Why do cats sleep so much?

Cats sleep a lot, often between 12 and 16 hours a day, and some sleep even more. Many owners wonder why their cat sleeps so much, and whether there is a pattern to it.

Why cats need so much sleep

How much an animal sleeps is linked to how it lives and eats. A typical herbivore needs to graze for many hours a day to get enough energy from plants. Cats are carnivores. In the wild, they hunt in short, intense bursts, followed by a meal rich in protein.

That makes it sensible for cats to save energy between hunts, which is why your cat will take almost any opportunity for a nap.

What sleep does for cats

As in people, the body repairs itself during sleep. Sleep is important for growth in kittens.

Types of sleep

Like other mammals, cats have two main kinds of sleep.

• REM sleep (rapid eye movement): the eyes move quickly under the lids and the brain is active, while the body stays relaxed. In people, this is when most dreaming happens.
• Non-REM sleep: non-REM sleep includes lighter dozing and deeper, slow-wave sleep, when brain activity slows.

Cats tend to sleep in several periods through the day rather than one long stretch. A sleep period usually starts with non-REM sleep and then moves into shorter spells of REM sleep.

Your cat's daily rhythm

Like us, cats have a daily body clock, with preferred times for sleep and activity. Many people think cats are nocturnal, but they are crepuscular, meaning they are most active around dawn and dusk.

Cats' sleep patterns are flexible, and many pet cats adapt to the household they live in. A cat that is alone for much of the day will often sleep while the house is empty and wake up ready for company when people come home. Some cats left alone all day fall back on their natural pattern, which can mean waking you up well before dawn. A cat with company during the day may be more awake then and sleep better at night.

If your cat is active at night, more play during the day and evening may help them settle when the rest of the household sleeps.

When to talk to your vet

If your cat suddenly sleeps much more or less than usual, or seems restless or unwell, talk to your vet.