Cats are known for sleeping a lot. In fact, adult cats sleep anywhere between 12-20 hours per day. So why do cats sleep so much? Historically, the wildcat ancestors of cats would sleep to conserve energy in order to hunt and catch prey later. This instinct stayed in the genes even as cats become the domesticated creatures we know today.
Origins of Why Cats Sleep So Much
It’s a survival benefit for many wild animals, including wildcats, to conserve as much energy as possible. This may be because food has been scarce recently and they’re low on energy. Or they might be saving up energy for their next hunt to get more calories. Whatever the case may be, it’s been an evolutionary benefit for wildcats to sleep a lot to save energy.
Even as cats became house pets, they never lost that energy-conservation instinct. Cats first become domesticated around 10,000-20,000 years ago. While that may seem like a lot of time, it’s actually not in terms of animal adaptation. Simply put, house cats haven’t had enough time to evolve away from their inclination to sleep a lot and conserve energy.
How Much Do Cats Sleep?
So how much sleep do cats need exactly? Well, this number depends largely on the age of the cat. For instance:
- Kittens will likely sleep most of the day, around 22 hours.
- Adolescent cats may have erratic sleep patterns combined with periods of intense playfulness. They still sleep longer than adult cats, anywhere from 18-22 hours.
- Adult cats tend to have more set sleeping schedules that average out at about 12 – 20 hours of sleep each day.
- Senior cats will tend to have less energy and reduced mobility which means they will sleep more than younger cats. Senior cats may sleep anywhere from 16-22 hours each day.
Also, cats aren’t fully deep asleep the entire time they’re sleeping. Light sleeping makes up about 3/4 of your cat’s sleep time, with just 1/4 of their sleep time being devoted to deep sleep. This is why most of the time they can pop right out of their slumber and seem fully alert right away.
How Much Do Kittens Sleep?
If you’ve just gotten a new kitten and are worried about how much they’re sleeping, fear not. Kittens need a lot of sleep in order to grow and develop. In fact, kittens will sleep up to 22 hours per day; that’s 90% of their day! Typically kittens will need this much sleep until about 3 months of age, after which their sleeping hour slowly decline.
When Do Cats Sleep a Lot?
Cats aren’t actually nocturnal (nighttime) creatures like most people think. Rather, they are crepuscular, meaning they’re awake mostly at dawn and dusk, the times between day and night. Because of this, you’ll notice your cat sleeping during the main hours of the day and through the middle of the night.
On the flip side, you’ll see your cat have the most energy and activity right when you’re trying to go to bed and right around when you wake up. As annoying as this may be, it’s an instinct they’ve adopted from their wild ancestors.
Should I Be Worried My Cat is Sleeping a Lot?
On average a normal cat will snooze for about 12-20 hours per day, and it’s perfectly normal for a cat to sleep that much. However, if your cat is sleeping longer than the usual amount, and they have other unusual signs of illness, you may need to see a vet.
There’s a difference between sleeping a lot and general lethargy and fatigue. If you’re cat is unusually tired during their waking hours or sleep longer than 20 hours per day, it may be a sign something is amiss. Here are a few signs you need to take your cat to the vet:
- Obvious Distress
- Abnormal Litter Box Behavior like peeing outside the littler box
- Vomiting
- Changes in Appetite
- Unusual Lump or Growth
- Coughing or Labored Breathing
- Discharge from the Eyes or Nose
More often than not, though, your cat is probably just bored. Keep plenty of toys around and take time to play with your cat to stave away boredom.
