Is it normal for my cat to sleep so much?

It’s no secret, that cats love to sleep. Some kitties can sleep 16 to 20 hours a day. So how is it that a cat can sleep for that long? There are many reasons why, here are 3 of them:

All part of the cycle – hunt, eat, groom, sleep, repeat…

Even though people have kept cats for a very long time, our feline friends still feel the need to hunt for their food. Wild cats tend to sleep a lot in anticipation of the hunt leading up to their next meal. Because their prey tend to be small animals like birds and mice, they need to hunt several times a day to eat their fill.

House cats replace hunting with playtime. I tend to play with my cat 15-20 minutes before mealtime. I’ll take out the laser pointer and make sure she does a few laps around the living room. Eventually, she slows down and her focus isn’t always on the laser. That’s when I know she’s ready to eat.

I’ve been serving her dry food at dinner time in a puzzle feeder to keep the hunt going a little longer. She seems to enjoy it. Soon after dinner, she’ll go to her favourite napping spot. She’ll groom herself for a little bit then drift off to sleep until she gets another burst of energy.

How much sleep do cats actually need?

The amount of sleep your feline friend needs will depend on their age. Cats have a higher metabolism than humans. So, it’s normal that they would need to recharge more often.

If you’re taking care of a kitten, depending on how young they are, they could be sleeping for up to 20 hours a day. Because they grow quickly, much of their development happens when kittens sleep. You should let them sleep as much as they want especially if they’re less than 3 months. Eventually, they will be awake long enough for some play time as they experience little bursts of energy.

As adults, cats sleep on average 14 hours a day. Your fur baby may sleep less or more. Like humans, some cats need or enjoy more sleep. One thing you might notice though, is that they may appear to be sleeping but most of the time, they’re just napping. They are not really in a deep sleep. They’re still paying attention to what’s going on and are ready to react if they feel threatened. Even when my cat is snoring, I have a hard time sneaking in a picture or video without her springing up wide awake.

Once your cat is a senior, they will start to sleep more and more. No need to be worried if nothing else has changed in their behaviour. Senior kitties have less energy and need to sleep more often to recharge. If they also stop eating or start eliminating outside of the litter box, bring them to the vet just in case.

When do cats really sleep?

Another instinct remains in house cats. They are more active at dawn and dusk. That’s when their prey moves in the wild. The term for this behaviour is that cats are crepuscular animals.

How often does your cat suddenly get the zoomies just as you’re trying to fall asleep? It may not make being woken up by your cat any less frustrating. But, it might help you understand why it seems like your furry friend is always sleeping during the day. They are not necessarily sleeping all night as well.

Make sure your cat sleeps comfortably in this washable luxury cat bed

(paid ad)

As you can see, there are a few reasons why a cat sleeps as much as they do. Is there such a thing as too much sleep? In the end, you know your cat’s sleep schedule. If you have concerns, talk to your vet for the best advice. If your fur baby is keeping you up at night, start a short play, eat sleep cycle shortly before bed. With time, my cat has adjusted to my sleep routine. Whether she’s sleeping or wide awake all night, she very rarely wakes me up at night. Let’s hope you’re as lucky as I am to have such a considerate Kitty!