Cat Loaf is a term used to describe the appearance of a cat who is sat with all four legs and its tail tucked in, they look very similar in both shape and size to a loaf of bread.
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What Does The Cat Loaf Position Mean?
Loafing is a very comfortable position for a cat, yet it is also a position which they can quickly spring out of if they feel under threat.
Loafing cats aren’t completely at ease like a cat lying on their back is however the position isn’t one which they would adopt if they were feeling anxious.
The cat loaf position can mean a number of different things but generally it means that your cat is keeping themselves warm and comfortable while allowing themselves to observe their surroundings.
If your cat is loafing you rarely need to worry, it is a normal cat behaviour.
Types Of Cat Loaves
There are many different types of cat loaves, below are 15 different variations:
- White bread loaf
- Brown bread loaf
- Burnt bread loaf
- Multigrain bread loaf
- Seeded bread loaf
- Gluten-free bread loaf
- Banana bread loaf
- Cinnamon bread loaf
- Soda bread loaf
- Rye bread loaf
- Brioche bread loaf
- Baguette
- Chocolate bread loaf
- Moldy bread loaf
- Potato bread loaf
Cat Loaf Memes
There are a number of different cat loaf related memes that have risen to prominence over the years however it is believed that the first meme popularising the cat loaf originated from an illustration seen in a Japanese children’s book which was then turned into a GIF:
The cat loaf meme then exploded in popularity on the English-speaking web when YTMND posted this on their website in 2005.
The cat loaf has since been a long-enduring meme that has spawned many memorable memes over the years, including ones such as these:
Cat Loaf Gallery
A huge movement has been spawned around the cat loaf, with over 700,000 members in the Reddit /r/catloaf community where images like these are shared across the globe on a daily basis:
Cat Loaf From Underneath
Anyone who has ever had a cat will have seen plenty of cat loaves over the years.
However, not everyone has seen a cat loaf from underneath, this much-coveted view of the famed cat loaf can only be seen by the lucky few who possess a glass table.
Thankfully numerous people who have witnessed the beauty of a cat loaf from underneath have been kind enough to upload photos, below are a few examples:
Why Do Cats Loaf?
There are numerous reasons why a cat may loaf, the most common reasons are:
1. To Keep Warm
A cat’s ideal body temperature is 38.6 degrees C (101.5 degrees Fahrenheit), significantly higher than ours.
The ancestors of the domestic cat lived in deserts which is why cats love heat and are much more comfortable in the summer months.
If there’s a patch of sun to sit in, a warm radiator, a well-insulated box or an inviting warm lap to snuggle up on you can be sure your cat will find it and make the most of it!
Loafing helps them maintain their core body temperature.
By tucking their feet and tail in under their body their extremities become well insulated so little heat is lost.
Maintaining their high core body temperature requires quite a bit of energy, especially in the winter months, so loafing around is the perfect way for them to keep warm and conserve energy.
2. It’s Comfortable
Cat’s love comfort almost as much as they love warmth. Curling up comfortably on something nice and soft is what cat’s love to do.
However, if they can’t find something particularly soft to rest on they can always loaf instead.
Cat’s skeletal structure work in a way that means that folding their arms, legs and tail in beneath their body is a very comfortable and natural thing to do.
It probably feels similar to them as folding our arms does to us – it’s comfortable and keeps us a bit warmer.
3. It Allows Them To Be Aware Of Their Surroundings
If your cat is in the cat loaf position it is fair to say they are fairly relaxed.
However don’t be fooled, in the loaf position their head is still up and they are well aware of everything that is going on around them.
If something suddenly happens they will easily be able to spring up out of the cat loaf position immediately and get out of there in seconds if they need to.
It’s not like sitting cross-legged is for us (a bit difficult, slow and fiddly once you pass a certain age!)
4. They May Have An Injured Paw
If your cat is not usually a loafer and they suddenly start loafing then this may indicate that they have hurt one of their front paws in some way.
Unlike sitting upright, loafing allows them to take the weight off their front paws.
It also means that their head is very close to their paws if they have a wound to lick.
Another reason why a cat sits in a loaf if they have an injured paw is to hide the injury.
When they tuck their paws underneath their body it is inaccessible and unseen by other cats or potential predators that your cat may be wary of.
Typical cat paw injuries include things like:
- A cracked paw pad
- Ingrowing claws
- A scratch
Don’t pull your cats paw out from underneath them to inspect their claw.
A cat will not thank you for disturbing them from loafing…and if their paw is injured then they may react aggressively.
Wait for them to get up and then have a close look at their paws and the way they walk to see if there is any indication of an injury or any limping.
5. ..Just Because!
Cats like humans don’t always have a reason for everything they do, sometimes they just loaf because they have nothing else to do, sometimes they’re probably not even aware of the fact that they are loafing.
Your cat’s behaviour doesn’t always directly correlate to them feeling something.
If you notice that your cats loaf more often than usual you don’t have to worry that they are feeling cold, uncomfortable, on edge or they have an injured paw…chances are everything in their life is absolutely fine and they just want to sit in a loaf for a bit!
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