Why does a cat sleep on its back with its paws up?

Since ancient times it is said about the supernatural abilities of whiskered pets. It has been noticed that whiskers are the first to learn about the pregnancy of the mistress. They take under the protection of the unborn child and the expectant mother, resting on her belly.

Why does the cat sleep on its back with its paws spread, if it does not like to be touched on its stomach?

All cat owners have repeatedly noticed their meowing pet sleeping with its fluffy belly upside down on the floor. Here the cat is sprawled in the middle of the room, spread his paws in different directions and peacefully sleeps in this position.

I want to come over and scratch his fluffy belly. But it is dangerous to do this. Immediately waking up animal can grab the hand of the owner and painfully bite.

And why does the cat fall apart like this in front of everyone? As if it's taunting them with its benevolent look.

In fact, the cat has several reasons for sleeping or napping in this adorable pose:

The cat has just had a good meal, so it's hard to lie on your stomach, but upside down it's just fine.

Humans, too, sometimes go to the side after a good meal, especially when there is a chance to rest.

This way the pet may be trying to get rid of unpleasant or even painful sensations in the head, spine and paws.

It happens that with age the cat may have joint problems. And so, in order not to strain her paws by tucking them under herself, she lies on her back and spreads them freely in different directions.

It is a pity that many owners perceive this pose of their pet as an invitation to pet the fluffy body. The cat is unlikely to be delighted if its rest is unceremoniously disturbed.

And do not be surprised if instead of purring you get a painful bite with sharp teeth or scratches from no less sharp claws.

It's much better to admire your pet from the outside, but not to touch it. Let the cat rest at his own pleasure. You can be sure that the cat will be very grateful for this attitude and will often come and keep you company.

The pose of contentment and comfort

Any zoopsychologist will smile when he sees a purr cat that sleeps peacefully with its legs upside down. Falling asleep on its back in familiar surroundings, the cat symbolizes a picture of complete contentment with life and psychological comfort.

Given the flexibility of the spine, sleeping whiskers can bend in the most incredible ways, but if the cat leaves uncovered belly – it means that in this house she feels safe, satiated, calm and can afford to dream without fear of attack.

You can speak about unconditional trust to people, if the cat likes to sleep on its back in close proximity to the owner.

This is how a pet shows its affection, gratitude and sense of security.

Take care of your belly

The throat and stomach are vital parts of the body, and by opening them, the animal becomes vulnerable. With reduced vigilance and muscular relaxation, the threat increases, so in the wild, solitary felines are always on guard.

Their sleep mostly consists of a responsive doze in a compact pose on picked up paws or, bent over, on their sides. From such a position, one can instantly jump up, resembling an elastic, compressed spring, in time to fight back the enemy or flee.

Features of sleeping on the back in different breeds

Despite the diversity of feline breeds, there is no one that has a particular predisposition to non-standard resting positions. When feeling well and enjoying life, any Scottish, British or backyard cat will lounge on its back.

The choice of position depends on the density and density of the coat. Long-haired cats are more likely to rest on their sides or with their paws up and outstretched, belly toward the ceiling. Certain breeds (British) can snore in their sleep, the abnormality is associated with a depressed nasal septum.

Complete nonchalance is manifested in cats by a funny body position, when the paws are spread out as they have to, and the pet rests comfortably on its back. While resting, he can hold his limbs, snort, grimace, meow softly and snooze like a little baby. Comfort and a deep sleep phase cause these funny signs. If the animal allows itself to relax in this way, it feels completely happy and in agreement with the current state of affairs.

If a cat prefers to sleep on its back in front of people close to it, then it expresses its boundless trust and confidence in their reliability in this way. When opening its belly to strangers and strangers, you should think about its mental capacity and inability to predict a possible threat.

Does it matter what parts of a person's body the cat lays down on?

Trying to get more comfortable on the host's body, the cat is not always concerned about its comfort, but is worried about the state of human health and tries to point out the problem. In the old days, it was believed that the whiskered friend would lay down exactly on the part where there are already painful sensations or where pain will soon manifest itself.

Indeed, there is a pattern to why a pet lays down in a certain place:

1. When fluffy lays down on his feet, it's worth thinking about the health of his joints or veins. If there are no problems with the limbs, then the whiskered healer is simply trying to relieve the accumulated fatigue and tension during the working day.
2. If the cat lies down on the person, choosing the head as a "bed", it may indicate meteosensitivity of the owner. The pet seeks to alleviate the person's condition, relieve headaches, affect high blood pressure and relieve tension.
3. If the pet stomps and then rests on his chest, it may be a signal of cardiovascular problems. By choosing the left side of the chest as a laying place, the whisker is trying to relieve suffering, relieve tension and normalize the heartbeat.

We must remember that the cat cat more often chooses as a sleeping partner one member of the family, which he cares about and protects. Therefore, the observation of the peculiarities of the fluffy cat's behavior and its desire to lie down on top of another person gives you more reason to think about the state of its health.

