Hi there!
Thanks for getting in touch! The reason you may see overweight cats sleeping on their backs is simply because this relieves the pressure on their legs and back. It can be quite tiring and sometimes even painful to carry all that extra weight!
However, overweight cats aren’t the only ones who lay on their backs. Healthy cats do it too, and if you notice your cat doing this, you should feel honoured! The belly is an extremely vulnerable part of a cat’s body, and feeling confident enough to expose it in front of you means that they truly trust you and feel very comfortable in the environment they’re in!
Justine Seraphin, BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare
