So you’re sitting at your computer–you’re a cat, by the way: I want to make that clear–and oh! All those lovely birds outside! Separated from you only by a window. But you are just so terribly sleepy… sleepy… sleepy… klunk! Lights out. But you’re a cat, and anyone can see your ears are still awake.
Sleeping, but actively listening, at the same time. 🙂
Cats have to be very soundly asleep indeed for their ears not to track every little noise.
I know. They are amazing creatures. They also rouse from sleep to a state of alertness more quickly than any other mammal. Snakes, OTOH, can sleep so deeply that you’d swear that they were dead. Do lizards do that?
Most lizards are very good at sleeping, and if they’re pets they lose all sense of alarm. You have to coax them awake.
I think that reptiles conserve energy when they feel safe. Of course, cats do too. After 8 hours of sleep, I and my cat both woke up. I’m having my morning coffee and she’s napping on my lap. 🙂
When I was a boy, I used to “hypnotize” my lizards by rubbing their bellies.
I’ve heard that you can do that to alligators, but I wouldn’t advise trying that.
Much safer to do it on fence swifts.
Definitely, Gators are nothing to trifle with.