Why do cats roll their eyes when they sleep?

Closing eyes and sleeping is a natural reaction of cats when they are resting.

But…some cats sleep with their eyes open…

Some even roll their eyes…

This makes the already not very smart look even more stupid…

A little creepy sometimes…

Why is this? Is the cat asleep or awake at this moment?

Why do cats roll their eyes when they sleep?

Actually, cats’ eye rolls are different from how we humans roll our eyes. When people roll their eyes in sleep, the whites of their eyes are exposed.

When a cat rolls its eyes in sleep, the part that’s exposed is its third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane (palpebra tertia).

The nictitating membrane is located at the inner corner of a cat’s eye. Most of it is usually hidden within the eye socket, with only a small portion visible at the inner corner.

What is the function of the nictitating membrane?
The nictitating membrane acts like a windshield wiper, clearing dust and foreign matter from the surface of a cat’s eyes—a crucial feature for animals who can’t rub their eyes!

Also, the nictitating membrane contains tear glands that produce tears, keeping the cat’s eye surface moist.

Like humans, cats’ eyeballs move upward during sleep, and their nictitating membranes also move. If a cat’s eyes aren’t completely closed at this point, you can see them rolling their eyes.

When a cat is in the rapid eye movement stage, the eye movements will be more intense and it will be easier to observe the rolling of the eyes.

While it may seem a little strange, it’s normal for cats to blink or roll their eyes while asleep. The nictitating membrane retracts when they’re awake, so there’s no need for concern.

However, if the nictitating membrane is visible daily, it could be due to an eye or neurological problem, and you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

This state of rolling eyes and slightly opening them often occurs when a cat is in a light sleep state.

So, here’s another question…

Why do cats sleep with their eyes open?

Cats may keep their eyes slightly open during light sleep for the following reasons:

1. Risk-avoidance instinct

Cats are both predators and prey. Surviving in the wild, they must remain vigilant at all times, otherwise they risk being eaten.

Therefore, even when sleeping, they may keep one or both eyes open so they can react immediately to any abnormalities.

Although cats who are well-fed and well-served at home may not need to be protected from danger in their owners’ eyes, when friends come over, the house is too noisy, or the neighbors next door are renovating…there may be potential dangers for cats, so of course they must stay alert!

2. Feeling Hungry
   Cats often sleep restlessly when they’re hungry. If they know food is nearby or dinnertime is approaching, they’ll become more alert, ready to wait for their meal.

If their owners enter the kitchen or food storage area, they’ll wake up immediately and sprint to the food.

3. Too Attached to Their Owners
   Some cats show clear signs of attachment to their owners and become stressed when their owners are away.

Thus, even when napping, they’ll keep an eye out for their owners. If their owners start to leave, they’ll wake up and follow them.

While it may seem a little strange for a cat to sleep with its eyes open, it’s usually nothing to worry about.

However, there are some health issues that can cause a cat to be unable to close its eyes…

Abnormal Conditions That May Cause a Cat to Be Unable to Close Its Eyes

1. Eye Trauma

For example:

▌ In a multi-cat household, a cat scratches its eye after being pawed by another cat

▌ Scratched by the sharp edge of a can while eating

▌ Stray cats fighting over resources

2. Foreign Objects in the Eyes

Foreign objects in a cat’s eyes, such as sand, stones, glass shards, or thorns, can cause pain and ulcers, preventing the cat from closing its eyes to sleep.

In addition, conditions such as corneal ulcers, third eyelid fissures, and epilepsy can cause a cat’s eyes to become red, watery, scratched, or prone to scratching.

These conditions can cause a cat to be unable to close their eyes, or even be reluctant to do so due to pain.

So, to summarize, if your cat rolls its eyes but then returns to normal, don’t panic.

Just whip out your phone and snap a picture to save your history…

If the cat’s eyes cannot be closed or the white of the eye (nictitating membrane) cannot be retracted, you need to take the cat to see a doctor immediately.