Cats are well known for there sleeping habits and sleep most of the day, but why do cats sleep so much? This is a question that most cat owners would love to know.
A big part of the reason is out of worry that something may be wrong with their furry little friend. It may get you wondering if it’s actually normal to sleep for so long on a daily basis, or if there are any underlying health issues responsible for the sleeping habits.
From sleeping long hours to the ability to be able to fall asleep in the most unusual places, a cats sleeping habits can be very puzzling. If you want to learn more on the subject, then you are in the right place.
In this article will will answer the question, why do cats sleep so much?, what is the normal amount of sleep for a cat, when you should be concerned, plus much more.
Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?
Here are the reasons why cats sleep so much during the day.
Energy Conservation for Hunting
Although cats are very much domesticated, even a strictly indoor cat is hardwired to hunt and have the physiology of a predator. This is why they show their primal instincts from time to time when they play , pounce, and stalk.
In the wild, cats will hunt for prey which takes an enormous amount of energy. Domesticated cats still retain these instinctive behaviors which is one of the reasons why cats sleep so much.
The Age of Your Cat
Age is a huge factor when it comes to the amount of sleep that a cat gets. Kittens and senior cats will spend a lot more time sleeping than adult cats.
Cooling Down in The Heat
During the summer months or if you live in a hot part of the world, you’ll find that your cat sleeps more not only to conserve energy, but to regulate body temperature to prevent them from overheating.
Want to learn more on this subject? we wrote an article called 7 Amazing Things Cats Do To Keep Cool.
Cold Rainy Weather
As well as a hot summer, cold and rainy weather can also have an impact on a cats sleeping pattern. A dark, drizzly day can have an effect on humans and make us feel more tired. Cats are no different. On a cold or rainy day, don’t be surprised to see your cat sleeping more than usual.
Personality and Breed
As we have said many of times on this blog, all cats are very different with their own unique personality. Some cats are more laid back and relaxed and will just naturally sleep more than others.
The breed of the cat can also play a factor, with some cat breeds being more energetic than others. Although this isn’t always the case because as we stated in the first point, all cats are unique. This means you may get two cats of the same breed, but one will sleep more than the other.
Health Issues
In some cases, a cat sleeping for long periods may be due to underlying health problems. Adult cats can spend between 12-16 hours sleeping each day. So if your cat has always slept for this long, then that’s their usual pattern and you shouldn’t be too alarmed.
The key thing to look out for is if there sleeping pattern has suddenly changed and they are now sleeping longer than they usually would. If they are also showing other signs such as slow at responding to stimuli or discomfort, this may be a sign of underlying disease.
A change in their sleeping pattern may also indicate a sad or depressed cat. This is generally caused by illness, arrival of a new pet, and lack of mental stimulation.
How Long Do Cats Sleep?
The amount of time a cat sleeps depends on their age. Here are the categories broken down:
- Kittens: Generally sleep most of the day and only wake for meals and a few bursts of energy.
- Adolescent: Periods of intense playfulness and erratic sleep patterns.
- Adult: On average, an adult cat sleeps about 12-16 hours each day, with more set sleeping schedules that usually match their owners.
- Seniors: Once a cat reaches 11+ they are classed as seniors, and it is very common for them to sleep up to 20 hours each day as they become become less active and playful.
Cat Sleeping Facts
Snoozing and Shallow Sleep (Catnaps)
When you thinking “why do cats sleep so much?”, another thing to consider is that they are not always in a full sleep. When you take the amount the a cat sleeps each day, around three quarters of that sleep is shallow or just snoozing, often called slow-wave sleep (SWS).
In this state of sleeping, catnaps usually last 15-30 minutes, and they are usually still very alert, sense of smell and hearing is still sharp with twitching ears when they hear a noise. They are even ready to instantly pounce and scratch should they see prey.
It’s even possible for a cat to switch into dozing mode whilst sitting upright.
Deep Sleep
Whilst three quarters of a cats daily sleep is shallow sleep, the final quarter is deep sleep. When a cat reaches senior age, deep sleep can increase to 30% to 40% as they become less active. You’ll know when a cat is in deep sleep because there paws and whiskers will twitch as they dream.
Deep sleep is very important for a cat because it enables their body to regenerate itself which helps keep them healthy. The duration of deep sleep usually lasts in five-minute increments, with dozing in-between.
Cat Snoring
Some people often ask “do cats snore?”. Yes, cats do snore and it’s caused when the airway becomes obstructed by extra skin from the soft palate. Snoring usually occurs in brachycephalic or short-nosed breeds such as Himalayan, Persian, or Exotic Shorthair.
