We've assembled our favorites from hundreds of our readers' photos of sleepy pets. Above, submitter Larry's cat Sophie shows off her stretching skills for the camera. After the jump, check out 50+ more examples of the utmost in cat relaxation.

Cats, clearly, need to be teaching relaxation seminars.

After all, what animal could possibly know relaxation better than a cat? And what animal is better able to twist itself into uncomfortable-looking positions or squeeze itself into tight spots that don't look large enough to hold a creature half its size?

But cats have them beat.

It's been well established -- with photographic evidence provided by Times readers, no less -- that dogs have a knack for picking strange places and positions in which to sleep.

"I call it ... Cat Art," Kendal says of her kitty's sleeping position.

Cqbud explains that Charlie, the adult cat, immediately adopted Marvin, the kitten, when the two were introduced. They've been inseparable since!

It appears that El's cat has monopolized a very comfortable spot -- the dog's bed.

"My cat is lazier than your cat," Jimmy says of office helper Zoe.

"Fred sleeps in strange ways," says Pollyanna. Her picture certainly proves it!

Wheezy's cat Opie looks like he's ready for a deep-tissue massage.

Britt's orange tabby, Xander, fell asleep watching TV again.

JT met and photographed this supremely comfortable resident cat while visiting Tuscany.

We're not entirely sure how many kitties are curled up in one bed in Vicki's photo. Vicki, we count four -- and we know which one is hogging the most space!

For javasmom's cat, nothing beats the spot of carpet right under the skylight!

HatchetFace's cat Cleo looks like she's doing a yoga pose, but she's actually fast asleep.

Baby Tom stretches, "getting ready for a busy day of nursing and exploring his new world," LeonardJohn says. LeonardJohn's family rescued Tom after he was lost or abandoned by his mother, a feral cat. Tom "is a real love bunny," according to his foster "dad."

Yogi's comfortable cat seems to say, "Oh, you didn't want to sit on this chair, did you?"

John's cat Mouse is a restless sleeper -- either that, or he's got a very tiny bed.

Rick suspects his cat is thinking, "Look, Daddy ... no hands!"

Margareth's cat Wyoming Bill has found the most comfortable spot in the house.

Dale's cat Nicki gives this cozy spot two paws up.

"I love it when he sleeps like this!" Stephanie says of her cat, Bob. We do, too!

Fox's cat Jazz Taco found a warm -- if not exactly cozy -- spot for a nap.

Amber's orange tabby, Rupert, looks like he should be wearing pajamas and a nightcap.

Paul's cat Blues "believes he is a sea otter," he says. "Here he is [lying] on his back watching the birds feed outside and hoping for a tasty snack."

Sunspot's cat Smokey looks like he's dreaming of catnip, mice and delicious treats.

Lying on papers is Romeo's version of helping around the office, Patti explains.

Some professional gymnasts would love to have the flexibility of petey's cat, Gordy.

Partyahn says this tuxedo kitty is perfecting his "cat Pilates" skills.

James' cat Kitsune inspects the ceiling for birds.

Mimi says she was able to catch her kittens when they were "finally quiet!"

Miss J. says her cat, Amore, loves shoes. (We love shoes, too, but we'd rather be wearing them than napping on them.)

"Kitty doesn't need air," says meeladyt, "he will [lie] with his face in the couch for hours."

"We rescued him and fattened up ... a little more than we planned," Eli says of his sunbathing kitty. "He's on Jenny Craig now."

Soulflower's cat looks like she'd prefer a La-Z-Boy recliner.

MICHI says her cat loves to nap -- hmmm, we never would have guessed!

Lil' Ricky's cat Bello does his best Superman impression while he relaxes.

Did rcharleston's cat Jack pulled an all-nighter at work? It looks like he's now paying the price.

Boogrrr explains that this pose is his cat's special favorite. "He also loves to fetch hair ties like a dog fetches a ball," Boogrrr says.

"We found him trapped in a bush on a bike ride at Bonelli Park when he was just 2 months old," Christy says of her cat Tigger. "He won us over, so we kept him!"

Lizzy's gray kitty likes to stretch out to her fullest at nap time.

Christy explains that her tabby is exhausted after the arrival of a (human) baby in his home.

Ellbron's cat, Noz, looks like he's daring us to say something about his unusual pose.

S's kitty knows cat trees aren't for playing -- they're for relaxing.

Moonshynzz's kitten decided an empty water bowl was the ideal spot for a nap.

Baby the cat hopes Dave wasn't planning on using his briefcase anytime soon.

Mrs goldie's cat knows that the coziest part of the couch is in the corner!

Josh's feline friend snuggles up with her favorite stuffed animal -- Hello Kitty, naturally.

Church's cat wonders where dinner is, and why it's taking so long.

Sparty's tabby found a box that's just his size ... almost.

Atoler's cat Maude looks like she's just come home from a tough day at the office.

Grace's cats love nothing more than snuggling up in matching blueberry boxes!

Sheryl's cats are "Fed, Played and (finally) asleep," she says.

"Never leave a baby lounger in the sun," Ubi's Mom advises cat owners, "never ever."

Phoenix44's relaxed kitty kindly shows us what "Monorail Cat" looks like from the back.

"Pepper likes to soak up the sun in my bedroom mid-morning," spiffy explains.

This creative cat, caught on camera by kristin while on vacation, thinks a hat is the next best thing to a comfortable cat bed!

Dan's cat Pixie Parker's C-shaped pose stands for both "cat" and "comfortable." Coincidence? We think not. If your own pet has a knack for looking cute while sleeping, we'd love to see it! Click the photo gallery below to see more photos and submit yours.

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-- Lindsay Barnett