There’s a strong possibility your pet cat is napping or getting up from the hundredth cat snooze of the day by now.
That’s just to let you know that cats sleep a lot.
Cats sleep about 16 to 20 hours each day on average.
It’s a delight to be around cats because of their independence and majestic nature. Their sleeping patterns and lengths add to the allure of felines.
They go from biting everything in the house, rushing up and down the furniture, and bothering other family members and household pets to self-grooming.
The need to replenish after using a large amount of energy necessitates a long period of relaxation, thus, the long sleeping hours.
If you’re a new cat master, the long period of slumber can make you baffled if your adorable feline is unwell or suffering.
When a cat’s owner notices that their cat is sleeping a lot, it can be worrying at first. We can question if they’re ill, sad, or they’ve been hurt or injured.
It’s natural to be concerned about your cat’s day-long cat naps, but with experience, you’ll learn it’s a regular part of the cat’s existence.
The amount of time they sleep throughout the day while you’re up is determined by their age, health, and how busy they were during the night while you were sleeping.
Because of the amount of energy they burn, cats require a lot of rest and spend a lot of time napping.
While a kitten may not require as much rest as an elderly cat, it’s safe to suppose that cats spend so much time sleeping in general.
Cats are resistant to seasonal weather trends, unlike humans, that subject their resting patterns to weather.
Even elderly cats with systems that respond to cold have their sleeping hours lengthened to stay warm on chilly days.
Sleeping is one of the few things cats enjoy more than anything else, whether immunity or apathy.
It’s also crucial to learn more about cats to figure out what’s typical and not about their endless napping.
Cat Sleep Patterns
The majority of a cat’s sleep is spent dozing in and out or taking naps, so it rarely sleeps deeply. They do occasionally go into snoring mode.
The heavy sleeping patterns last less than 10 minutes before it returns to catnapping. Such is their sleeping routine until the cat wakes up.
The majority of the cat’s 16-20 total hours of sleep are short naps lasting 10 minutes and no more than a half-hour.
The phrase “catnap” is derived from this cat sleeping pattern and refers to a short nap in humans that lasts between 10 and 20 minutes.
Catnap takes the material portion of a cat’s sleep cycle.
Cats use frequent naps to reduce stress, improve memory, and increase mental alertness.
If you examine your cat’s sleeping position during one of these naps, you’ll notice that they’ve positioned their body such that they can jump up if prey approaches.
Another plausible cause for a cat’s light sleeps is the need to modify sleeping time to new developments in the cat’s environment.
Cats’ sociable personalities and adaptable temperament make it simple to change their sleeping habits to socialize with their human companions.
It’s no surprise that newborn kittens sleep all day while growing and nurturing.
As the kitten grows older, the cat’s sleep requirements decrease to roughly 14-17 hours per day out of 24 hours.
Later in the life of senior cats, the cycle is repeated.
Variation in a cat’s sleeping hours with age implies that a cat’s behavior is synched with human activities since it will change sleeping patterns to spend time with her favorite humans.
They’ll also change nap hours to accommodate feeding schedules.
Why Cats Sleep So Much
Cats are champion snoozers, napping for up to 60% of the time on a typical day. Yes, cats have been known to sleep in the same position for more than 16 hours.
The following are some of the explanations for sleep cats’ perplexing behavior:
Crepuscular predatory pattern: They are most active at dawn and dusk, and their stalking and hunting behavior demonstrates this tendency in wild felines.
Domestic cats do not have a set time to go after their prey, but their prowling adventure is usually at its peak in the evening and early morning.
It’s also worth noting that the cat’s active hours match when its preys are active.
As a result, the cat’s active hours coincide with those of other hunters. So let your cat slumber as much as she wants – it’s entirely normal.
Cats eat a protein-rich diet since they are obligate carnivores. To aid digestion, this necessitates a lot of relaxation.
Even if your cat retains its typical stance, its vigilance keeps them aware of activities around them.
Cat’s alertness in sleep means that cats do not sleep as deeply as people do, and it is this sleeping habit that gave rise to the term “catnap.”
The movement of its organs during sleep explains the lightness of a cat’s sleep. It also tells how sensitive a cat is to activities, even during sleep.
Because short sleep is a natural behavior in cats, they require a sequence of short naps to compensate for the missed extended sleep stretch.
Age Impact on the Length of Cat Sleep
The length of time a cat spends sleeping is determined by its age.
Kittens sleep for virtually the entire day while receiving care from their mother. The sleeping schedule changes as kids mature into adults and become more active.
Cats’ behavior changes around 24 months as their activity level increases.
Adult cats sleep for more extended periods than kittens and elderly cats due to their high levels of activity and hunting activities.
The average person spends 10-13 hours every day relaxing.
Senior cats’ activity levels decline, and they go to bed earlier than cats of a previous age stage, similar to how age takes its toll on elderly humans.
At that age, cold weather becomes increasingly undesirable. Old cats also tend to lower their outdoor activities. Therefore, the senior cat might quickly turn sleeping into a hobby.
A senior cat’s daily routine includes 20 hours of sleep every day.
Cats Need a Safe Place to Sleep
When choosing where to sleep, cats prioritize comfort and safety.
According to my observations, due to their intrinsic tree and bush dweller nature and as a vantage point, cats also prefer a place of rest reasonably hidden or enclosed and substantially raised above the ground.
The aim is to view any threats ahead of time and seize any opportunities that may arise in the form of prey.
Cats also want a warm, comfortable environment that matches their body temperature.
Like a faithful companion, getting your cat a bed or a blanket to relax in whenever she wants to nap is a kind gesture.
