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Do Cats Dream?
And if so, what do cats dream about?
Most veterinarians and people who study animals believe that, yes, cats do dream. This belief is based on the fact that cats experience REM(rapid eye movement) when sleeping. When humans experience REM they are in a dream state.
This begs the question, however, what do cats dream about? No one knows for sure, but here are some possible answers:
- Cats dream about stealing food from their human roommates, from other cats, and especially from clueless dogs.
- Cats dream about flying and being able to catch those irritating little birds they watch so enviously from their indoor window seats.
- Cats dream of living in a house where they can scratch and tear every couch, rug, tablecloth, and bedspread, and of course every toilet paper roll, without being scolded.
- Cats dream of a world in which they are recognized as fierce and powerful predators and not as cute, fluffy little playthings.
- Cats dream about having opposable thumbs that make opening cans of tuna, unlocking doors, and escaping from cat carriers a cinch.
- Cats dream about catnip used regularly as air freshener and grown on every available surface.
All cat experts agree that whatever it is cats dream about, we should leave them to their dreams and not interrupt them when they appear to be twitching their whiskers, flicking their tails, or making small vocalizations in their sleep. Think of how annoyed we feel when a jangling alarm clock shakes us out of our dreams. So, let’s leave our cats alone with their dreams, even if they are dreaming of world domination!
