Why Do Cats Like to Sleep So Much?

Kitties come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and personalities. However they share one thing in common: they love sleeping. In fact, cats sleep on average roughly 15 hours per day, and can even sleep up to 20 hours in a single 24-hour period. That’s a lot of slumber for our feline friends! You might wonder why your cat rests so much—read on to find out more about your pet’s sleeping habits.

Why Cats Sleep So Much

Kitties’ physiology has evolved from the great feline predators of the wild, like lions and panthers. This means that those stalking and hunting instincts are hardwired into your domesticated feline. It’s actually these instincts that are the root cause of your cat’s excessive sleep needs.

The act of hunting takes a tremendous amount of energy for cats. Your pet sleeps so much in order to conserve energy for the hunt. That’s why both domesticated house cats and giant cats in the wild both tend to sleep a lot, especially during the day. They’re saving up their energy for the coming hunt, whether they’re chasing antelope or just batting a cat toy under the dining room table.

Fluffy’s Sleeping Cycle

Our feline pals go back and forth between a dozing state and a deep sleep while they’re sleeping. That dozing period lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour, and your kitty remains semi-alert during this time and tends to position herself so that she can easily hop up and move quickly if necessary. The deep sleep portion of the cycle, on the other hand, will last only about five minutes or so before your cat re-enters the dozing period. This back-and-forth will continue the entire time your cat is resting.

Your Cat’s Schedule

Cats are crepuscular. That is a term in zoology referring to animals (or insects) that are the most active between dusk and dawn. This explains why Fluffy tends to get more playful in the evening hours and in the early mornings. We know, it’s annoying to have your cat’s antics wake you up at five in the morning, but it’s simply built into your pet’s biology! Throughout the middle part of the day, of course, you’ll usually find your furry pal napping peacefully.

Do you want to learn more about your pet’s sleeping habits? Do you think Fluffy’s sleep schedule seems off? Contact us to learn more.