How Much Do Cats Sleep

Cats would probably bring home the gold medals if sleeping were an Olympic sport. Cats love sleeping and can sleep up to 15-20 hours a day. And did you know that cats too have their set sleep schedule and timing? These timings and schedules depend on age, health, mood, and more.

For instance, just like human babies, kittens sleep most hours of the day. And if you ever wondered, why is my cat sleeping so much? There are a lot of interesting facts to know about kitties and their naps.

How Long Do Cats Sleep

Cats love to take catnaps. An adult, on average 15 hours, and kittens up to 20 hours is how long do cats sleep, though a significant number of cats might sleep more, which is nothing to worry about. Furthermore, as cats grow older, most of them sleep for more hours each day than they did in their younger years. So, how much do cats sleep exactly?

Amount of Sleep for a Cat Based on their Age

Cats have a polyphasic sleep-wake pattern, which means they sleep multiple times a day rather than for one long period like humans. Moreover, their sleep cycle changes as they grow older. 

Sufficient sleep is essential for the kitten’s brain and central nervous system development and bone and muscle development. It also helps keep their immune system in top shape. Kittens require almost 20 hours of sleep a day. 

Adolescent cats i.e. 3 to 10 years of cats stretch out in the sun whenever they get a chance and sleep for 13 to 16 hours everyday. These young adults are crepuscular, hence are most active at dusk and dawn.

Adult cats have more set sleeping schedules that average out at about 15 – 20 hours of sleep each day.

Senior cats typically sleep a bit more than adolescent and adult cats. They tend to be less active, gain or lose weight and have trouble reaching their favourite places. Furthermore, senior cats often like warm places to rest.

Sleep Cycle in Cats

Similar to humans, cats, too, have an internal clock. Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn. 

And just like humans, cats experience different stages of sleep. They have both non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Cats often experience a period of alertness and activity before becoming drowsy and then falling into NREM sleep, during which the cat may be lightly asleep and ready to awake at a moment’s notice.

Eventually, the sleeping cat transitions from NREM to REM sleep. During the REM sleep cycle, the cat’s eyes move rapidly, which is also when they dream like humans. Furthermore, during REM sleep, the cat can twitch or go limp with a loss of muscle tone.

Is a Cat Always in Deep Sleep

There’s a reason why they refer to it as “catnap.” According to the International Congress of Physiological Sciences in Tokyo, only about 25 percent of a cat’s sleep is deep sleep, while the other 75 percent of the time, they are lightly snoozing. Moreover, a cat’s daily sleep consists of 3.2 hours of REM sleep daily.

When Should You Be Concerned

You know your cat’s behaviour best because there isn’t a set amount of sleep to indicate a health problem or health emergency. Instead, observe sudden changes in your cat’s sleeping habits alongside other symptoms. 

Symptoms like Vocalizing, noticing if the cat is meowing more than usual, purring, growling, or hissing. Notice if they are restless or pacing and unable to find a comfortable place to lie down. Any changes in daily habits or facial expressions. Talk to your veterinarian if you observe any of these or other unusual changes.

Final Words

Cats are notoriously known for their love for sleep and catnaps. This is because they have a polyphasic sleep-wake pattern. And as they grow older, cats tend to sleep for more hours than they did in their younger years.

But, if you notice any unusual changes, talk to your veterinarian. They will help examine the cause of your cat’s changes and identify if they are normal or require further investigation.

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