Cats Sleeping On Back – Meaning Of The Cat On Back Posture Explained!
Looking at cats sleeping on back can be an extremely delightful as well as funny sight because that’s something you might not get to see too often. However, when they sleep or just lay like this, it means a lot of things because this sleeping position is not a casual one and puts the cat at a very vulnerable status.
Felines are complicated creatures, more so because they are not one of us and it isn’t easy at all to understand them due to their inability to communicate in our language. Thus, it is our responsibility to try and understand them when they try to communicate with us by giving us signals through their actions that include scent marking, different body postures, gestures, etc.
So, when a cat lays on back and sleeps that way too, you must know what it means to not end up harming them and we are going to help you with that as you read.
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Significance of the cat sleeping on its back position
Sleeping positions of the cats also tell a lot about them and this may surprise some of you. Interesting how everything that our cats do has a message for us, right? From the sleeping posture of your cat, you can just understand how tired they have been but also know about their physical wellness, mental status, as well as overall health because any discomfort being felt by your cat becomes visible in the innate actions they do.
The position of a cat sleeping on back has its significance just like the many other sleeping positions of felines. You just need to observe the posture of their body parts, the expressions on their face, and even the sounds they make during their sleep. The laying on back position usually involves the cat sprawled flat on the surface of their bed or couch with the belly exposed and facing upwards, and legs curving at different angles.
If you see your cat sleeping on its back like that, then it can probably mean some of these things:
- They are feeling very comfortable in their surroundings.
- They completely trust the people around them.
- They are contented and full after having a merry time and just want to nap.
- They are assured that there is no threat of any predator in the surroundings that can attack them.
- They are very confident about their position in their house and like to display their confidence.
The belly portion of a cat is extremely vulnerable and every cat remains very conscious about it. They never expose it easily even for grooming sessions as they know that exposing their bellies to the wrong person or animal can bring serious repercussions for them. To get back to any other position from the lay on back one is difficult and thus your cat won’t do it until it has scanned every possibility.
Significance of cats lying on their back
The cats not only sleep on their backs but they can also just lie on their back sometimes and that may also make you wonder ‘why do cats lay on their backs’ when they aren’t sleeping. Well, they may just be resting, trying to play, or preparing for any specific move, there can be any possibility. Following are the ways your cat can be on its back and what it can mean-
Reasons why cats choose to sleep on their back
Other than the varying meanings of cats sleeping on back or just laying, there can be various reasons why they choose to do so in the first place since we know that exposing bellies is a big deal for them. Let’s now explore some of the possibilities.
Seeking comfort
Cats are highly flexible creatures and they are capable of relaxing their body in all sorts of weird positions. If they choose to sleep on their back, it can just be due to the comfort and relaxation their body must be getting in it. Just like sleeping straight on the back is good for humans, cats may also be getting certain physical benefits from it, who knows?
Expressing trust and feeling of safety
Cats always scan their surroundings before getting into a vulnerable position and will go sleeping or laying on their back when they are assured with attention and care. They would lie on their back in front of you as an expression of gratitude for making them feel safe and that’s how they also show their trust in you.
Seek attention
A cat on back may be trying to get your attention because they know it’s too hard to resist their squishy furry bellies and they would let you pet or groom them there because they trust you with that. This is mostly a result of their innate craving for human attention. They might also be wanting some affectionate belly rubs for which they can be going on their back but you must only move forward with that by carefully observing all of their signals.
For helping cleaning
You may also come across kittens lying on their back in front of their moms because they are dependent on their mother for cleaning their waste off their body. Since they can’t clean their rear ends themselves, they help their mothers to lick off the excrement easily by turning on their back. This is just a part of their evolutionary being and might as well become just an innate habit in later stages.
Demanding to groom
Cats are very conscious about self-grooming and the belly is one of the parts where they can’t groom themselves easily. Thus, they may turn on their backs in front of you and give you signals for grooming them on their belly.
Bathe belly in the sun
Cat love sunbathing and nothing can be more comforting for them to lay under the sun with belly exposed and the warmth reaching their favorite part of the body. Lying on the back helps them to absorb the warmth better and for every body part.
Simple preference
It is also entirely possible that your cat sleeps on back just because it prefers that position over any other. A lot of cats sleep that way just like that and it won’t be surprising if your cat belongs to one of those sleepy head breeds.
Dealing with cats sleeping on back
The key thing to remember about a cat sleeping or just lying on its back is that it is letting its most vulnerable belly be exposed during the process and this is a sort of dropping the weapons signal. Thus, nothing must mess with the cat in such a situation, be it you or any other pet.
Carefully observe the body language of the cat and only go-ahead for the belly rub or belly grooming after being fully assured that the cat is asking for it. If the cat is sleeping on its back, then it’s better not to disturb it and curb your desire to petting it for good. They trust you completely and if you try to do anything, they may take get offensive and you will be left with scratches and a disturbed relationship with your pet.
It would also be better to keep the space of your cat free, and clean so they can enjoy good naps more often and calmly. Take care to also groom them often with good brushes.
Conclusion
This was all about the cats sleeping on back and how you can pat on your back when they do so because that’s a sign of the good relationship the pet shares with the family. You just need to be attentive to the signals cats give to be able to take proper care of them.
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