The veterinarian warned about the danger of cats waking up abruptly when moving in their sleep.

A cat should not be woken up if it has twitching paws, whiskers or tail during sleep, because at this moment the animal is in the REM sleep phase — this can affect the animal's health. This was told by Andrey Rudenko, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at ROSBIOTECH University.

"A sudden awakening at such a moment can cause disorientation, stress, and even aggression in a cat, as it does not immediately realize where it is. In addition, the interruption of the REM phase disrupts the natural sleep cycle, which over time can lead to increased anxiety, deterioration of cognitive functions, and even decreased immunity," the specialist explained in an interview with the newspaper.Ru».

The veterinarian explained that in a dream, the animal processes impressions, as well as "replays" hunting scenarios. According to Rudenko, during this period the cat's brain works almost as intensively as when awake. With the exception of minor twitches, the cat's body is in a state of paralysis at this moment to prevent the physical reproduction of movement from sleep.

The expert explained that a sudden awakening can lead to disorientation, loss of coordination, or even panic. Sudden awakening is especially dangerous for elderly cats and animals with neurological disorders.

The veterinarian recommended waking the pet, if necessary, as gently as possible: call in a calm voice or gently touch, giving the cat time to gradually return to the waking state.

On November 12, Popular Science magazine explained cats' love of boxes. The article reported that this habit is due to the hunting, defensive and exploratory instincts of animals. It clarifies that even domestic cats remain both predators and potential prey. When hunting birds or insects, cats living on the street look for places where they can hide from prey or potential predators.

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