Have you ever been amazed by this?You’ve just woken up from a deep sleep, and before you even have a chance to stretch, your cat seems to have some kind of radar installed. In the blink of an eye, it’s right by your side, either staring at you with eager eyes or jumping onto the bed and rubbing against you. So, what’s going on here? Keep reading to find out!
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Cats Use Their Sense of Smell to Perceive You
Cats have an extraordinary sense of smell and can detect a wide range of scents. When humans sleep, our bodies emit a different scent compared to when we’re awake. When we wake up, our metabolism and physiological state change, which also alters our scent. My cat is particularly skilled at using its nose to “sense” me. One time, I took a nap on the couch in the afternoon.When I woke up, I hadn’t even fully opened my eyes yet, but I could already feel my cat rubbing against me. It must have smelled the change in my scent, realizing that I was awake. Cats can also remember their owner’s scent, which allows them to accurately tell when their human has woken up.
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Cats Have Very Sensitive Hearing
Cats’ ears function like tiny, super-sensitive radar systems. When we sleep, our breathing and heartbeats are steady and emit very faint sounds. However, when we wake up—even if it’s just a slight movement, like turning over, stretching, or making a small noise—these subtle sounds are picked up by a cat’s ears. Every morning, when I wake up and stretch in bed, even just making a little noise, my orange tabby cat will come running from the living room, jump on the bed, and start circling around me, meowing loudly, almost as if saying, “Master, you’re awake! Come play with me!”
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Cats Follow Their Own Biological Clock and Routine
If you wake up around the same time every day, your cat will gradually adapt to this routine and develop its own internal clock. At the usual time, even if you haven’t fully woken up, your cat will be waiting by your side. A friend of mine wakes up promptly at 7 AM every day. His cat, by around 6:50 AM, will jump onto his bed, nuzzle his face with its head, and gently nudge him to wake up. It’s as if the cat has its own internal alarm clock, knowing when it’s time for its owner to wake up.
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Cats Are Watching You
When you’re asleep, your body posture and facial expressions are relaxed. As you begin to wake up, your body starts to move slightly, and your expressions change. Cats are excellent at noticing these subtle changes. My cat often sits beside my bed, observing me as I sleep. When it sees my eyelids flutter or notices the smallest movement, it immediately knows I’m about to wake up and will come closer.
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How Cats Know When You’re Faking Sleep
In addition to all of the above, cats can clearly hear your breathing and heartbeat. They’re sensitive to these sounds and can detect the slightest changes, such as the speed of your breath, to determine your state. When you fake sleep, you might intentionally slow down your breathing to avoid detection, but there’s still a subtle difference compared to your normal sleep pattern, which cats can easily pick up on. Additionally, cats are familiar with your body temperature and biological rhythms. When you sleep, they often snuggle close to you, so they’re attuned to your body temperature. When you wake up, your body’s metabolism changes, and your temperature shifts slightly. Cats can sense these changes and, combined with their knowledge of your usual waking routine, they can accurately tell whether you’re truly awake or just pretending.
Does your cat come to find you as soon as you wake up? Have you ever pretended to sleep, only to be “disturbed” by your cat?
