If you have a cat like me, you will know that your cat sleeps most of its time away, and can seem to be able to fall asleep very easily, in any position or place, which is something I sometimes feel very envious of!!
Cats can sleep for as much as 16 hours every day, and if they are older, they can sleep up to 20 hours every day – that’s a lot of sleep!! Cats take cat naps throughout the day and night rather than sleeping for 16 hours in one session. As a cat also sleeps during the day, you may see your cat sleep with its paw over its face to block out the light.
Cats in the wild have to hunt prey in order to be able to eat, and because cats need to eat fresh prey, this takes plenty of energy because it can involve chasing. They have to expend more energy when taking down this prey, so they sleep between meals to conserve that energy because they will need it for their next hunt.
Cats are mainly active during dawn and dusk because cats in the wild tend to hunt at night, so domestic cats also have a tendency to be more active during this time. If you are absent during the day, your cat probably spends much of its time having cat naps.
If your cat plays with its favourite toy or chases a mouse outside, this expends plenty of energy because this may involve climbing, pouncing or chasing. It needs to replace this burnt off energy by taking naps in order to recharge its batteries.
Watch out for changes in your cat’s sleeping habits – it could be a sign of your cat’s health
If your cat suddenly starts to sleep a lot more than usual, it could mean that it is ill or in pain, or if it begins to sleep less than usual, it could be a sign of a disorder such as hyperthyroidism.
If a cat becomes ill, it is not always easy for it to tell us, so if your cat displays either of these symptoms it is best to consult your vet to put your mind at rest.
Cats sleeping patterns can depend on their age
How much a cat sleeps can depend on the age of the cat. Kittens, when they have just been born, can sleep for most of the day, which is more than adult cats.
Kittens sleep more because they snuggle up to their mother as a way of retaining their body heat. For this reason, kittens love to jump on to your lap and curl up with you.
Older cats over the age of 7 sleep more than a cat of about 3 or 4 years of age because they may have developed conditions such as arthritis or have developed problems with their joints.
Older cats sleep more because they grow tired more easily. It is also important that you ensure that the place your cat sleeps is not too cold because cats like to rest in warmer places.
Cats can become bored
If cats are left alone for long periods of time, they can become bored just like humans and find that sleeping is the best way of relieving that boredom because they feel they have nothing better to do. They can also begin to feel depressed, especially if they stay inside.
To prevent your cat from becoming bored, you could give it toys to occupy its time. You could also consider getting a climbing tree or scratching post, which would mean it gets more exercise. A cat could also go outside, meaning it is physically and mentally stimulated.
If your cat is mentally and physically stimulated during the day and evening it will want to sleep to recharge its batteries, so will be far less likely to wake you during the night.
Cats are not necessarily sound asleep
Although it looks like your cat is sound asleep that only happens approximately 25 percent of the time because it is almost constantly on the alert, able to waken immediately if it hears anything just in case it needs to protect itself.
A lightly sleeping cat’s ears twitch, showing it is responding to sounds and noises even if its eyes do not open.
If you walk by a sleeping cat, it will usually open its eyes and look around to ensure nothing is wrong, and can also run away. If a cat realises it is not in any danger, it can go back to sleep as quickly as it woke, which is something I wish I was able to do!!
Cats can dream just like humans
Your cat can, however, fall into a deep sleep, called the rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, which is essential for your cat to regenerate and remain healthy. When it is in this deep sleep, it can dream just like humans, but we are really unable to tell what the cat is actually dreaming about because it cannot tell us.
Your cat can sometimes thrash around during its sleep, also twitching its whiskers, and this can mean it is dreaming. If you see your cat acting in this fashion, it is best not to wake it up because your cat could bite or scratch you because you startled it, as it has not had time to fully understand what is happening.
It is not always the case, however, that cats move around in their sleep because they are dreaming. Some cats, as they grow older, do move around more during their sleep, and can sometimes even wake themselves up.
Cats can snore
Just like humans, cats can sometimes snore when they are asleep. If your cat is overweight, it can snore more when it sleeps because fat can accumulate in its airways, which could mean that your cat begins snoring.
Your cat may also snore because of the position in which it is lying.
Some breeds of cat such as the Persian or Himalayan can snore because they have shorter noses and flatter faces, thus they could suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome, which may trigger snoring.
If your cat feels unwell, it could begin snoring because it has a cold, but in those cases, the snoring should stop when your cat begins to feel better. If the snoring continues, and your cat shows other signs of being in distress, you are advised to consult your vet to ensure there is no underlying reason for it.
Cats sleeping patterns can be dependent on the weather
If it is cold outside, raining, or is just dreary, you may find that your cat sleeps more during the day. A rainy day can affect the mood of your cat just like it affects your mood.
Your cat will probably not want to go outside on a bad day, so will go to sleep to pass the time because it has become bored.
Your cat may also want to curl up and go to sleep because it is cold and is curling up in an attempt to preserve body heat. It wants to stay in a place that is warm and dry – I cannot say I blame it, really!!
Cats are less active in the winter months because they have a high body temperature so dislike the cold and want to do as little as possible during this time.
My first cat, Patch, when he sensed that bad weather was coming would go mad, running around the house and up and down the stairs – he was better than a barometer for judging when bad weather was coming!!
Conclusion
Cats are fundamentally lazy animals, sleeping most of their day away, and this is completely natural. Whilst cats in the wild need to sleep to conserve energy because they have to hunt and kill their prey, domestic cats are never likely to need to do this.
You should never attempt to waken a sleeping cat because you are liable to be bitten or scratched because the cat is not completely aware whilst it is waking, and to them, you are like a predator.
If your cat suddenly changes its sleeping patterns, and begins sleeping more or less than usual, you may consider taking a trip to the vet because this may be a sign of something more serious, and it should be looked into because we can never be too careful when thinking about the welfare of our beloved cats.