Sleeping Maine Coon Dreams of Eating Snacks When Mom Waves Treats in Front of Him

Some animals are extremely food-motivated. I had a dog who would wake up from a dead sleep on another floor entirely to the sound of popcorn popping. (Okay, it was probably the scent.) This same dog thought it was a personal betrayal if I was chopping carrots and didn’t give her the ends to gnaw on.

Other animals, it’s like you have to beg them to eat. Not only does my cat disdain every form of treat I’ve tried on her, but she is completely uninterested in tuna and regularly goes on hunger strikes. If I find a food she’ll consume without a fight for more than a month at a time, I consider myself blessed.

But this cat seems to love a good treat. He even likes to eat them in his sleep.

Teddy, a polydactyl Maine Coon cat, is here seen in the quintessential pose of a spoiled house cat—upside down and napping. And lo, here comes his mother to play upon him a cruel trick. She places in front of his sensitive snout a fragrant cat treat.

Related: 22-Pound Polydactyl Maine Coon Cat Has People Obsessed

Moments later, his nose begins to twitch. The whiskers shiver. And then… the tongue and jaw begin to move, and the cat makes the cutest little smacking sounds, as if he’s eating the treat in his dreams.

It’s feline Inception.

Do Pets Dream?

While any dog or cat parent will tell you that of course their pets dream, there is not a lot of research on the subject. Scientists do know that dogs and cats have REM (rapid eye movements) during sleep, which indicates the dreaming phase of sleep in humans. This is different than animals like fish or birds, who do not experience that reflex while sleeping. And most of us have seen our dogs and cats sleeping—and even having nightmares.

I know when my pets are having nightmares because they may cry or whine in their sleep, then calm down when I pet them or say soft, soothing things to them—similar as I would comfort a child with night terrors. But what is happening in their tiny little brains? That one remains a mystery.

My dog used to have dreams that were easy to interpret, even from the outside. Her feet would begin to twitch, like she was chasing something, and you’d even se all four feet stretch out at once, while she leaped. Then, her mouth would move, and next, little smacking sounds, just like the cat in this video. Clearly she caught and was feasting on her prey.

(This was clearly a primal dream of hers. My retriever never so much as caught a cricket in real life.)

But we can do little more than guess at our animals’ dreams—unless we’ve inspired them, like this woman and her Maine Coon.

Best Treats For Cats

There’s nothing wrong with trying this particular move on your own sleeping kitty. Just don’t be surprised if the stimulation is enough to wake them up and instead of eating a dream snack—they reach out and claim the real thing.

When picking a treat for your kitty, it’s best to choose one made from real meat and high protein. Cats are carnivores, and too many carbs and sugars are not good for them.

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