What you need to know about your cat’s sleeping habits
Did you know?
Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dusk and dawn.
All curled up in a little ball in a sunny spot, or completely stretched out in a cool place, cats have perfected the ‘catnap’ to a T. They don’t have a care in the world and couldn’t care less whether you still want to make your bed or wash the blanket they’re lying on. As long as your cat is comfortable and feels safe, she will sleep wherever she wants to, and it might not be on the expensive bed that you bought her last summer.
Most cats spend the bulk of their days sleeping, and for good reason. It is important that you don’t interrupt her while she is snoozing, for more reasons than just having a grumpy cat around. This is what you need to know about your cat’s sleeping habits.
MUST SLEEP
Yes, cats are naturally programmed to sleep for many hours during the day. And they also have to sleep during the day to preserve their energy for their evening escapades. Their ancestors had to hunt at dusk and dawn, sometimes even during the night, when their prey was roaming around. Although cats have been domesticated for many years, they still have a natural instinct to hunt, especially at dusk and dawn.
MUST SLEEP HERE
Don’t expect your cat to sleep where you want her to. She will find a comfortable spot where she feels safe, whether it is on your lap or on your bed.
MUST SLEEP HERE AND NOW
Cats sleep anywhere between 12 and 20 hours a day, with kittens and senior cats sleeping more than adult cats. You might find that, if your cat wants to sleep now, then that is what will happen – even if it is in the weirdest spot.
DO NOT DISTURB!
Your cat might go back to sleep immediately after you’ve disturbed her, but generally it is not a good idea to wake her up, especially if she’s still a kitten. Like humans, when your cat sleeps, she builds up her immune system. Sleep also helps to keep her bones healthy and relaxes and restores tired muscles (from all that hunting!). But, if you feel that your cat is sleeping more than normal, take her to the vet for a check-up.
FAST ASLEEP
Although she sleeps for so many hours in a day, not all of it is in a deep sleep. Her levels of sleep will change – from a deep sleep to lighter sleep. And yes, cats also dream.
PARTY TIME
Just as quickly as she can fall asleep, she can also wake up. She will most probably yawn, stretch, look around and then be ready for whatever adventure awaits her. As a cat owner, you will have to accept that, and love her for her ability to sleep anywhere, anytime, for however long she wants.
SAFE AND SECURE
If your cat sleeps on top of or next to you, it probably means that she:
- Trusts you
- Loves you
- Thinks you’re comfortable
- Feels safe with you
- Wants to stay warm
SLEEPING POSITIONS
- Sleeping all curled up is one of the most common positions cats sleep in. She will sleep this way when she feels cold or insecure.
- When your cat sleeps with her belly up, it means that she’s feeling safe and secure and trusts you and her surroundings fully.
- There’s no real reason why your cat sleeps like a contortionist, other than she’s feeling relaxed and is comfortable in that position.
- Covering her eyes with her paws while she is sleeping most probably means that she doesn’t want to be disturbed.
- Another common sleeping position for a content cat is to simply sleep on her side. She is obviously relaxed and could be in a deep sleep or having a quick catnap.
