Why Do Cats Like to Sleep So Much?

Our feline pals come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and purrsonalities, but they share one thing in common: they love sleeping. In fact, kitties sleep on average around 15 hours per day. Fluffy can even sleep up to 20 hours in a single 24-hour period. That’s a lot of slumber for your pet! You might wonder why your cat is so tired—read on to learn more about kitty 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 stalking and hunting instincts are hardwired into your domesticated furball. It’s these instincts that are the root cause of Fluffy’s excessive sleep needs.

 

The act of hunting takes a tremendous amount of energy for cats. Fluffy sleeps so much in order to conserve energy for the hunt. That’s why both domesticated housecats and giant cats in the wild sleep a lot, especially during the day. They’re saving up their energy for the coming hunt, whether that entails chasing antelope or just stalking a cat toy under the kitchen table.

 

Fluffy’s Sleeping Cycle

Kitties 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. Your cat remains semi-alert during this time and will probably position herself so that she can easily hop up and move quickly if necessary. The deep sleep portion of the cycle lasts only about five minutes or so before your pet re-enters the dozing period. This back-and-forth continues the entire time Fluffy is resting.

 

Your Cat’s Schedule

Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active between dusk and dawn. This explains why Fluffy tends to get more playful in the evening hours and in the early morning hours. Yes, it’s annoying to have your furry friend’s frisky antics wake you up at five in the morning, but it’s simply built into her kitty biology! Throughout the middle part of the day, of course, you’ll usually find Fluffy napping peacefully.

 

Do you want to learn more about your cat’s sleeping habits? Call us today!