Research overview: behavioural thermoregulation through posture and microhabitat choice

Much of feline temperature regulation is behavioural, and this overview reviews how posture and microhabitat choice keep cats comfortable. Cats curl up tightly to conserve heat and reduce exposed surface area when cold, stretch out to dissipate heat when warm, and actively seek sunny, shaded, sheltered, or breezy spots to match their surroundings to their needs. These choices are a primary line of thermoregulation. Researchers study them through behavioural observation across conditions. Why it matters: behavioural thermoregulation is often more important than physiological adjustment for cats, allowing them to avoid thermal stress rather than merely cope with it. Recognising the role of posture and location explains a great deal of everyday feline behaviour and underscores that, for an animal with limited sweating, choosing the right place and posture is a powerful and economical way to stay within its comfort zone.