Is your cat asleep right now? There’s a good chance that the answer to that question is yes. If Fluffy is actually awake, she probably won’t be for long. Our feline pals certainly are drowsy! Here, a London, ON vet discusses kitty sleeping habits.
Why Are Cats So Tired?
Cats can sleep up to 20 hours a day. Kittens and senior cats sleep the most: other felines average about 14 hours. Do they actually need that much rest? We’re not entirely convinced, but there are a few things to consider. In the wild, kitties spend tremendous amounts of energy in a short time hunting their dinner. Our feline buddies also don’t have many ways to cool off if they overheat. Fluffy may be erring on the side of caution.
Sleeping Patterns
Technically, cats are crepuscular, which means they are more active at dusk and dawn. However, we suspect that not all of our feline companions got that memo. Cats, as you may have noticed, can sleep pretty much any time. It is worth noting that many kitties adjust their sleep schedules so that they can spend more time with their humans. If you work nights, Fluffy will take some naps while you’re gone, but she’ll still snuggle up with you when you go to bed.
Rainy Days
Kitties sleep even more than usual when it’s dreary out. We can’t really blame Fluffy for this one. Rainy days do make great napping weather! There’s something very relaxing about settling in with a good movie and a purring cat on rainy or snowy days.
Drowsy Kitty
Most of the time, Fluffy isn’t sound asleep when she’s napping. If you call her name, she may flick her tail, twitch her ears, or open an eye. Kitties spend a lot of their naptime dozing, meaning that they’re still monitoring what’s going on around them. In the wild, this helps alert them to the presence of predators or prey.
Dream On
Have you ever seen your furry buddy twitching or making little noises while she’s asleep, and wondered if she is dreaming? Studies show that cats do dream when they are in deep sleep cycles. No one knows for sure what Fluffy dreams about, but we suspect boxes, trees, and sunbeams may be involved.
Do you have questions about your cat’s health or care? Contact us, your London, ON vet clinic, today!
