Is your cat sleeping right now? There’s a good chance that the answer to that question is yes. If Fluffy is awake, it probably won’t be too long before she starts looking for her next napping spot. Our feline friends certainly are tired! Why do kitties sleep so much? Is being adorable really that draining? A London, ON vet offers some insight into your drowsy pet’s sleeping habits below.

Average Sleep Time

Fluffy certainly is a ninja when it comes to sleeping.Cats can spend as much as 20 hours a day snoozing, though most of them sleep a ‘mere’ 12 to 16 hours a day. Kittens and older cats are particularly tired, as they sleep the most. With baby cats, this is relevant to their growth, because feline growth hormones are released during sleep cycles. Your tiny furball may be slightly bigger after a long nap! Senior cats apparently sleep just to conserve energy. Or, perhaps they’ve just gotten really good at snoozing after years of practice.

Drowsing

Most of the time, Fluffy isn’t completely zonked out. She’s usually just dozing, and will still be half-listening to what’s going on around her. You may notice that she’ll move her ears or twitch her tail in response to certain sounds. This comes in handy in the wild, as kitties can get the rest they need while still staying alert to noises and vibrations that could mean either a predator or prey is nearby.

Schedules

Have you ever noticed that dreary, rainy days make you feel relaxed and a little tired? This happens to Fluffy, too. Kitties sleep even more than usual when it’s overcast or stormy. (We can’t really blame them: rainy afternoons do make great napping weather.) Your furball may also adjust her napping schedule to sync up with yours, so she can sleep with you at night.

Dreams

Does Fluffy sometimes twitch or make sounds in her sleep? In case you were wondering, yes, your furry little buddy is dreaming. Just like people, cats tend to dream when they are in the deepest type of sleep cycle, that being REM sleep. Ever wonder what your feline buddy is dreaming about? We’d love to know, but Fluffy isn’t telling. However, we suspect things like boxes, sofas, squirrels, toys, and catnip may be involved.

Is Fluffy due for an appointment? Contact us, your London, ON animal clinic!