Sleeping soundly during the day and wide awake at night! Cat sleep habits

Have you ever been jealous of cats for being able to sleep so much? It's said that humans sleep an average of about 8 hours, but how many hours do cats sleep? Let's take a look at how cats sleep...

Cat sleeping time

Adult cats sleep 16 hours a day

Cats sleep so much that one theory says the word "cat" comes from "neko" (sleeping cat). They sleep a whopping 16 hours a day, twice as much as humans. However, nearly 12 of those hours are spent in REM sleep, a light nap where the brain is highly active. Cats sometimes twitch their legs or tails while sleeping, which is evidence that they are not deep asleep, and they will quickly react to any noise.

Kittens sleep nearly 20 hours a day

Nursing kittens sleep even longer, sleeping nearly 20 hours a day. It's not uncommon for kittens to sleep for more than 20 hours. The reason kittens sleep so much is because growth hormones are secreted while they sleep. As the saying goes, "a good sleeper grows up," and you shouldn't hinder their growth, so try not to wake your kitten while it's sleeping.

Sleeping a lot is for energy conservation

So why do adult cats sleep so much? The answer is that cats are carnivores. Carnivores use a lot of energy hunting, so they need to sleep well at other times to conserve their energy. In other words, cats sleep a lot to conserve energy. That's why they sleep more than usual on rainy days. This is because when it rains, the scent disappears and they can't hunt. Of course, modern domestic cats don't need to hunt. But the reason they sleep so much is probably because wild memories are etched into their DNA.

Aren't cats nocturnal? Cats are active at dawn and dusk

Cats are often thought of as nocturnal because they sometimes run around in the middle of the night. However, cats are not nocturnal; more accurately, they are crepuscular animals. This means that they are active at dawn and during the twilight hours just after sunset. Even cats that sleep during the day will suddenly wake up at these times, and energetic cats will run around the house and jump up and down. In fact, dawn and twilight are the active times for mice, cats' prey. No matter how good a cat is at catching mice, they can't hunt unless the mice come out of their burrows. Cats live according to the mice's schedule in order to hunt. On the other hand, modern domestic cats rely on their owners for food, so they live according to humans' schedules. At dawn, their owners are asleep, and at twilight, their owners are busy preparing meals, so they don't get much playtime and have no choice but to be quiet. If such cats sleep all day, they will have too much energy and start exercising at night.

About sleeping positions

Cats have unique sleeping positions

Cats sleep 16 hours a day, and although they always seem to be asleep during the day, their sleeping positions are quite unique! Sometimes they sleep in a cramped position with their legs folded, sometimes they sleep stretched out, and sometimes they sleep curled up - it's so fascinating to watch them that you never get bored. They look so comfortable sleeping that you can't help but want to take pictures of them, and before you know it, you've ended up taking pictures of sleeping cats.

Cats change their sleeping position depending on the temperature around them

A cat's sleeping position changes depending on the temperature around them. Just as humans curl up when it's cold and stretch out their limbs when it's hot, cats also change their sleeping position to maintain a constant body temperature. Cats sleep curled up when it's cold. It's generally said that when the temperature drops below 15°C, they curl up to prevent body heat from escaping. Cats sometimes sleep in a "casual position" with their legs tucked under their body, but when they do this, the temperature is slightly lower. Conversely, when it gets hot, their sleeping position becomes bolder. As the temperature rises, their body stretches out, exposing their bellies. Cats are particularly bold in midsummer. They sleep with their bellies fully exposed and folded up to release body heat.

Understanding your cat's feelings from its sleeping position

A cat's sleeping position also changes depending on its mood. If it is curled up but sleeping with its paws on the floor so it can move quickly, it means it is alert. If it is sleeping with its legs folded and cannot move quickly, it means it is at ease. If it is sleeping with its belly exposed and defenseless, it means it is completely relaxed and at ease.

summary

Cats are crepuscular animals that are active at dawn and dusk, and sleep soundly during the day. Adult cats sleep for 16 hours a day, while kittens sleep even longer than adult cats, sleeping nearly 20 hours a day. Adult cats sleep a lot during the day to conserve their energy, while kittens sleep a lot to grow bigger. If you see a sleeping cat, try observing its sleeping position. A cat's sleeping position changes depending on the surrounding temperature and whether it is alert or safe.

Sleeping Cat Goods and Items

Here we will introduce miscellaneous goods and merchandise featuring cute sleeping cats! Why not feel even more soothed by looking at the cute sleeping cats?

Fukura Animal Bell Netsuke - Sleeping Cat

[Cat-centric Selection] Concombre Fruit Parlor Cat Figurine Mini - Sleeping Banana Kitty