Why do cats stretch so much? There are plenty of reasons. For one thing, stretching is one of the many ways cats communicate. Since cats can’t talk to us, they use body language to communicate instead. Have you ever seen a cat arch her back? That means she’s feeling scared. Has a cat ever rubbed his head against you? He was showing affection! When cats stretch, they’re saying they feel comfortable and relaxed. If a cat stretches in front of you, it means you make him feel content!
Have you ever heard of a “catnap”? It’s what we call a short nap. The “cat” in catnap comes from the fact that cats take lots of short naps throughout the day instead of sleeping for several hours straight like people. The average cat sleeps between 12 and 16 hours a day in total! Have you ever seen a cat sleepwalk? Luckily, their brains stop that from happening. While cats sleep, their brain paralyzes most of their muscles to keep them from acting out their dreams. Their paws and legs might still shake or twitch, but they won’t pounce in their sleep!
When cats wake up, they need to get their muscles moving again. After being still for several minutes, their blood pressure drops, and their muscles become stiff. That’s where stretching comes in! When cats stretch, they improve blood flow and get their muscles ready to move. Stretching keeps cats ready to pounce on the next mouse or treat that comes their way! Since cats take so many short naps throughout the day and stretch after each nap, they spend a lot of time stretching!
Most other animals stretch, too. Dogs are so good at stretching that people name some yoga poses after them! A traveler in Antarctica would witness penguins stretching their fins out to each side. Have you ever dreamed of going on a safari? You might be lucky enough to see an elephant or zebra stretching out their legs. Just pay a visit to the local park to watch rabbits stretch before they hop!
There’s no need to let the animals have all the fun! Stretching is healthy for the human body, too. It increases flexibility and improves posture. Stretching is also great for stress relief!
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