Anna Hartz
Cats Have a Favorite Sleeping Side—and It Could Save Their Lives
Many cat owners have wondered why their pets like to curl up in the same position over and over.
It turns out there may be a deeper reason behind this habit. A team of scientists decided to look into how cats choose their sleeping positions and what that might mean for their safety, writes WP.
408 YouTube Videos
Researchers from several universities, including the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy and Ruhr University Bochum in Germany, wanted to understand if cats show a preference for sleeping on one side.
They analyzed 408 YouTube videos showing cats in different stages of sleep. After collecting and studying the data, they found that most cats, about two-thirds, tend to lie on their left side when they sleep.
Cats spend a large part of their lives resting. They often sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day.
When they do, they prefer safe spots, like high shelves or quiet corners, where they feel secure from threats.
Survival Instinct
The scientists think that sleeping on the left side may help cats react more quickly if something startles them awake.
When a cat lies on its left side, its left eye faces out into the room. The signals from that eye travel to the right side of the brain.
The right hemisphere plays a key role in spotting danger, judging distances, and planning a fast escape. This setup could give cats an edge if a predator or some other threat appears.
The researchers believe this habit is part of a survival strategy. They wrote that using one side of the body more often helps the brain get better at certain tasks.
Over time, this makes cats faster and more accurate in their responses.
By dividing work between the two sides of the brain, cats avoid extra mental effort and keep their reactions sharp.
The study concluded that this preference for sleeping on the left side is probably no accident. It gives cats a better chance of noticing danger and escaping in time.
This small detail is another reminder of how nature shapes even the simplest habits.
