Why do dogs and cats, before they sleep, turn in a circle around themselves and then end up sleeping in a circular shape like this picture! Why?

If you own dogs or cats, you've likely noticed a peculiar behavior: before they sleep, they spin in circles before settling into a circular sleeping position. Why do they do this? Are they crazy? The answer lies in their DNA and the genes they inherited from their ancestors.

Why Do Cats and Dogs Spin Before Sleeping?

Before cats and dogs were domesticated, they were wild predators that relied on hunting and escaping stronger animals. Cats, in particular, are top-notch hunters, expertly designed for highly efficient hunting that surpasses the abilities of dogs and other animals.

Wild cat ancestors were exposed to various dangers, especially since they were small animals. Therefore, they developed skills and behaviors to protect themselves, and among these behaviors is spinning in circles before sleeping.

Imagine yourself as a cat that has finished hunting, eaten and drunk, and found a shady place to sleep. How will you secure yourself? You will take a comprehensive 360-degree look around to check for hidden creatures or enemies waiting. Once reassured, you will choose a place to sleep.

Cats and dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell. Therefore, they choose a place where the wind or air is blowing towards them, so that if a predator approaches from afar, the wind will carry its scent to them, and they will wake up and hide or run away. If they slept with their faces against the wind, they would only smell their own behinds!

Sleeping in a circular position gives them the ability to see a wider environment than 180 degrees, and speeds up their escape in case of danger. These behaviors are inherited from their ancestors and have been passed down from generation to generation through DNA. But in our homes, there is no danger threatening them, unless you are the one who bothers them while they are sleeping!

As for dogs, they often spin before sleeping to level the ground they will sleep on. This behavior is also inherited from their ancestors who slept in forests, far from the flat ground we see today. For this reason, you may find some cats tapping their claws on your clothes or body before sleeping; they are preparing the ground as they used to do in the past.

Note: When rabbits give birth, they do the same thing, covering their young. This behavior is inherited from their ancestors who lived in burrows. Similarly, when cats defecate in your bathroom, they try to bury their waste, even though they have never seen sand or soil, but they have inherited this habit from their ancestors who covered their waste to avoid revealing their locations.

Summary:

• The spinning of cats and dogs before sleep is a behavior inherited from their wild ancestors.
• This behavior helps secure a safe sleeping environment by checking the surroundings.
• This behavior depends on the sense of smell and choosing the wind direction.
• A circular sleeping position gives them better visibility and faster escape.

In conclusion, these behaviors seem strange to us, but they are actually natural instincts inherited over thousands of years. Understanding these instincts increases our appreciation for these wonderful animals and improves our relationship with them. You can search for more information about cats or dogs to learn more about their amazing behaviors.