Is this how cats know you're awake?

[jusjim]

I'm sure many of you know it's almost impossible to fool a cat into believing you're asleep. In the early hours of this morning (around 3am) it came to me how they know you're awake. I think it's because your breathing changes and they hear that. It could be that similar changes in the way you behave can lead them to know you're unwell.

[spirite]

That could be. But my cats rarely sleep in my room with me anymore, so I don't think that would be the case for me. They do seem to sense when I'm about to wake up though, so I must make some sort of noise - either a movement or sigh, maybe?

[fizzletto]

Hmm, is that so? I often pretend to be asleep and it results in Minka leaving me alone.

Either she is extremely foolish or she's extremely clever and leaves me alone because she realises that I must not want to be bothered if I'm pretending to sleep.

[gosha]

I always wondered that too, I don't let my cat in my room for various reasons, but the moment i start waking up, still laying in the bed, he starts meowing and scratching the door and wont stop until i come out and it's not for food, he almost always has food in there but he just wants to be petted and lick my hair lol. Ugh, especially annoying on weekends when you wanna be lazy for another hour

[Mom of 4]

You stop snoring. Duh!

[dweamgoil]

My cats don't sleep with me except for 1, but she knows when it's time to get up and when it's time to let me sleep.

[Penguin_Dreams]

Completely based on absolutely nothing, my own thought is that people smell different when they sleep. I've woken up numerous times to find my girl standing by, ready to start sniffing my eyes. (As far as I can tell, she waits until I'm awake, but then again, how would I know if I'm asleep?) Cats have a gland there that secrets a pheromone, maybe humans do too and cats can detect it and maybe it smells different during sleep phases.

[MmeHibou]

People also move differently as they cycle through the phases of sleep. Cats have such sensitive hearing, so I imagine that if they're near your bedroom, they know that you're nearing the end of your cycles. I mean, I can tell that my boyfriend is getting ready to wake up in an hour or so because he's stirring more often. I can even tell it from outside the room because the mattress is squeaky. Also, most people keep fairly predictable schedules, and cats seem to love their routines. Those are just my guesses, though.

[binkyhoo]

Originally Posted by Mom of 4

You stop snoring. Duh!

Thats It!

[Straysmommy]

Originally Posted by MmeHibou

I can tell that my boyfriend is getting ready to wake up in an hour or so because he's stirring more often. I can even tell it from outside the room because the mattress is squeaky.

He's just pretending to be asleep so you won't come running.

My cats don't try to wake me up, except Prince when I've slept for 10 hours.