Cats' propensity for resting on their left side is deciphered by researchers
In a recent study published in the journal Current Biology, a team of international researchers have suggested that cats' preference for sleeping on their left side could be an evolutionary advantage [1]. The study, which analysed several hundred YouTube videos of sleeping cats, found that two-thirds of the videos showed cats in this position [2].
The researchers propose that this preference is due to the left side sleep position allowing a cat's left eye to remain unobstructed, feeding visual information directly to the right hemisphere of their brain [3]. This hemisphere specializes in rapid processing of threats and spatial awareness, providing cats with a quicker response to potential dangers upon waking [4].
Professor Güntürkün, one of the study's authors, explained that asymmetries in behaviour can have advantages because both hemispheres of the brain specialize in different tasks [5]. The right hemisphere of a cat's brain, for instance, is specialized in spatial awareness, threat processing, and movement coordination for escape.
The study's findings suggest that sleeping on the left side may be a survival strategy for cats, as they are particularly vulnerable while asleep in the wild [4]. By maximizing their ability to instantly perceive their surroundings and react immediately if needed, cats could potentially increase their chances of survival.
While other factors such as paw preference and pregnancy status may also influence a cat's sleeping side choice, the survival benefit from enhanced threat detection appears to be the primary driver behind this natural sleeping position preference [1][5].
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from Italy, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and Turkey, and only included videos where a cat was clearly visible and sleeping on one side for at least ten seconds [2]. Original videos were used, with modified or flipped clips excluded to ensure the accuracy of the findings.
So, the next time you see your cat snoozing contentedly on its left side, you might just be witnessing a fascinating example of evolution in action!
[1] Güntürkün, Onur, et al. "Lateralization of Sleeping Position in Domestic Cats." Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 16, 2021, pp. R935-R936. [2] Güntürkün, Onur, et al. "Lateralization of Sleeping Position in Domestic Cats." Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 16, 2021, pp. R935-R936. [3] Güntürkün, Onur, et al. "Lateralization of Sleeping Position in Domestic Cats." Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 16, 2021, pp. R935-R936. [4] Güntürkün, Onur, et al. "Lateralization of Sleeping Position in Domestic Cats." Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 16, 2021, pp. R935-R936. [5] Güntürkün, Onur, et al. "Lateralization of Sleeping Position in Domestic Cats." Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 16, 2021, pp. R935-R936.
Cats, often seen as pets in health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise routines, exhibit a peculiar behavior when they sleep – over two-thirds of them prefer lying on their left side [2]. This preference, suggested by a recent study, could be an evolutionary advantage, as it allows a cat's left eye to remain unobstructed, ensuring quicker threat detection upon waking [3]. In fact, this positioning might be a survival strategy for cats, making them more responsive to potential dangers in the wild [4].
This asymmetry in behavior, where the left side sleep position gives cats an edge in rapid processing of threats and spatial awareness, might be driven by the specialization of different tasks in each hemisphere of the brain [5].
Research on this topic was conducted by an international team of scientists from Italy, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and Turkey, focusing on videos of cats sleeping on one side for at least ten seconds to ensure accuracy [2].
So, the next time you observe your cat snoozing on its left side, you may witness a fascinating example of evolution in action!
