While You Were Sleeping?

Our cat friends are the true masters of falling asleep at every moment, in every place, in all circumstances. But why do cats sleep so much and what happens in their minds when they do? Do they have sleep cycles just like humans? When answering the question “Why do cats sleep so much?” we will first look at how long they sleep. Cats can sleep even 16 hours a day, and older cats sleep as much as 20 hours. This sleeping custom stems from their evolution, eating habits and their physiology. In the wild cats have to hunt in order to eat, and the chase after the pray takes up a lot of energy. That is why the predator has to rest a lot. When sleeping, the cats regain their strength for the next hunting.

Do cats sleep well?

Cats do not always sleep well. About three quarters of the time in which the cats sleep, we can call napping. In this state the cats are on alert so as to wake up at any moment. You can notice when the cat is in a light sleep, because their ears move in the direction of the sounds and their eyes open a little. Even when they are sitting, cats can get into a nap. The cat is a predator, his instinct orders him to be on alert and always ready to chase his victim. And so when he is napping – he puts his body in a position from which he can at any moment attack.

Cats have a deep sleep and they even dream.

The remaining part of the sleep the cat spends in a deep sleep. Older cats can even spend from 30 up to 40 percent of their time in a deep sleep. When in a deep sleep, cats are usually curled up, and their eyes are shut. Sometimes they may even have their tale on their face as if they have a fluffy mask. Deep sleep plays a key role in the regeneration of the body and the preservation of health. It is also the time in which your cat dreams. If you have seen the cat’s mustache or paws twitch during his sleep, the chances are that he is dreaming.

Some cats snore when they sleep.

Cats snore when the respiratory tract is blocked by an additional skin from a soft palate. It most probably happens when your cat is relaxed. Snoring occurs more often with the short-nose races, such as Persian, Himalayan or exotic shorthair cat.

Changing the sleeping habits of your pet may be the sign of trouble.

If your cat is starting to sleep a lot longer or shorter than he used to, contact a veterinarian. Excessive sleep can be a sign of illness or pain, and a frequent state of alert can suggest a problem, such as overactive thyroid gland.

Is there anything else affecting the cat’s sleep?

The weather changes. The cat’s behavior may differ, depending on his race, age, temper, and its general health. Aside from those factors, it was observed that cats sleep longer when the weather is not fit for other activities. Rain or cold will keep them on the couch. When the weather outside is wet and terrible, all we can do is say “They have it good.”