Why Cats Cover Their Faces While Sleeping

1 Overview

1. Blocking the Sun

Cats like warmth and love sunbathing. Especially in winter they like to sleep where there is sunlight. But sunlight irritates cat eyes, so to sleep well while enjoying the sun, cats ‘cover their faces’ to sleep better. So when a cat is sleeping and the light is too strong, draw the curtain a bit, or you will blind the cat’s eyes.

2. Lack of Security

Cats are creatures that need a strong sense of security, even when sleeping. Covering the face lets a cat visually feel the security of being alone in a narrow space. So many cats get used to protecting their head, face and other important parts with a paw, or a quilt or blanket, as they fall asleep. Covering the face with both paws makes them feel safer.

3. Cleaning Behavior

Cats usually spend 15%~50% of their awake time grooming. Repeatedly arranging their fur takes a lot of energy; when grooming meets sleepiness, the result is falling asleep mid-clean.

4. The Nose Needs a Paw to Stay Warm

For a cat, curling into a ball is the posture most helpful for keeping body temperature. But the nose is exposed; what to do? When they feel cold, they cover the face with a paw or tail to keep the nose warm.

5. Comfortable Sleep

Cats also have favorite sleeping postures. They may like covering the face with a paw simply because it is comfortable. So next time you see a cat covering its face, don’t force its paws open; it really will not suffocate – this is just its most comfortable sleep posture.

Cats are nocturnal; they sleep most of the day. We must protect their eyes and let them sleep well, so they have energy to play with you. If light and volume suddenly change, cats cover their faces and sometimes their ears. Only when sleeping comfortably do they stretch out and lower their instinctive guarding while asleep.