Cats sleep 2-2.5 times longer than humans; on average, it takes them from 14 to 22 hours for this serene occupation.
Cats’ sleep is not uninterrupted: an animal falls asleep quickly, wakes up, does its business, and sinks back into the arms of Morpheus.
Why do cats sleep so much and what does the duration of their sleep depend on?
To answer this question, we need to turn to the pets’ physiology. In the wild, predator cats hunt for food – they can’t afford to sleep as much as a house cat does.
Pets do not need to get food for themselves – all the free time they spend on sleeping. In addition, only in the state of deep sleep do cats have a full-fledged rest.
Several factors affect the length of a cat’s sleep:
- Pet age. Kittens and older individuals sleep much longer.
- Cat breed. Scottish and British cats can go to sleep as soon as they eat. Abyssinians and Ocicats have active temperaments from a young age, so their sleeping time is shorter.
- Health and stress are two other factors that affect how long a cat sleeps. Sick animals and stressed cats sleep less. Their sleep is more sensitive.
- The environment of the house and the cat’s surroundings. A restless sleep may be the result of the cat being scared, uncomfortable, or someone in the household bothering it a lot.
If your pet is healthy, full, but sleeps less than 12 hours a night and his sleep is intermittent and restless, try to find and eliminate the cause of his discomfort. You may have to build him a secluded sleeping place or just give him more of your attention and affection.
How many hours a kitten should sleep
We have already mentioned that kittens sleep longer than adult cats. Newborn babies can sleep for almost 24 hours, waking up only to eat.
Older kittens at 1 month of age sleep a little less – 21-22 hours.
This is considered normal, because kittens need adequate sleep for their growth and development. This is why it is so important to create a cozy, secluded place for kittens to protect their sleep from unnecessary intrusive attention. By the way, while the kitten is with its mother and suckling milk, its daily schedule is determined by the mother-cat.
Grown-up 2-month-old kittens sleep 18-20 hours a day. This is a time of active maturation. The kittens begin to crawl around their mother, explore the world and play with their siblings. In another couple of months, kittens learn to run, jump – they like these activities, they stay awake for these mobile games.
How many hours a day do adult cats sleep
It is difficult for an owner to tell how much sleep cats get per day; some people think that cats sleep all the time. In fact, healthy adults sleep less than kittens.
The normal duration of cat sleep is 14-16 hours.
Of course, everything is very individual and depends on the state of mind of the cat, the environment in the house, and the temperament of the breed.
But even if your adult and perfectly healthy cat sleeps about 20 hours – it is not a reason to go to the vet. The alarm should be sounded only if the prolonged sleep is accompanied by other symptoms: poor appetite, loss of activity, and lethargy.
How many hours do cats sleep a day in old age
With age, the duration of the cat’s sleep increases significantly.
Very old cats can sleep at the level of kittens – up to 22 hours a night.
Animals wake up only to eat and go to the bathroom. During this period of a pet’s life, owners should be especially attentive to the health of an aging cat. Natural degenerative processes occur in the animal’s body.
To get your adult cat a better night’s sleep, choose the best cat house for your home.
How long do sick cats sleep
Sick animals may have a change in sleep time. Both in the aspect of increasing its duration and in the aspect of decreasing.
If the cat sleeps much longer and has other negative symptoms: apathy, poor appetite, fever, or diarrhea, the animal must be shown to the veterinarian immediately.
A significant decrease in sleep time can signal an abnormality of the thyroid gland. In any case, the diagnosis should only be made by a doctor.
The main causes of sleep disorders of a cat
Animals as well as people can suffer from sleep disorders: insomnia or drowsiness. The main causes of such disorders:
- heat or freezing cold;
- pregnancy;
- stressful situation: moving, having a new baby or a new pet in the house;
- hormones, thyroid disorders;
- diseases: fever, worms, diarrhea, etc.