Have you ever wondered the reason why cats cover their beautiful face with their paws when they sleep? Although some owners may find this odd behavior peculiar, the reasons are actually quite simple and silly.
To understand why our feline friends do this, we first need to take a look at the physiological process of sleep in both cats and humans. Here are 8 silly reasons why cats cover their face when they sleep!
Why Do Cats Cover Their Face When They Sleep?
Cats cover their faces when they sleep for a variety of reasons. They may be doing it to protect their face from the elements or from other animals, but it’s also possible that they’re just doing it to stay warm.
Some scientists have suggested that cats cover their faces as a way to avoid being seen by predators, and still, others think it’s simply a comfort thing.
6 Reasons Why Cats Cover Their Face When They Sleep
1. Self-Heating
While they may be appealing on cold days, those self-heating cat beds and cat pillows aren’t just fun and effective-they can actually be dangerous.
A major concern is that many cats sleep with their faces covered. If a cat who normally sleeps like that starts using a self-heating bed or pillow, she could end up burning her face when it heats up.
Also, if your pet gets too comfortable in a heated bed and doesn’t want to leave it, he might get overheated during an otherwise normal day.
Instead of buying one of these products for your cat, try placing his favorite blanket or comfy spot in an area where heat can build up from either a heater or fireplace nearby.
2. Dehydration
Like many mammals, cats often become prone to dehydration. They are known to have low levels of saliva and tears, which makes them more susceptible to dryness in their eyes and mouth.
In addition, cats have a small opening between their larynx and trachea (the tube connecting the throat and lungs), which can cause even small amounts of fluid loss to become life-threatening.
For these reasons, it’s important that you regularly check your cat for signs of dehydration, like excessive licking or watery eyes. If you feel your pets have dehydration Issues, take them to see a veterinarian right away!
3. Allergies
Cats are prone to viral infections and allergies like humans do.
It might be something in their environment or an item that’s not normally there, but allergies are possible and if your cat has them, they will cover their face to keep from sneezing or coughing, so they don’t wake up.
Some cats even sneeze when they sleep!
That’s why many cats cover their face – you may see your kitty with a paw over his nose or eyes. This is completely normal and shows that it may be due to allergies!
So before you think your cat is being silly, make sure to check for allergens like pollen or dust, as well as environmental irritants like perfumes and cleaning products!
4. Mischievousness
Every cat is a tiny feline; every human is a hulking giant. So when your little furball decides to hit you with his paws while you’re trying to sleep or just looking at him, it might not be because he’s trying to do what’s best for you. It could be that he’s just being mischievous and likes getting a rise out of you.
If your kitty’s not typically aggressive (or he never hits with claws), it may not mean anything other than that he needs more attention from you! Yes, cats have ridiculous priorities sometimes.
5. Body Language – Showing They’re Relaxed
What’s so silly about covering your face when you sleep? Well, it’s not very often that you see a person with their eyes closed who is also wide awake. But that doesn’t seem to bother cats one bit, who sleep anywhere from 18 to 20 hours a day.
It turns out that their cute little quirks aren’t just for show-the cat-like mannerisms we observe in our pets may have some scientific backing behind them.
According to the Prairie Lane Veterinary Hospital Family, when cats cover their faces while they snooze, they’re actually displaying something called relaxed body language.
In other words, if you see a kitty napping with her paws over her nose or mouth or cuddled up into a little ball on her side with all four paws wrapped around her head and face like she’s got an itch there she can’t scratch (even though she probably doesn’t), don’t be alarmed.
Those are all signs that she’s feeling totally relaxed and comfortable at the moment.
6. It Can Be Part of the Dream
If your cat is covering its face while sleeping, it could be trying to work through some important dream-thoughts. While sleeping, cats get into REM (rapid eye movement) sleep-the time when they’re most likely to have dreams.
Some people theorize that if a cat feels vulnerable during its REM sleep, it will cover up so that nothing can catch or harm it in its dreams.
That seems like a stretch, but you might as well know why your kitty is doing what it does. The theory also explains why cats are more inclined to cover their faces during kittenhood: Young kitties are more susceptible to danger than adults because they haven’t developed all of their survival skills yet.
Final Thoughts!
If I may ask, why do cats cover their face when they sleep? Well, it’s tough to pinpoint exactly why cats cover their faces when they sleep since we can’t read our furry friends’ minds. However, there are several possible explanations.
In many cases, it could be a form of heat regulation, as cats rely on their whiskers and paws to regulate body temperature (they can’t sweat).
However, it could also be a cat’s way of protecting himself from predators. For example, Felis Silvestris Lybica-the African wildcat and ancestor of domestic felines-has its ears set high so that attackers may bite them rather than an organ vital for survival like a neck or face.
It is possible that domestic cats inherited that same protective mechanism and still use it today when they’re trying to catch some Zs.
Welcome To The Oxford Family! The Website Is Run And Managed By A Community Of Enthusiasts Informative About Pets. We Hope You Find It Useful.
