Why do cats sleep so much?

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 15 February 2021
Update Date: 12 November 2024
Anonim
Why Cats Sleep So Much
Video: Why Cats Sleep So Much

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Do you know how many hours a cat sleeps a day? our kittens can sleep up to 17 hours a day, which corresponds to 70% of an entire day. These hours are distributed over several naps throughout the day and the total number of daily hours will depend on different factors, such as the age of the cat (baby and elderly cats can sleep up to 20 hours a day), its degree of activity, or for reasons of diseases or environmental changes.

In this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about feline sleep, its phases, what is normal and what is not if the cat is sleeping too much and how this varies according to the feline's internal and external conditions. Read on to better understand your furry companion's need for rest and, in short, to know why cats sleep so much!


Is it normal for a cat to sleep a lot?

Yes, it's normal for a cat to sleep a lot. But why do cats sleep so much? Cats are predators, they behave similarly to wild cats, that is, they were projects of anatomical and physiological form for hunting. They need it whether they live on the streets or in a house with guaranteed food.

Wild cats sleep after hunting their prey due to the high amount of energy calories expended in the process. Our house cats do the same, but instead of hunting small prey they usually spend this energy playing with their guardians, running, jumping, chasing and keeping their bodies tense, which causes an adrenaline rush that really depletes them and thus they feel the need to rest, which explains why cats sleep so much.

"Cats are nocturnal animals, they sleep during the day and are awake at night" is a phrase that is often repeated, but it is not entirely true. The highest peak of feline activity coincides with sunrise and sunset, meaning they are twilight animals, not nightly. This also has to do with the hunting time of their wild relatives, as this is when their prey and prey are most active and thus become easier targets. The truth is that during the night your cat will sleep, in many cases, as deeply as you do, as they need little time to develop their predatory instincts.


For more information, see this other article about my cat sleeps a lot - why?

Why does kitten sleep so much?

Many kitten guardians worry that their cat sleeps too much and doesn't play as much as they think he should. So why do cats sleep so much and kittens sleep even more?

During their first few weeks of life, cats need more hours of rest than adult cats and can sleep up to 20 hours a day. This is partly because the growth hormone secreted by the pituitary is released during sleep, occurring within 20 minutes of the beginning of the deep sleep cycle. It is during sleep, therefore, that they grow and develop, as the information learned while awake is also fixed and this is why baby cats need to sleep so much and respecting their sleep is essential.


When they reach four or five weeks of age, the time they spend sleeping decreases until they reach adult sleep hours. As their curiosity grows, they begin to investigate their surroundings, start to feel like playing, running, wagging their tail, their senses of sight and hearing are well developed, some baby teeth appear and weaning begins.

And talking about feline sleep, many humans like to sleep with their furry companions. So maybe you're interested in the article sleeping with cats is bad?

What is the cats sleep cycle like

Well, now that you know why cats sleep so much, let's explain the cat's sleep cycle. When sleeping, cats alternate between light and deep sleep phases. THE most of their sleep, about 70%, is light. These are a few minutes' naps known as "cat naps," which can occur when you are lying down but your ears stay alert to react easily to sounds and other stimuli. This behavior also has an explanation: in addition to predators, cats are prey to other animals, so their instinct makes them alert to possible dangers.

After about thirty minutes of light sleep, they enter the deep sleep phase known as the REM phase, which takes up the remaining percentage of total sleep, and despite having a completely relaxed body, cats do have semi-conscious dreams like the people. This is because they keep their senses of alertness and brain activity similar to when they are awake, so they can move their eyes quickly, their feet, their ears, they can even vocalize and change their position.

Thus, a day for an adult cat can be divided into 7 hours of wakefulness and 17 hours of sleep, of which 12 hours are light sleep and 5 hours of deep sleep.

And since we're talking about why cats sleep so much, you might be asking yourself: do cats dream? Find out in the video below:

Sleep disorders in cats - causes and prevention

There are several factors that can alter a cat's sleep. Here are the most frequent ones:

Temperature

Just like for us humans, extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, disturb a cat's sleep, greatly increasing the time it spends in this activity. If your cat lives indoors, watch the room temperature so that it doesn't become a nuisance for the feline. If you live with a kitten, this is a good idea to pay attention to as you may need to provide a blanket or take it to warmer places to sleep. This will also help prevent respiratory illness and should be taken into account, especially for furless kittens such as the Sphynx.

Illnesses

Cats are experts at hiding their illnesses, so it is very important to watch for changes in sleep as this may indicate that something is wrong with them. If your cat is oversleeping and is sleeping too deeply, it is best to visit your veterinarian to rule out health problems. One of the causes of the problem may be a diet low in protein and essential amino acids; neurological diseases that affect the central nervous system; sensory deficits; abdominal problems (bowel, liver or kidney), cardiovascular disease or blood disorders such as anemia and pain. Oftentimes, increased sleep is accompanied by anorexia and reduced self-hygiene.

On the other hand, if he's sleeping less and has more energy, hunger, and thirst than ever, you might suspect an endocrine problem typical of older cats, the hyperthyroidism.

Boredom

When cats spend most of the day alone and do not have the company of other animals or caretakers playing or spending enough time with them, they will surely get bored and, not finding a better activity, they will sleep. That's why it's so important to spend time with your kitten, this will improve your mood and your health.

heat

During the heat, the cats are more active by the action of hormones and sleep less because they spend much of the day calling the attention of male cats, even being at home alone; on the other hand, males looking for a cat tend to sleep less for this reason and because they are dedicated to marking territory or fighting other cats.

In this other article you will know the symptoms of a cat in heat.

Stress

Stress affects cats a lot and can even cause health problems (such as anorexia or feline idiopathic cystitis), behavioral disturbances and changes in sleeping habits. As a result, they may experience an increase or decrease in sleep hours and will look for a hidden place to try to sleep better.

Many of these situations can be avoided or alleviated. That is why it is important to observe changes in sleep behavior, in the meow, if he is hiding too much or if there has been any increase in aggression. When we notice small changes in their behavior, we may feel that something is wrong. In these cases, it is best to take him to the vet if any changes are detected, there they will make a correct diagnosis and apply the appropriate treatment according to the cause.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why do cats sleep so much?, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.