their favorite spots. Let others track with you. Track sleep and activity.
Enjoy your kitty’s unique habits, including the position they choose for sleeping. It just makes them more adorable!
Liked this post? Share it with a fellow cat parent and make their day!
