Our feline friends are all very unique, but they share one thing in common: they love sleeping. In fact, these drowsy little furballs sleep on average around 15 hours per day. Fluffy can sleep up to 20 hours a day. That’s a lot of slumber for a pet that doesn’t really do much! You might wonder why your kitty is so tired. Read on to find out more about your cat’s sleeping habits.

Why Cats Sleep So Much

Kitty physiology has evolved from the great feline predators of the wild, such as lions and panthers. Stalking and hunting instincts are hardwired into your domesticated feline. It’s these instincts that are the root cause of your furry friend’s rather excessive sleep needs.

Hunting takes a tremendous amount of energy. Fluffy has basically trained herself to sleep a lot in order to conserve energy for the hunt. Both domesticated house cats and giant cats in the wild sleep a lot. Kitties are especially tired during the day. 

So, all those catnaps mean our feline pals are saving up their energy for the coming hunt. It doesn’t matter whether they’re chasing antelope or just stalking a cat toy under the dining room table.

Fluffy’s Sleeping Cycle

Fluffy goes back and forth between a dozing state and a deep sleep when she’s sleeping. The dozing period lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour. Your cat remains semi-alert during this time. She may also position herself so that she can easily hop up and move quickly if necessary. The deep sleep portion of the cycle lasts only about five minutes or so before your cat re-enters the dozing period. This back-and-forth continues the entire time Fluffy is resting.

Your Cat’s Schedule

Cats are classified as crepuscular, which is a term in zoology referring to animals (or insects) that are most active at dusk and dawn. This explains why Fluffy gets more zoomies in the evening hours and in the early morning hours. Yes, it’s annoying to have kitty antics wake you up at five in the morning, but those energy bursts are pretty much built into your pet’s biology. Throughout the middle part of the day, of course, you’ll usually find your cat napping peacefully and, of course, looking absolutely adorable.

Do you want to learn more about your cat’s sleeping habits? Do you think Fluffy’s sleep schedule seems off? Contact us to learn more.