It’s actually very common and the snoring occurs when a cat becomes completely relaxed. All three of my kitties snore on a daily basis, so we know this from experience!
The Feline Body Clock
A cats body clock is not completely set in stone, and is possible to adjust their routine or sleeping patterns. It’s not uncommon for an indoor cat to adjust their routine to be active during the day, and sleep during the night to match their owners sleeping schedule.
Out of experience to backup this up, all three of my lovely kitties sleep throughout the entire night without any hassles whatsoever. You’ll often hear stories of cats being a nightmare and waking their owners up during the night. This often comes down to the amount of stimulation during the day.
If you want your cat to sleep during the night, it’s important to have regular play sessions during the day. It’s actually important to adjust their body clock to match yours, because this means you will get more interaction with your cat and build a better bond.
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Common Questions
When to be concerned about a cats sleeping pattern
As previously mentioned, there is no real right or wrong when it comes to the duration of a cats sleep. It all depends upon a number of different factors such as breed, age, and the individual cat. The time time to be concerned is when their sleeping pattern suddenly changes.
If all of a sudden your cat starts to sleep a lot more, or even a lot less than usual, it’s worth a visit to the vet as there may be a health issue. This may not always be the case because other factors such as the weather turning cold or hot may be causing them to suddenly sleep more.
Do cats sleep at night?
Some cats do most of their sleeping during the day, and become wide awake at dusk and dawn. These are hunting instincts inherited from their wild ancestors. Small mammals such as birds become very easy targets at these times which means an easy meal for a cat.
You may also notice a cat suddenly becomes playful just before you go to bed. The same hunting instincts are also responsible for this behavior. Domesticated cats can also adjust their sleeping pattern to match the sleeping routine of their owner, which works out better for everybody.
Why do cats sleep on you?
You may of noticed your cat likes to sleep on your lap or your chest. If you are wondering why cats like to sleep on you or next to you, here are a few possible reasons:
- They want to keep warm.
- It’s a comfortable spot.
- They trust you.
- They love you.
- They feel safe around you.
Are cats nocturnal?
It’s often thought that that cats are nocturnal, but this is incorrect. Cats are actually crepuscular which best describes an animal that is most active during dusk and dawn. The temperatures at these times are at the coolest and a cat can take advantage and use this time for hunting.
In comparison, owls and raccoons who are true nocturnal animals hunt and roam around during the night.
Why do cats sleep so much when they get old?
When cats reach their senior years, they become less active, gain weight, and suffer from a number of health issues such aching joints, bones, and muscles. Movement will also become more painful due to arthritis.
As their bodies does not recover as good as when they were in their younger years, they require more sleep to enable them to heal and recover. This can be anything up to 20 hours of sleep per day.
Why do cats sleep so much in winter?
Cats in the wild can go through torpor which is a modified version of hibernation. Although it is not a full version of hibernation as it is in some animals, a cats metabolism and body temperature drop during hours of sleep and they spend more hours sleeping to conserve more energy.
Domestic cats inherit these instincts and are always on the lookout for warm cosy places to sleep during the winter.
Is it normal for cats to sleep all day?
It’s perfectly normal for cats to sleep 12-16 hours each day. Three quarters of this sleep is just snoozing or shallow sleep with only one quarter of the overall sleep being deep sleep. The time to be concerned is if your cat is all of a sudden sleeping more or even less. Factors such as the weather being too hot or cold can cause this, but it can also be caused by underlying health issues.
Why do indoor cats sleep so much?
Although very much domesticated, indoor cats inherit sleeping patterns and behavior from their wild ancestors. Indoor cats have the physiology of a predator which means their instinct is to sleep a lot to conserve energy for hunting.
Do male cats sleep more than females?
There is no evidence to suggest than male and female cats sleep any different. Both males and females sleep on average 12-16 hours each day which can differ slightly with each cat being unique.
Why Do Cats Sleep So Much Conclusion
Why do cats sleep so much? Remember that cats sleeping for long periods of 12-16 hours is perfectly normal. The sleep duration of kittens and senior cats is even longer at up to 20 hours each day. Factors such as the weather being too hot or too cold can cause a cat to sleep longer.
The only time to be concerned is if there is a sudden change in a cats sleeping pattern such as them suddenly sleeping more, or even less. This could indicate that there are some underlying health issues, and it’s best to get them checked out by a veterinarian.
