The 'Acrobat' Cat Sleeping Position Looks Painful But Isn't

You might happen upon your cat sleeping in a peculiar position — legs pointing in one direction while twisting with their front paws in the other. Known as the "acrobat," "pretzel," or "contortionist," it may seem like this configuration could not possibly be comfortable. However, it's not painful for your cat.  

Cats enjoy incredible flexibility. The discs in their spine are elastic, which lets them twist and turn into odd shapes without causing them any discomfort. In addition, felines have free-floating shoulder blades. Unlike humans, their shoulder blades attach to muscle rather than against the bone, allowing them to easily squeeze through tight spaces and twist into interesting sleeping positions.

Felines sleep more as they age, so staying limber by dozing in an odd position may help. Napping stretched out has a few potential benefits for cats, too, including keeping their muscles from getting too sore and encouraging circulation.

Speaking to Business Insider, Russell Hartstein, a pet behaviorist and founder of Fun Paw Care, remarked on the extreme flexibility of felines, "Cats like stretching and keeping limber, and their physiology lends to flexibility and different comfort positions." Thus, the 'acrobat' position may look terrifying to humans, but it could actually help your cat stretch and, by extension, keep them healthy.

However, if you notice your cat sleeping in a strange place, it can be a sign of sickness. Snoozing in contorted configurations could also be your cat's way of avoiding putting weight on an aching limb or section of their body. Watching out for other signs, such as acting stiff or in pain while awake, can alert you to this. Changes in sleeping habits, such as suddenly sleeping too little or too much, can also indicate an underlying health issue such as thyroid disease.

Luckily, most cases of felines sleeping in seemingly unusual positions are perfectly normal — and good for your pet. The best cat beds for every type of sleeper can assist in keeping them comfy.