Cats, dogs, raccoons, chinchillas and even hamsters love to sleep, curling up in a funny little fur ball. Maybe in such a position there is some sacred meaning hidden from man, or is it just more convenient for animals?
In yoga, this posture is called the "fetal posture". Indeed, the embryos of mammals in the womb are in just such a position. That is why there is a theory that a person instinctively assumes the pose of an embryo when he wants to protect himself from the outside world and isolate himself from it, creating an insurmountable barrier around him. It is possible that animals also unconsciously curl up in a ball with the same purpose - they seek to protect themselves from the external environment.
Another reason for this situation is indeed protection. The animal instinctively covers the delicate tissues of the abdomen, unprotected by the ribs, exposing the spine and back bones outward. This position is historically the safest for all mammals. Even in a person whose body is very insignificantly protected from the point of view of evolution, there are much fewer sensory receptors on the back than on the stomach. In the event of a surprise attack, the sleeping animal will not be caught off guard, and none of its vital organs will be harmed.
The most important advantage of the "glomerular" position is the least heat transfer. A flattened animal actively loses heat from the surface of the body, but if you twist so as to minimize the evaporation area, you get exactly a ball. In addition, if all the limbs and the head are compactly folded, the optimum temperature is created inside, and it is much warmer and more comfortable to sleep.
So, the reason for the magical curling of cats, hamsters and rabbits is extremely simple - it's warmer, more comfortable and much safer. Of course, animals can sleep in other positions, but this is most likely due to the high ambient temperature. In extreme heat, no cat will curl up in a ball, as this will significantly increase her body temperature. However, some variations of "folding" can be observed in the summer. Dogs like to lie down with their backs against a doorway or wall so that most of their body is in contact with a hard surface. And cats sleep on their stomachs, bending their front paws under them.
