Why Do Cats Sleep so much?
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Two cats sleeping
We humans, who rarely feel like we’ve had enough sleep, envy our feline friends: They luxuriate in sleep! Wouldn’t we all like to live a cat’s life? Snooze all day and night, only getting up to stretch lazily and eat. Yes, it seems ideal – and for a cat, it IS ideal!
It’s not just our domestic kitties who demonstrate this slumbery behavior. Their wild cousins do the same. Just watchNatGeo Wildwhen it features lions and cheetahs snoozing on the Savanna.
Insert “box’ here..???
Sowhy do cats sleep so much?We have some answers for you that will give you some insight into the life of your pointy-eared friend.
Fun facts aboutcats sleeping
- Cats typically sleep two-thirds of their lives.
- They are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active at dawn and dusk.
- They like to be warm when napping– their preferred temperature is in the 80s!
- Kitties are affected by weather – they spend more of their days snoozing when it’s rainy or cold out.
- Your feline friend can spend up to a third of her waking hours grooming.
- If you keep your cat active during the day, he’ll sleep better at night.
First of all,how much do cats sleep?
Cat napping on dog
There’s just something about asleeping catthat stirs peaceful feelings in us. In fact, cats naturally sleep between 12-16 hours a day. Excessive? Not for your paw-some pal!
In truth, how long acat sleepsoften depends on her stage in life. Kittens need up to 20 hours of sleep a day, as they’re still growing. Adult cats need about 15 hours. And senior felines who are less active due to health or mobility issues tend to sleep more than younger cats.
Note: We may be jealous of our cat for sleeping so long and soundly.However, you should take notice if your kitty is sleeping a lot more than usual, especially if paired with other behavioral changes. If indeed you become aware of these changes, schedule a checkup with your vet. If possible, take along any information that you have observed such as how long does she sleep? At what time of day does she seem to sleep to excess. Any facts like these may be helpful for your vet. She might recommend everything from changes in diet, exercise, medications to additional playtime!
Top 7 reasonswhy cats sleep so much
It’s not because they’re lazy (though that may be true for some). But it’s because sleeping the day away is a natural and instinctive behavior for our fuzzy felines. Here’s what we mean:
- They’re conserving energy.Cats are predators, and hunting requires major bursts of energy to find, chase and kill their prey.Even more, they are “crepuscular” animals, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk (rather than “nocturnal”). Sleeping for extended periods helps them re-charge and remain alert and focused when they’re “on the hunt.”
- Eating meat requires more energy.Because your meow machine is an obligate carnivore (i.e. his diet consists mostly of meat), digesting takes more energy.As a result, sleeping helps him recover from the energy he expends on proper digestion.
- Survival.Cats are not only predators – they also have enemies that consider them prey (not at your house, of course!). So, when they’re sleeping, they’re also staying hidden and hence minimizing their risk of encountering danger.
- Catnaps.Catnaps of 15-30 minutes mean your cat can rest her body and mind while still being able to react quickly to potential threats.
- Boredom.When a cat doesn’t get enough physical activity or stimulation, she can get bored and sleep to make time pass more quickly.
- Stress.Just like humans, cats can feel anxious, and sleep can help them deal with feeling overwhelmed or frightened.
- Illness or injury.Illnesses like hyperthyroidism, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease and cancer can make your cat sleep more than usual. Even more, wounds, infections and other injuries can cause your cat to sleep more to rest and recuperate. In all of these cases, take your cat to the vet if you notice sudden changes in sleep habits.
Docat sleeping positionsmatter?
Cat sleeping next to window
It’s always fun to watch asleeping cat– and it’s natural to wonder about hersleeping position meaningor significance.
As a matter of fact, about three quarters of the time, your snuggle bug is not actually in a deep slumber. She’s enjoying a shallow “catnap” that’s pretty close to the surface. Cats doze in positions that enable them to wake immediately, with their senses of smell and hearing completely turned “on.” A typical cat-napping position might include side-sleeping or sleeping in higher perches like furniture or appliances. And, of course, we all enjoy watching the “superman” pose. This is when your cat is relaxed, butall four paws are extended and poised to react quickly.
In addition,somecat sleep positionsare chosen to enhance body heat (curled up) or to hide or feel cozy (in blankets, behind pillows, etc.).
Finally,when she’s not just cat-napping, your cat goes into deep snooze (REM) mode (about a quarter of the time). During these times,sleeping positionscan reflect the level of peace, security and relaxation she is feeling.Remember: Cats are very flexible, so some of thosesleeping positionsmay not only be comical, but also look super uncomfortable to us humans!
Why do cats twitch when they sleep?
Cat sleep twitchingmay occur because:
- He’s dreaming.Just like us humans, cats have different stages of sleep, including deep REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. They twitch, their paws may paddle, and they may move their whiskers.
- She’s releasing muscle tension.Your cat might twitch while sleeping because of muscle contractions designed to release excess energy or tension.
- He’s shifting into a more comfortable position.As your fur baby adjusts his position to be more comfortable – especially if he’s in deep sleep – you may notice him twitching.
- Note:Consult your vet if yourcat twitching movements seem excessive and/or are accompanied by vocalization or seizure-like behavior.
Why docats sleep on you?
Cat sleeping ON dog
Cat lovers often ask: Why does mycat sleep on my feet? On my head? On my chest? Or, curled up next to me? We can’t be “paws-itive” about your particular cat’s reasons, but here are a few common explanations:
- Your furry friend wants to bond:Isn’t it nice to know that your kitty loves you and associates your scent and presence with comfort and affection? So your body is the perfect place for a cozy nap.
- He’s looking for warmth:Your feet, chest and head naturally radiate heat, so Whiskers finds you appealing.
- You make her feel secure:What better place to take a snooze than somewhere that’s safe and sheltered?In fact,that’s how your tabby feels about you, especially if you’re covered in blankets!
- He’s marking his territory:By sleeping on you and marking his scent on you, he establishes ownership. This is purr-fectly natural, of course.
So, the final question is: What should your kitty be doing during the hours she’snotsleeping? Our suggestion: Playing and exercising! Cats enjoy being engaged with you. Take it a step further: Play at dusk, when she’s naturally awake and ready for anything. She may sleep through the night and improve your OWN sleep, as well!
But, What if your cat’s sleep is disrupted by some discomfort?
Banixx Spray for Cats
If your cat can’t sleep because of an ear infection, hot spot or skin infection that keeps her scratching and miserable, never fear!Banixx Pet Carecan help you treat these fungal and bacterial ailments and promote better sleep. The potent but tissue-friendly spray is:
- Non-toxic and Easy to apply.
- Free of antibiotics and steroids
- Free of odor, stinging or burning sensation
- Not oily, greasy or sticky
- And most important: Effective and…affordable!
Find out more about Banixx Pet Care productshere.
We hope you enjoyed this informative and whimsical blog. We have many helpful and interesting topics for you in our catblog. For example, if need information about how totreat your cat’s ear infection, or how totreat cat hot spotswe cover that. Perhaps you’re curious as to whydoes my cat get hairballs, or seems to insiston knocking things off your table?..yes, we’ve got facts on that too..justcheck us out!
Sources
https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/why-do-cats-sleep-so-much
https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-cats-sleep-so-much
https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/pets/why-do-cats-sleep-so-much
sleepfoundation.org/animals-and-sleep/how-much-do-cats-sleep
