You thought of playing with the furry pet on Sunday, and your kitty dozes off now and then. It might disappoint you, but cats have such a genetic design. However, cats are adorable pets that can adapt to your lifestyle with a little training. One needs to understand their sleeping habits before expecting them to be active and play cheerfully.
- Cats are neither nocturnal or diurnal:
Cats are excellent hunters. One might have seen their pet, hiding and pouncing on their toys and food. They have fun chasing small animals and insects. And, most of the running and chasing happens after the Sunset. So, cats are generally active after dusk, and that is the time most of us reach home. But, you cannot expect the same kind of activity during the daytime. They take small naps and preserve their energy for trailing and tracking work they need to take up afterward. Cats have a distinct quality of being active in dim light conditions, and that is why their preferred hunting time is at dusk and dawn.
- Cats are alert while sleeping:
Cats belong to the Felidae family. Some of the animals that belong to the same family are lions, tigers, leopards, etc. The closest relative of the furry pet is the wild cat. Therefore, it is natural for cats to have a strong sense of smell and sound. Even in their deep sleep, they can sense their predators and prey. So, our cat friends do not require waking up time and can start playing at a moment’s notice. Perhaps, their ability to doze at any time and become brisk instantaneously led to the term catnap.
- Cats can sleep for 15-20 hours:
If your pet sleeps throughout the day, you should not be surprised. They are not lazy; they were like this before domestication. Cats prefer a protein-rich diet that takes longer for digestion. So, a long slumber helps with metabolism. Moreover, cats require a lot of energy for hunting as they are smaller in size. So, they take enough rest and are super active once they are awake. Cats also tend to sleep because of boredom.
- You can train your cats to sleep at night:
Now we know that cats sleep for pretty long hours. If they take too many naps during the day time, then there are chances that you may have to stay awake the whole night. If pet cats do not get proper playtime and attention during the day, then they might become naggy at night. The best thing is to have a play session with the pet before you go to bed. They will get tired faster and sleep at the drop of a hat.
Cats do not sleep for long hours, continually like humans. They may wake up in the wee hours. It is advisable to have cat beds near the window so that they could stare at the outside world as you sleep. One can also hide their toys in places around the house as cats like to do some hard work after their power naps. You should also leave some food for them to eat at night or use automatic feeders.
- REM Sleep:
Similar to humans, cats can have REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep. In REM sleep, the brain activity and the pulse rate are higher, and one can have dreams. So cats do have dreams, and you can recognize it when they twitch their toes and whiskers. They can recollect and process the events about the whole day in their sleep. It is the characteristic of all felines. It helps them in hunting. It is advisable not to wake the pet up when it exhibits rapid movements during sleep. It might pounce on you, scratch, and even bite you.
- Sleeping hours are age-dependent
Cats can sleep for an average of 12 – 16 hours a day. But for kittens, the sleep time is more. They need to grow, and during sleep growth hormones are released.
It is common for domesticated cats that are old to sleep more. One of the reasons could be the increased longevity. Earlier, cats as old as eight years were in the senior category. But now, pet cats get high nutrition and improved medication. Now cats live longer, but with the increasing age, they become slower, less playful, and sleep more.
- Cats love to sleep in tiny spaces:
Wild cats even have enemies. It is their habit to tuck up in a secretive place when their predators are on a prowl. Cats find smaller places safe and warm. It is again due to their wild instincts that you find fluffy pals in a shoebox or wardrobe racks. They like places that are better hiding spots. Cats also sleep on their owners as they seek warmth and love.
Cats rank higher among the sleepiest animals. So, their catnaps should not bother you. Some even snore while sleeping. But one has to seek medical advice if breathing is louder when the pet is awake. Similarly, if the cat is lethargic and less frisky, it implies some health issues. Owning a pet means responsibility. One should provide a healthy diet, have a play routine, and keep an eye on them. It is also imperative to know that cats are one of the cleanest pets. They have a strong sense of smell and may not like their dirty perch or toys. And, let us all note that punishing and scaring the pet is a strict no.
