Our furry feline friends do like to sleep, like... a lot. But have you ever wondered why your cat sleeps so much? How long does an average cat sleep for, or what is the right amount of sleep for a cat? Should we be waking them up to play, or let sleeping cats lie?

Read on to find out more information on cats and sleep…

How many hours a day do cats sleep?

So, how long do cats sleep for? Sleep patterns vary between cats, but as a general rule, kittens and senior cats need more sleep than adult cats. Cats need more sleep than you might think, with most cats needing between 15 and 20 hours of sleep each day! Lucky cats!

Understanding cat sleeping habits

Our domestic cats' wild ancestors were most active at dawn and dusk, when they hunted for prey.

Hunting uses up a lot of energy, and so wild cats would need to rest for many hours a day in between hunting expeditions to conserve their energy. These sleeping patterns evolved to keep cats healthy and are thought to be necessary for a healthy immune system.

Our domestic cats may now be house cats, with no need to hunt, but old habits die hard, and they tend to still follow the same sleep patterns as their wild ancestors.

Where do cats sleep?

Cats will sleep in a variety of places and won't always make the most sensible choices about where to snooze! They often like to sleep in high-up places such as the top of wardrobes or a sunny shed roof, making them hard to find.

They like to be warm and may snuggle down under duvets, in laundry piles, in airing cupboards or in front of a fire. Their habit of hiding away in such places can be problematic, as it's easy to sit down on a bed without realising your cat is curled up underneath the duvet.

Some cats have even been known to curl up in warm clothes inside an open tumble dryer, with disastrous consequences.

Creating safe cat snoozing spaces

Cats typically sleep in quiet, private places and love a soft, cosy bed. It's important to be mindful of potential dangers to your cat and take steps to prevent your them from accessing these areas. Keep the washing machine and tumble dryer doors closed, keep airing cupboards closed, and check the beds before you sit down.

Cat naps or deep sleeps?

Just like humans, cats can experience different types of sleep. They may have a truly deep sleep, where they're harder to rouse, or they may just have a "cat nap", where they're just light sleeping and are easy to wake.

Do cats dream?

Sometimes you might notice your cat twitching, vocalising, or moving in their sleep. We think that when this happens, they're dreaming. Whereas humans sleep for one long block overnight, cats have evolved to have lots of shorter sleeps throughout the day and night. But this intermittent sleep pattern is perfectly normal.

Why does my cat sleep on me?

Cats often like to curl up near their owners, and some will have the funniest of sleeping positions. There are many reasons why your feline friend may want to sleep next to you, or even on top of you, but one of the main reasons is warmth. Cats love to be cosy, so if they're feeling cold, they'll seek out a warm lap or a cosy bed to share.

Cats may also feel safer sleeping on their humans. When they're asleep, they're vulnerable to attack, but if their trusted human is there, they can relax, knowing someone else is watching out for them.

Most cats love to be stroked and scratched, and so they love to fall asleep with a stroke on a warm lap. It's a pretty good life being a cat!

Is it bad to wake a sleeping cat?

Try not to disturb your cat when they're sleeping, as it's an important part of their day. Cats have evolved to need a lot of sleep, so time spent snoozing is important for them to stay happy and healthy.

If you notice that your cat spends more time sleeping than usual, it may be a good idea to have a chat with your vet. Sleeping more than usual can be a sign that your cat is unwell or in discomfort.

Cats are good at hiding when they're ill, so sometimes sleeping more than usual may be the first subtle sign that they're not feeling 100%.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis – www.vetlexicon.com/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.