Even if their cats have their place, they enjoy sharing it with their owners. I’ve also noticed that most cats have multiple napping areas in their homes.
If you’re having trouble recognizing all of your cat’s sleeping spots, pay attention to where she retreats to whenever she feels threatened or tired. Those are her dwellings.
You can place a cat bed in her allotted room or in each identified area to help her feel completely at ease.
Proper positioning of the cat bed will ensure that your cat has a variety of comfortable sleeping axes.
Kind treat strengthens your bond with your pet and makes her feel like a faithful family member.
Providing a safe and comfortable sleeping environment will lessen her propensity to engage in undesirable behavior.
In general, make sure your cat’s chosen sanctuary has the following features:
Warmth is a desirable state for cats. Maintain a comfortable and bearable temperature in the environment.
Make your cat feel at home by providing her with a bed if you cannot supply a bed. A bag could be a viable option.
Keep her food containers and litter bins away from her sleeping bed.
Ensure you have a water bowl for your cat.
Make sure your cat’s haven is on an elevated point so she can keep an eye on what’s going on around her.
Cat Sleeping Positions and What Your Cat’s Sleeping Position Means
Once a cat has been fed and has completed her daily activity and surveillance around the house, it is natural for them to take multiple naps.
Nothing less is expected of a neighbor who closes her eyes for at least two-thirds of a regular day.
A healthy adult cat should have 14-16 hours of sleep per night, with a kitten and senior cat getting even more.
Cats will sleep nearly anyplace in the house as long as their safety is not jeopardized.
They even use their right to choose in situations where you have given them a sense of belonging.
Apart from when they are bonding with humans, you may find cats to be the most appealing while they are sleeping, possibly because sleep is innate for them.
The following are some of the most common sleeping positions for cats:
Cats can nap with their eyes half open and half closed: which is one of the things that amazes people about them. Half-deep sleep in a cat is due to their predatory nature since they may need to maintain such an overlord position to deal with any potential threats. Light sleep is frequent when a cat is introduced to a new area or sees a new person.
Belly Up: Cats demonstrate trust and friendship by sleeping on their backs with their bellies exposed. Since their tummy is one of their most sensitive areas, it is regarded as a sign of trust for their owners. As tempting as it may be to pat the fluffy belly, be cautious since your cat may charge at you in an attempt to defend herself.
Loaf of bread: This sleeping position is prevalent and does not require the presence of a cat.
This stance allows cats to show attentiveness by sitting straight with their paws and tail curled beneath their bodies to resemble a bread loaf.
Cats also retain this posture to demonstrate relaxation and ease.
Movable organs under the body: It is sometimes done to ward off cold by tucking the moveable organs under the body.
In a box position: Cats’ lives are attractive because of the exhibit’s entertaining presentations.
You might discover that your cat has crammed herself into a carton, cardboard box, drawer, or other containers.
Hiding in such a manner could be to avoid a predator. It is also done to withstand heat.
Curled up position: This is one of the most typical resting positions in which cats wrap their tails around their bodies and put their heads towards the chest to protect sensitive areas such as their belly and eyes.
The objective of this posture is to keep the body warm while maintaining its vigilance against any threats. This stance causes cats to form a crescent shape.
The cat is resting on its sides with its abdomen visible in this sleeping position, but the stomach exposure is not as revealing as the belly-up position.
Lateral position: The sideways are common during cat naps and relatively deep sleep.
The relative exposure of their abdomen also demonstrates trust and a sense of security in a human context.
Paws over the face: I’ve noticed that when my cat goes into a deep sleep, she covers its face with its feet.
The best I do for my pet cat at such a time is to ensure a dead silence in the house to give it a deserving rest.
Need to protect the face from light rays could make a cat position its paws across its face.
Sleeping on you: Cats feel the most at ease and secure when they rest on the same couch as their owners or repose on their bosoms.
Cats do it to get warmth from the human body.
General Interesting Facts about Cat Sleep
1. Cats sleep for two-thirds of their lives, averaging 15-20 hours every day. Long sleep is particularly prevalent among kittens.
2. Cats maintain Rapid Eye Movement and Non-Rapid Eye Movement phases while sleeping.
Snoring and ear movement during sleep support the presence of Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM).
3. Cats are hyper-aware of their environment and are always on high alert.
Even in deep slumber, they are wired to flee or flee with little or no warning.
4. Touch it to watch how it wakes up from its twitching REM slumber.
5. This explains why it appears to be on high alert and well prepared to defend itself and its territory.
6. Most of the time, cats sleep during the day and chase its preys around by leveraging their excellent hearing system and ability to sight precisely in low light.
Cats can be trained to follow a schedule more closely like yours, but they are born night owls.
7. Sleeping helps them store energy: conserved energy allows felines to maintain the agility needed for prey hunting and bonding.
8. The weather influences cats ‘ sleeping habits: Cats are always less active in cold weather, similar to how humans feel during low temperatures.
No wonder cats sleep a lot, especially when it’s chilly or raining.
9. Some people sleep so profoundly that they snore without realizing it. Some cats snore in the same way, but snoring is usually caused by her lying position or partial occlusion of her airway.
Due to their mashed-up noses and round faces, certain exotic long-haired breeds, such as Himalayans and Persians, are more prone to snoring than other breeds, which can cause respiratory difficulties.
Worry yourself less about your cat’s slumber until you notice other signs of breathing problems, such as nasal obstruction, sniffling, runny nose, or a change in her meow.
Detection of any of the mentioned symptoms signals the time to see your veterinarian.