Can a cat and a person sleep in the same bed

It is assumed that if a cat lies down on a person, then it is its person. Many people completely agree with such a statement. The owner must ensure that the fluffy cat has a balanced diet and comfortable living conditions. To this end, houses, baskets with soft mattresses, cots are bought. There are even special heated mats that caring family members buy. However, nothing is better for a furry homebody than a loved one's bed.

Arguments for

There is an opinion that the moustached pet and its owner are very similar. And it is not so much about the external resemblance, as about the inner world. Therefore, the two close creatures tend to spend more time together, including in their sleep.

When the cat is placed on a beloved family member, it takes away some of the stress. Problems and worries recede into the background when a person strokes a pet and hears its purr. And the main argument is that sleeping together gives a sense of comfort and pleasant emotions.

Between man and fluffy homebody is an invisible connection, which allows you to enjoy not only the communication during the day, but also at night. Close creatures usually have a hard time with separation from each other, so sleeping alone is not acceptable to them.

Arguments against

Experienced breeders, zoologists and veterinarians are not in favor of having a mustachioed friend on the bed or on humans. Many felinologists declare the inadmissibility of resting together. Arguments put forward include the following reasons:

1. Animals are carriers of infectious diseases.
2. Dirt from paws leads to rapid contamination of bedding.
3. If a kitty suddenly gets sick, it needs a bedding that is isolated from humans and other inhabitants of the house.
4. A kitten that climbs on the bed in search of warmth can be injured. There is a great risk of crushing the baby.
5. Even the friendliest whiskers sleeping next to the baby can accidentally scratch it.
6. The hair of the animal in a period of heavy shedding causes allergies or just discomfort to the person sleeping next to him.

Why does the cat sleep on his back?

If your cat sleeps on his back, he probably feels perfectly safe. However, there are several other possible reasons for this behavior.

A cat lying on its back reveals its most vulnerable point – its belly. Although it is an extremely tempting sight – everyone wants to stroke the cat's belly. It's best not to do that. Most cats do not like to be touched. The attempt at petting usually ends up interrupting blissful sleep and attacking our hands. So, since a cat's belly is a treasure, why does he reveal it during sleep? Turns out, it's not just for comfort. Find out why a cat sleeps on its back.

1. Trust and Satisfaction.

It takes time and lots of time for a cat to consider home safe. If your fluffy cat sleeps on his back with his paws spread out, it's a simple indication that he feels safe and comfortable in your home, or more specifically, your home.

• You have created a friendly environment in which the cat is not afraid of being attacked by another predator.
• It is also a demonstration of trust in the owner, especially if the cat even sleeps on his back. If you don't want to break that trust, don't torture your cat's belly with stroking.
• Most cats follow a simple rule: look, but don't touch. Of course, this doesn't apply to all purrs. Some even like it. However, the vast majority do not. Of course, you know your cat, and you are in a better position to know whether or not she likes having her tummy stroked.

2. defensive stance.

• Although the tummy is a sensitive point of every cat, revealing it, the purr is paradoxically best armed and ready for his defense.
• Lying on his back, he can apply his claws in all four paws as well as his teeth at the same time. This is why, during conflict with other cats, the pet often lies on its back. This is not an element of demarche. This stance indicates that the cat is ready to use all his weapons in self-defense.
• Our hands often discover this when we decide to pet a cat lying in this position.

A cat that is afraid of something may be so wary in the presence of another cat, or strangers, that it may adopt this defensive posture.

3. A cat likes to sleep on its back

4. Pain medication.

• Various symptoms, especially those related to aging, are minimized if you sleep on your back with your legs up.
• The legs are placed in a stretched position and the spine is massaged. This is especially important for dealing with arthritis.
• Cats learned from somewhere that sleeping on your back also relieves headaches. The position keeps the spine in a straight line and facilitates blood flow to the head. This provides relief to the suffering cat.
• Moreover, it is also a cure for stomach problems.
• A sore or simply overeating stomach goes away faster when lying on its back.

Trust in the host.

The supine pose with paws up is a sign that fluffy trusts the environment and the person completely. This is only possible when a warm relationship has been established between the owner and the animal. The cat sees the human as a protector and trusts him to guard its sleep. Fluffy animals can also curl up and hang down from surfaces to show their happiness and contentment with life.

CONFIDENTIAL! Indicator of special trust: a cat lies down on the floor, rolls over on its back and begins to "poke" in front of its owner.

Excitement

The supine position may also serve as a signal of certain pathologies. It may be a disease of the intestines, kidneys, inflammation of the body. The cat falls on its back, while he does not let his owners near him, does not allow you to touch (attempts to probe the abdomen will cause an attack of aggression in the animal). There are additional symptoms:

If these signs are present, an urgent consultation with a veterinarian is necessary. A number of tests and treatments may be required.

So, if your pet likes to lie on his back and there are no suspicious symptoms, there is no reason to worry. The animal shows its trust and happiness. Lying on its back is also convenient in hot weather or after a heavy meal. But you should be alert if the cat lies on its back, but it is lethargic, painful and apathetic. In such a situation a visit to the veterinarian is urgent.

