Feline Body Language: Why Cats Stretch So Much

Just like humans, cats use body language to communicate. Ever wonder why your feline friend is always stretching?

According to PETA, your cat sends messages by stretching. However, the act of stretching may be interpreted differently depending on the situation.

Stretching to show affection

Cat Behavior Associates says stretching is a vulnerable posture for cats. This kind of behavior shows a cat feels comfortable with you.

"For a cat to leave his limbs and tail totally exposed means he feels very secure near you," the article reads. Most of the time, this kind of stretch is exhibited whenever the cat is greeting his owner. The "belly-up" position means there is total trust towards the person he is interacting with.

Stretching to drive away predators or attack when needed

Stretching is also a fundamental tactic for defending themselves from their possible predators and for hunting their prey.

Stretching elongates the muscle fibers to their fullest extent, says Waysofcats.com. This preserves and enhances their ability to attack if needed. In addition, their ability to remain immobile for hours prepares their body to explode into action anytime. So, yes, just when you think all cats are lazy, think again. According to PETA, "Such stretches mean, 'I'm so in control here, I can relax.' The show of teeth that accompanies yawning can mean, 'See these? Pretty big, eh! So don't try to take advantage.'"

Stretching to relax

As mentioned, cats can remain immobile for hours. In fact, cats commonly sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day - more than most mammals and up to twice as much as humans, Huffington Post reports. Therefore, just like humans, cats need to stimulate blood circulation in their body as soon as they get out of their stationary state. Andrew Cuff, a postdoctoral researcher of anatomy at the Royal Veterinary College in London told Live Science that cats stretch simply because "it feels good and increases blood flow."

Other behaviors that feline owners should be aware of include cheek rubbing that indicates friendliness, purring as a sign of distraught or happiness, upright tail flicks which indicate excitement and wagging tails as a sign of indecisiveness.

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