This is a picture. Walking through your door after a long, tiring day at work. The house is quiet, but then you hear it in the distance: a sweet purr announcing your cat’s presence. They come around the corner, coming up to you and shouting their approval at your return. The sight is truly heartwarming, but why does your cat stretch every time they see you?
Read on to find five common reasons behind your cat’s stretching.
The 5 Common Reasons Cats Stretch When They See You
1. They’re Trying to Contact You
Perhaps the most likely reason your cat is stretching when they see you is because they are trying to communicate with you. This subtle form of communication allows your cat to announce their presence while also greeting you when you come home. This tells you that they are willing to interact with you and receive your attention.
Your cat may also stretch when they see you as a way of inviting you to play with them, so grab their favorite feather wand and do it!
2. They Need More Mobility
It’s certainly no secret that cats enjoy their naps; they spend up to 16 hours of their day sleeping, in fact. When you get home from work or run errands, you probably interrupt one of your cat’s many daily naps. When they come to greet you on their way home still sleepy, they’ll need to regain some muscle flexibility from their extended snoozefest. Stretching allows them to recirculate their blood and regain control of their bodies.
3. They Prepare to Play
You know that cats sometimes stretch to prepare their bodies for movement, but they may be doing this as a way to prepare themselves for play. Your cat may interpret your presence as an opportunity for play, so when he stretches when he sees you, it’s their way of adjusting his body and preparing his muscles for the play that’s about to take place. .
4. They Feel Secure Around You
When your cat makes a big stretch, they let their guard down, making them unprepared for incoming attacks and unable to escape on a dime if a predator shows up. So when your kitten stretches out in front of you to show, they are showing you how secure and comfortable they are in your presence.
5. They Mark Their Territory
Don’t let the pet cat’s small size fool you; they are very territorial creatures. Your cat has many ways of marking their territory. You’re probably familiar with some of the most common territorial behaviors, like head bunting, kneading, and face rubbing, but stretching is another technique cats use to mark objects (and people ) as their property. They have scent glands on their feet, so when they stretch, they leave their scent behind and establish their territory.
Why Are Cats So Flexible?
If you’ve ever watched your cat stretch, you’ve probably seen them contort themselves in strange, seemingly impossible ways. Cats sometimes twist their bodies in directions that shouldn’t be possible, due to the fact that they have spines. How did their backs bend into pretzel-esque shapes? It is actually the design of their spines (well, their vertebrae, more precisely) that gives them this flexibility.
The vertebrae of the cat are connected flexibly with an elastic cushioning disk between each. This limber spine allows them to perform the great acrobatic feats they are known for.
Additionally, their shoulder blades are attached to the rest of their body by muscles and not bones, allowing for unparalleled freedom of movement.
Final Thoughts
Cats perform many mysterious behaviors, including stretching. Stretching yourself is often a sign of openness to play, security in your presence, and a way to greet you when you get home after work. However, some cats may just be stretching in your direction as they wake up from a nap and are trying to get their blood flowing again, or it may be your pet’s way of marking their territory.
Featured Image Credit: svetkor, Shutterstock
