Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?

March 26, 2018

If there’s one thing you can learn from your cat, it’s the art of the catnap. Cats make sleeping look so warm and inviting, it’s hard not to cuddle up with them on those dark days of winter and snooze the day away. But why do they sleep so much?

The Dawn & Dusk Habits of a Cat

Cats are crepuscular creatures, which means they come alive at dawn and dusk. As hunters, cats are instinctively more alert at dawn and dusk when their favourite critters are up and wandering around – juicy mice and other tasty rodents. In the low light of dawn and dusk, those big, beautiful cats’ eyes work better for hunting prey.

Because of this sensitivity to light, on overcast and rainy days, your cats will prefer to stay under the covers rather than venturing outside. No mice in their right mind will be out in this kind of weather. So go back to sleep, kitty, and save your energy for another day.

Save Your Energy For Hunting 

These natural instincts run deep in domestic cats, who live by this dawn and dusk pattern. When the sun comes up, they know it’s time to snuggle up and sleep, conserving their energy for the big hunt at dusk. 

At night, cats will curl up and sleep again, knowing they’re safe from the bigger predators out at that hour of the night. Once the light starts to change and the sun begins to rise, they’re up, full of energy, rejuvenated and ready for chasing and hunting again.

Cats will sleep as many as 16 hours in one 24-hour period, and older cats are known to sleep as many as 20 hours. Some cats will adapt their sleeping patterns to their humans so they can spend as much time with you as possible. Even if it’s curling up on your lap in front of the TV, as far as they’re concerned, it’s time well spent.

Snoozing and Sleeping

Like humans, when cats sleep they cycle through different sleep patterns from deep, dream-inducing sleep to light snoozing. Experts say that deep sleep lasts about 5-10 minutes, whereas snoozing can last from 15 to 60 minutes at a time. 

Snoozing for your cat is more like sleeping with one eye open, ready to pounce on any would-be attacker.

So if you’re worried that your cat is sleeping too much, don’t be. That’s what cats do. The time to worry is when your cat’s sleeping patterns change. If they’re not getting enough sleep, it could be a sign of some medical issue. 

A sleeping cat is a contented cat. So grab a pillow and get cozy; it’s about to get hairy at dawn!

by Natalie Secretan
Puppy Dog Capers   

Photo credit by: Pasi Mämmelä Napping....A Turkish Van cat @ sleep