7 reasons why a cat lies on its back

Cats are lovers of choosing unusual positions for sleeping. Sometimes it seems that it is simply impossible to place somewhere comfortably, but, what seems uncomfortable to us, the cat very much even likes. For example, you can see how the cat lies on his back, sometimes with his paws up, sometimes stretching out. It is interesting that the meanings of this pose are varied, and can show us absolutely opposite facets of the pet's mood and behavior.

1. One of the reasons for choosing this pose is a sense of security. The stomach is the most vulnerable part of a cat's body. When a cat sleeps on its back, it shows its confidence that no one will hurt it. If he sleeps like this in the presence of a human, you can consider it a kind of compliment, a sign of boundless trust.

2. There is also the opposite reason – a manifestation of caution. In this position the cat can defend itself with four paws at once. Therefore, if he sleeps on his back and you see a slightly tense pose, it is better not to touch or pet him. There is a risk of being scratched.

3. In the heat, cats also sleep on their backs, extending their paws. According to zoologists, "cats are born with an efficient cooling system. When they get hot, they lie down on their backs and put their paws up. There are many sweat glands on their fingertips (there are also sweat glands on their muzzle and on the tips of their ears) that draw heat away, which helps the cat cool down.

4. In cold weather the cat can lie on its back near the radiator or in the sun, so it gets warm and tries to get as much heat as possible. But in this case the paws will not be raised, they will be rather stretched out, relaxed or pressed against the body.

5. If the cat lies on its back with its legs stretched out and stretched to its full height, it indicates that it is relaxed as much as possible, it is resting and nothing is bothering it.

6. Some cats like to have their stomachs scratched and they gladly give it to humans. This is another reason why the cat sleeps in this position: attracting the attention of the human, the desire for tactile contact.

Satisfaction and trust.

Most cats try to shield their belly and paw pads from any exposure. By making her belly available, she is telling you that she is in a supportive environment and is not afraid of a predator attack. She trusts you completely. But don't be in a hurry to touch a collapsed cat. Let's move on to the next reason.

There is an opposite reason. This position is very convenient for defense, because you can simultaneously release the claws of all four paws, and use the teeth.

When a cat lies on its paws spread apart and showing you its fluffy belly, it is very difficult to pass by without touching and scratching it. Usually, such actions end up biting and scratching.

And because you don't have to touch me when I'm lying here so relaxed. Yes, man, I trust you, but that doesn't mean you have to shove your little hands in my face. Did you even wash them? I don't know what you touched before I did.

Of course, you know your little one better than you do, and it's probably your pet that likes it when you start stroking his tummy.

Sleep on your back and don't get sore.

Yes, your cat can indeed sleep on his back for health reasons. Older cats with arthritis sleep in a way that does not put pressure on their paws. This posture also relieves headaches because the spine stretches in a straight line and provides blood flow to the head. If your cat has stomach problems, or is just full – sleeping on his back helps prevent pressure on his stomach. In general, for kitties, sleeping in the paws-up position is practically the cure for all ailments:)

If your cat is hot, he will sleep on his back, leaving his paws open. After all, your fluffy cat sweats with his paws, releasing the extra heat. Also, this position allows you to feel light blowing air on both paws and belly area. The reverse situation is when the cat spreads his paws, for example, on a window sill and warms his belly, taking a sunbath.

What does your cat's sleeping posture tell you?

"Oh, we seem to have a broken cat," – this phrase, probably, sooner or later, says every owner of a furry predator. Incredible tricks and stances that would be the envy of world champions in rhythmic gymnastics are about our pets. But fortunately, most feline poses do lend themselves to classification and even add up to a kind of sign language!

This is the most common sleeping posture in cats. It means that the pet feels calm and safe. The curl helps minimize heat loss, and cats are usually very comfortable sleeping in this position. But if you have never noticed that your cat likes to sleep curled up in a ball, and now you see him in this position all the time, it is worth to pay more attention to your pet and check his health.

There is an omen: if the cat sleeps with its nose covered by a paw, it means that frost will soon strike. And it really comes true!

– The thing is that cats immediately sense when the temperature in the room begins to fall – even if a person does not notice it at all yet, – explains Maria Tuvashkina, director of Murzik Cat Cafe.

The omen that if a cat sleeps with its paw covered in its nose – it's for the cold weather, does come true Photo: Dmitry Akhmadullin

The pose, opening the abdomen, indicates the maximum comfort of the cat. This means that nothing bothers him, he feels like a full-fledged master and fully trusts all the people who are around.

– Like many other animals, a cat's abdomen is the most unprotected part of the body, and they usually try to protect it even when they sleep. But if the cat is sleeping on his back, with his paws outstretched – so, he is 100% sure that his sleep is not violated by a sudden threat, from which you have to defend yourself – says breeder of cats Irina Sokolova.

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