{"id":3671,"date":"2019-11-12T16:01:31","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T15:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=3671"},"modified":"2020-06-05T02:07:19","modified_gmt":"2020-06-05T00:07:19","slug":"how-much-do-cats-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/how-much-do-cats-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Do Cats Sleep & Why Do They Like Napping?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cats are adorable all the time, although they\u2019re never cuter than when they sleep. But <\/span>how much do cats sleep,<\/span> really? And why do they sleep so much?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These questions must have crossed your mind once or twice. Probably while you were frantically getting ready for work while your kitten slept peacefully without a care in the world. Or maybe when you were tossing and turning in your bed as your cat snoozed next to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finding out the answers can not only make you a better owner but also a better friend to your precious furball.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cats generally sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day. In fact, the only other species that seem to get more shut-eye than kitties are opossums and bats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although it\u2019s been commonly believed that felines are nocturnal animals, they are in fact, crepuscular. This means that they are most active during dusk and dawn. First-time owners may think it strange that their pet spends most of the day lazing around and gets hyper around twilight. Don\u2019t be alarmed! This is all part of a cat\u2019s daily routine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your feline companion will typically fall asleep after a big breakfast, oblivious to your many attempts to engage it in some kind of activity during the day. And it will finally become active again after dark, just as you\u2019re about to call it a day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is the result of a cat\u2019s evolution and physiology. Like big cats in the wild, domestic kitties are most energetic when the sun sets because twilight is a perfect time for stalking and hunting prey. You wouldn\u2019t catch a big <\/span>cat sleeping<\/span> on the job, would you?<\/span><\/p>\n And although your pet doesn\u2019t have to rely on hunting to survive, instinct still plays a big role in a cat\u2019s behavior. It may not be a lion or tiger, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not ready to pounce on anything that moves, wiggles, or rolls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not uncommon for your kitty\u2019s sleep behavior to change over time. Just like other domesticated animals\u2014ahem, <\/span>dogs<\/span><\/a>\u2014cats might adjust their sleep time to their owners.<\/span><\/p>\n In fact, a <\/span>2013 study<\/span><\/a> on <\/span>cats and sleep<\/span> showed that housing conditions can affect the feline circadian rhythm. According to the study, cats that lived and spent most of their time in small houses with limited outdoor space developed sleeping habits similar to those of their owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In other words, pets will sleep less when you\u2019re awake and sleep more when you hit the hay. Of course, not all cats do this. And don\u2019t worry if your furry companion continues to sleep soundly even when you\u2019re up. This doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t like you. It\u2019s just normal for a <\/span>cat<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s sleep hours.<\/span><\/p>\n Another reason why kitties might change their sleep behavior is food. Many house cats adjust their sleep to feeding time, and that\u2019s why they tend to sleep more than street cats who have to rely on their own wits to get food.<\/span><\/p>\n Sleep time depends on age, too. Small kittens are known to snooze for as many as 20 hours a day. On the other hand, when they reach the age of seven, they get tired more easily and need more rest. Just like humans!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The primary reason behind your cat\u2019s excessive sleeping is <\/span>energy conservation<\/b>. This is again connected to big cats living in the wild. For them, food doesn\u2019t grow on trees, nor do they have you feeding them at regular times of the day. It\u2019s hard work chasing after prey, and they need all the energy they can get.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Domestic cats also use up a lot of energy playing, hunting, kneading your favorite blanket, and eating, and they need rest to replenish. The more they run around, the more<\/span> sleepy cats<\/span> will be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another aspect that affects how much your pet sleeps is <\/span>the weather<\/b>. The weather doesn\u2019t only impact a cat\u2019s sleep, it also affects their mood. Cats tend to sleep more on rainy days. This is true even if your furry pet doesn\u2019t go outside that much. When the weather is cold, overcast, or wet, your kitty will yawn and settle down for a nap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes cats can sleep for longer than normal because of an <\/span>underlying health condition.<\/b> If you notice your <\/span>cat sleeping all day<\/span> and<\/span> not eating<\/span>, or it\u2019s not as playful and active as it used to be, it\u2019s time for a trip to the vet. The same goes if your cat is sleeping less than usual. Keeping a close eye on its sleeping habits can show if it\u2019s in pain or suffering from some kind of gastrointestinal issue.<\/span><\/p>\n It can happen that the vet gives your cat the all-clear and says there\u2019s nothing wrong with it, medically, but you still see your <\/span>cat sleeping more than usual.<\/span> This could be a sign of <\/span>depression<\/b><\/a>. In that case, you need to make some changes to its environment and diet. Make sure it always has fresh water, stock up on its favorite treats, and try to play with it more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another reasons why cats sleep is because they\u2019re <\/span>overweight<\/b><\/a>. If you want your furry companion to be more lively, switch to a healthier diet. Forget the treats and maybe incorporate some playtime into your kitten’s day.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, it\u2019s possible that a<\/span> cat sleeps all day <\/span>out of plain old <\/span>boredom<\/b>. If this happens, try introducing some new toys for it to play with. But to really cheer it up, spend some quality time with your pet. They may not always show it, but domesticated cats love their owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to remember that just like humans, changes in sleep patterns could be an indicator of trouble. After all, we use apps to monitor our health through our sleep quality, so why shouldn\u2019t we pay as close attention to our feline friends?<\/span><\/p>\nHow Much Do Cats Sleep on Average?<\/b><\/h2>\n
When Do Cats Sleep?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why Do Cats Sleep so Much?<\/b><\/h2>\n
How Much Do Cats Sleep<\/b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n