Why Does Your Cat Yawn So Much?

It’s adorable when your cuddly kitty curls up and gives a big yawn, notifying the world of their utter contentment with life. After all, what can feel better than a great big relaxing huff or a refreshing burst of oxygen to the brain?

Cats have body language that’s all their own, and everything from shaking their heads to keeping one eye closed has a purpose in their lives. Whether that purpose is to communicate, self-soothe, or something more mysterious, it is for them to know and for us to try and figure out. 

So let’s dig into the question, “why do cats yawn” and deconstruct this behavior to better understand your kitty companions.  

What Does it Mean When Cats Yawn? 7 Reasons

There are a variety of reasons for your kitty to get the yawns. It probably has you wondering, what does a cat yawn mean? Here are some of the most common reasons for cat yawns. 

1. They’re Just Waking Up

When your cat wakes up, they commonly make a big stretch and accompany it with a nice big yawn. It’s one way to gather a lot of oxygen in one go, helping the brain to wake up fully after a snoozing session. 

Yawning aids by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the head, waking the brain up and helping your kitty achieve alertness. If your cat sleeps a lot, they’ll probably yawn a lot, too. 

2. They’re Relaxed

Contented kitties are more likely to yawn. If they’re well taken care of by their humans with plenty of cat-friendly spaces, tasty treats, and are lovingly doted upon with attention, they’ll feel more relaxed. 

So if you catch your cat yawning during a cuddle with you or they halt their playtime to take in a big gulp of air a couple of times, they’re likely feeling super relaxed. 

Image by Luis Wilker Wilkernet from Pixabay

3. Or They’re Trying To Relax

You know that lovely feeling after a good yawn when your whole body relaxes and you slump a little on the exhale? Accompany that with a big stretch, and it feels just so magical. 

Cats can yawn to try and help themselves relax and get in the sleepy spirit if they’re preparing for a nap. Getting those tight muscles nice and loose and feeling that pleasantly tired slump is the perfect way to prepare for a cat nap.

4. They’re Bored

On the flip side, if your cat doesn’t have enough toys to play with or simply feels unengaged with their environment, they may start yawning out of boredom. If you notice your cat yawning a lot and suspect this might be the reason, it’s time to up the ante with a few new toys or a boredom-busting enriching lickimat. 

You can also try to get more interactive with them with some playtime. Whether you use a cat laser in the living room or take them outside for a walk on a harness to change their environment, either will help them feel less bored.  

5. Attention-Seeking

A needy cat can be a noisy cat, as many kitty connoisseurs will know. Whether they want pets or food, they may start meowing at you to get it. You might see them start yawning too and wonder, “why is my cat yawning at me?” but it can be for the same reason. 

They may simply ask for something and demonstrate behavior that’ll get your attention to get what they want.  

6. It’s a Behavioral Cause

If you own multiple types of pets, you might know that dogs often yawn from fear or anxiety. This doesn’t seem to be the case with cats, though, so at least you can rest assured your fluffball isn’t trying to tell you they’re stressed. 

That being said, a cat’s yawning can mean that they’re feeling conflicted about something. If they’re yawning in the vicinity of other strange cats, it may be their way of trying to show that they’re not a threat. 

Image by Helmut Sternwies from Pixabay

7. There’s a Medical Reason

Although yawning is a natural motion and can signify your cat’s mood, it can also indicate a few medical problems. If you find your cat yawning a lot, it might be that they are experiencing something uncomfortable in their mouth. This can be anything from a cut to a sore tooth or something more severe like oral ulcers or resorptive lesions. 

If the cause isn’t oral, it might relate to another underlying issue. Cats that yawn from medical issues tend to exhibit other symptoms as well, such as vocalizing from pain when they yawn. If you notice they also have difficulty eating, are drooling excessively, or rubbing at their face, it’s definitely time for the vet.

Are Yawns Contagious to Cats?

Dogs have been known to yawn in a contagious fashion after seeing their humans and fellow floofs do it. 

Even lions, which are some of the bigger cat species, are known to experience contagious yawning within their pack. This is thought to encourage pack cohesion and synchronization of movement. 

There is no evidence, though, that a cat can catch a yawn from either a fellow kitty or their human owner. One theory about why this is is that cats are generally solitary animals rather than pack animals. 

They’re independent and don’t have the same instinctual social urges to spread a yawn around the room. Contagious yawning is intrinsic in empathy and strong social bonds between animals, so if your cat considers itself a lone wolf, there’s less reason for it to copy a yawn. 

Another theory regarding why dogs give in to this behavior when cats don’t seem to is predicated on the fact that dogs have been domesticated longer. The science is still up for debate and studies continue with regard to this topic, though, so look forward to new discoveries. 

Why Does My Cat Yawn So Much?

The occasional yawn here and there is nothing to be concerned about. But if your cat keeps yawning frequently, you might need to bundle them into their crate and head to the vet for a check-up. This is especially important if other symptoms accompany excessive yawning, such as changes in breathing, panting, or labored breathing. 

Image by Andrew from Pixabay

Bear in mind that if you wonder, “why does my cat keep yawning?” the reason may be situational. For example, you might often find them yawning if you’re on a long car ride with your kitty. They’re not bored, though — they might be a bit carsick, and yawning helps make their nausea feel a little better.  

Image by Jonathan Sautter from Pixabay

Wrap-Up on Why Do Cats Yawn

So there you have it — a comprehensive guide to cat yawn meanings and how you can utilize this information to understand your beloved pet just that much more. 

More often than not, yawning is a benign sign of boredom or utter relaxation, but it can sometimes signify a health problem. So it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your kitty to check they’re not yawning excessively. 

At this point, you might be getting really interested in common cat behaviors and what they mean. In that case, look at this post about why cats arch their backs.