How Many Hours a Day do Cats Sleep Based on Age?

 If you own a cat, you might have seen that they seem to sleep for the most of the day. Additionally, your cat can be livelier in the morning or evening, possibly even waking you up.

Your cat's sleeping habits may appear strange in comparison to your own, yet they may be entirely typical for cats. Find out more about your cat's natural sleeping habits to help you understand them, identify when they're not feeling well, and decide when to contact your veterinarian.

What Happens During Catnaps?

Adult cats between the ages of three and ten typically sleep between thirteen and sixteen hours every day, whereas younger cats and kittens need close to twenty hours or more. This is an average, of course, and just as some people require more or less beauty sleep, so too will some cats sleep more or less than others.

To further comprehend the cat sleep cycle, keep in mind that although humans sleep for extended periods of time at a time, cats actually invented the phrase "catnap," and for good reason. Cats, you know, don't actually sleep for eight hours at a time as we do. They will alternate between light, deep sleep, and light naps throughout every twenty-four-hour period.

How Many Hours a Day Does a Cat Sleep?

Over 50% of cats sleep for 12 to 18 hours every day. Reliable Source: Biotech Information, National Library of Medicine. The National Center for Biotechnology Information makes genomic and biological data accessible, promoting research and health. Examine the Source, ... over 40% of cats sleep longer than eighteen hours a day. Most cats that get older sleep longer hours every day than they did when they were younger.

Why do cats sleep so much?

Although it's a misnomer, cats are not nocturnal as you may have heard. Your cat goes to sleep as soon as you leave the house for work, but they are actually most active in the morning and at dusk, which explains why they paw your face in the morning. Cats often retreat and lie low during the dark night hours and during the day when other predators are up and about, saving dawn and twilight for optimal hunting time. This is not a behavior that your spoiled house cat learned just to irritate you.

The food cats eat also affects how they sleep. Predators hunt, consume, and then rest. Because prey is a far more substantial energy source than plants, they can be satisfied with a single meal for a considerable amount of time. Even though a successful hunt guarantees far more food, pursuing and securing your meal requires far more effort than simply munching on grass or leaves. A big cat's need for hunting, mating, and socializing must be satisfied before it can continue to remain active and awake, which wastes valuable energy. Sleep is the most effective way for cats to utilize the remaining hours of the day, as they have evolved to do.

Cat Sleeping Problems

If you discover that your adult cat is sleeping more than usual, it may be a sign of a medical issue, even though excessive sleeping in kittens is rarely a problem. Many feline disorders, such chronic kidney disease, start slowly in adulthood, but any condition can make a cat withdraw and sleep longer hours. In an adult cat, excessive sleeping may also indicate the presence of pain, such as arthritis.

On the other end of the scale, if your adult cat appears to be sleeping less and has an infinite supply of energy, this could indicate a medical issue like hyperthyroidism. In middle-aged and older cats, hyperthyroidism is a reasonably common endocrine illness in which the thyroid gland overproduces thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism can result in hyperactivity in addition to other clinical indications such weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, increased appetite, and thirst. A veterinarian visit can provide treatment for this restlessness, which can disrupt a cat's sleep cycle and prevent her from getting all the catnaps she needs.

Should You Worry About Your Cat's Sleep?

There are several natural causes for why your cat's sleeping patterns can alter. For instance, your cat might need more sleep than normal if they have been active for a long time. Your cat's sleeping patterns may be affected by an environment change, such as a move or the addition of a new family member. Your cat will need more sleep as they become older.

Unusual sleep or excessive wakefulness patterns, however, can point to a medical issue. If your pet is sick, you can notice more changes in them, like altered eating or sleeping patterns, signs of confusion, or unexplained weight increase or loss.

Excessive Sleep and Lethargy

• Kidney Disease
• Deafness
• Hypothyroidism

Restlessness and Decreased Sleep

• Lack of Stimulation
• Hyperthyroidism
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Bagikan Artikel ini