Why Does My Cat Crouch?

It is common for cats to naturally assume the crouch position. Crouching is a normal part of feline behavior. Cats crouch for a number of reasons, such as when they are preparing to pounce, resting, hiding or indicating submission to another cat. Many cats will spend much of their time crouching for one reason or another. There is no reason to be alarmed if your cat seems constantly to be crouching.

  1. Pouncing

    • When a cat is in a playful mood, she will crouch low to the ground and move her tail back and forth. The tail's movement is a good indicator of the cat's motive for crouching. If her behind is also wiggling back and forth slightly, she is definitely preparing for a pounce attack on nearby prey or a toy.

    Resting

    • A crouching position is a one of a cat's default resting positions. Cats sleep for about 18 hours a day, so it is normal for them to crouch and be quiet sometimes. If the cat's tail is relaxed and wrapped around her side, and her eyes are squinting or blinking slowly, she is resting.

    Hiding

    • Crouching is a good way for cats to become smaller and hide themselves. If the cat is in a new environment or there are more people around than she is used to, she may be crouching to try to remain out of sight. She will probably crouch in a corner or under a bed if she's scared, and her ears will pricked forward, so as to better hear approaching predators.

    Indicating Submission

    • When a cat is sharing a space with another cat, one will sometimes submit to the dominance of the other. The cats don't necessarily fight to decide which one is dominant and which is submissive. The submissive cat may crouch to avoid a fight with the other cat. A submissive cat will crouch with her tail under her body and will press her ears flat to her head.