If you have a cat, there are probably many strange behaviors that you witness that leaves your scratching your head. Here at kittyexpert, we do our best to provide answers to all of the questions about your cat’s strange behaviors. In today’s article, we are going to discuss cat’s behavior when they sleep. In particular, we are going to explain why cats cover their eyes when they sleep. 

Why do cats cover their eyes when they sleep?

The main reason cats cover their eyes when they sleep is to block sunlight, keep warm, to groom, protect from flies, and comfort.

Block sunlight

The main reason a cat will cover their eyes when they sleep is to block out light. Cat’s have very sensitive eyes, and just like humans it can be hard for them to fall asleep when there is a bright light in their vicinity. Therefore, by covering their eyes they can easily block out the excess light and fall asleep. Essentially, your cat is using their paws as their personal sunglasses. 

Keep warm

You are probably well aware that cats must keep a high body temperature. For instance, a newborn kitten must maintain a temperature between 100 – 102 degrees Fahrenheit in order to survive. The first body parts to get cold in cats are their nose and their ears. While the ears might be out of reach for some cats, just about all cats are flexible enough to cover their nose with both their paws. This helps keep the nose warm, and in turn helps regulate the cat’s body temperature while they are sleeping. 

If you are worried that your cat isn’t warm enough, you should check out this heated cat blanket.

Grooming

If you own a cat, then you know they are constantly grooming themselves. Grooming is important not only for staying clean, but also to distribute their natural oils and scent throughout their body. A cat’s face is the main focus of grooming, as the face is the body part that spreads the cat’s scent the most. While it might sound crazy, it is fairly common for a cat to fall asleep while they are grooming themselves. This results in the cat falling asleep with their paws covering their eyes. 

Check out my article on the 5 Best Cat Grooming Tools.

Protect from flies

Just like any other animal, cat’s absolutely hate when flies or mosquitoes fly near them. As the face is a very sensitive part of the cat’s body, they are always trying to protect it from these pests. Therefore, even when they are sleeping, cats will cover their eyes in order to protect their face from fleas. 

Comfort

You have probably noticed that your cat loves to take naps. In fact, most cats will sleep for an average of 15 hours per day. Since this occupies more than half of their time, it is important for them to be in a comfortable position when they sleep. Naturally, a cat feels more comfortable when they have their face covered. This doesn’t have to be with their paws, as they will also stick their heads under blankets or furniture while sleeping. This is similar to human’s natural preference to sleep with a blanket covering our body, even if we are not cold. It just makes us feel more comfortable and secure. 

Should I be worried if my cat is covering their eyes when they sleep?

As you read above, it is very natural and common for cats to cover their eyes when they sleep. Therefore, there is no reason to worry if your cat is displaying this behavior. The only time you should be worried is if your cat is constantly covering their face while they are awake. Particularly, you should be concerned if they are scratching or picking at something on their face. It is important to distinguish this behavior from natural grooming, which involves more licking and soft rubbing.

A cat that is aggressively scratching their face most likely has either dry skin or a flea infestation. Both of these are relatively serious problems that you should try to treat as soon as possible. You should closely observe your cat’s face to see if you notice any inflammation or scabs. If you do, then you should take your cat to the vet. Your vet will most likely prescribe medication to treat the dry skin or allergies, and may put your cat on a medication if they have fleas.