Cat with its Eyes Closed

Cats shut their eyes when they feel safe, relaxed, and happy. You’ll find your cat shuts one or both eyes when sleeping, grooming, kissed, eating food, being petted, and you look at them. However, closed eyes can signify a medical issue, such as a respiratory problem, infection, or eye damage.

If you want to know the most common reasons cats shut their eyes and make more sense of this feline behavior, our in-depth guide contains everything you need to know. Cats sleep for 12-16 hours, and they fall asleep fast. As cats are crepuscular (most active between dawn and dusk), they sleep during the day to conserve energy in readiness for prowling and hunting. Cats close their eyes when sleeping because it provides the darkness they need to sleep. Some cats hide under beds to find dark conditions, but cats that enjoy being around their owners will cover their eyes with their legs to benefit from the companionship and safety.

Cats go through two main stages of sleep. The first is rapid eye movement (REM). According to the US National Library of Medicine, rapid-eye movements are accompanied by muscle tone loss, muscle twitches, and wake-like cortical activity.

During this stage of sleep, a cat’s brain mirrors its activity when awake. However, it’s also when cats are most likely to dream. As a result, cats close their eyes during this stage because their muscles are too relaxed to stay open. The second sleep stage is non-REM (NREM). This is a cat’s deepest stage of sleep, allowing it to repair and rebuild its body after a night of roaming and hunting.

Cats in NREM are vulnerable as this is when predators are most likely to attack. Cats will tuck themselves into a secure hiding spot as finding cover allows them to stay safe and sleep without fear.