Do Cats' Sleeping Positions Reflect Their Emotional State: A comparison between Theory and Survey Results

Abstract: This study aims to explore whether cats’ sleeping positions can reflect their emotional states as perceived by their owners. Based on feline body language theory, body posture and resting positions may indicate emotional conditions such as relaxation, alertness, or stress. A total of 200 responses were collected via Google Forms, asking cat owners about their cats’ most common sleeping positions and the emotional states associated with each position. Results revealed that the majority of cats were most often observed sleeping curled up (26.8%) or lying on their sides (20.3%). When in a side-lying position, 53.6% of respondents reported that their cats appeared relaxed and happy, while 39.1% described them as calm. In contrast, the loaf and curled positions were more often linked to alertness or mild anxiety. The stretched or belly-up positions, however, were most associated with contentment and trust (over 75%). These findings suggest that while sleeping positions may reflect a cat’s general comfort level, they cannot serve as a precise indicator of emotion without considering environmental and individual factors. This study highlights the importance of understanding feline body language and can be further developed to support behavioral research and veterinary practice. Keywords: Cats, Sleeping Positions, Emotional State, Feline Body Language, Owner Perception. Title: Do Cats’ Sleeping Positions Reflect Their Emotional State: A comparison between Theory and Survey Results Author: Chanida Phakawatpongsatorn International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 4, October 2025 - December 2025 Page No: 302-307 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 04-November-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17520603 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/do-cats-sleeping-positions-reflect-their-emotional-state-a-comparison-between-theory-and-survey-results