Is your cat asleep right now? We’re guessing that the answer is probably a yes for many of your. Our feline pals love sleeping. In fact, kitties sleep on average around 15 hours per day, and can even sleep up to 20 hours in a single 24-hour period. That’s a lot of slumber time for a furball! You might wonder why Fluffy rests so much. Read on to find out more about your cat’s sleeping habits.

Why Cats Sleep So Much

You may know that kitty physiology has evolved from the great feline predators of the wild, like lions and panthers. Even tiny, cuddly cats have some lion in them! This means that stalking and hunting instincts are hardwired into our feline pals. It’s these instincts that are the root cause of your cat’s rather excessive sleep needs.

Hunting uses up a lot of energy for your cat. The main reason Fluffy sleeps so much is in order to conserve energy for the hunt. It doesn’t matter whether a cat is hunting antelope, chasing mice, or just halfheartedly pawing at a catnip mouse. That energy conservation is why domesticated house cats and giant cats in the wild both tend to sleep a lot, especially during the day.

Fluffy’s Sleeping Cycle

Our feline pals go back and forth between a dozing state and a deep sleep while they’re sleeping. That dozing period lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour. Fluffy remains semi-alert during this time. She also tends to position herself so that she can easily hop up and move quickly if necessary. The deep sleep portion of the cycle, on the other hand, lasts only about five minutes or so. Afterwards, your drowsy pet re-enters the dozing period. This back-and-forth continues the entire time your cat is snoozing.

Your Cat’s Schedule

Ever wonder why Fluffy tends to get more active in the evening hours and in the early morning hours? Cats are technically crepuscular, which is a term in zoology referring to animals that are most active between dusk and dawn. (Some seem to sleep all day and all night, but that’s another topic.) Throughout the middle part of the day, of course, you’ll usually find your cat napping peacefully. Make sure she has plenty of beds to choose from! 

Do you want to learn more about your cat’s sleeping habits? Do you think Fluffy’s sleep schedule seems off? Contact us to learn more.