marjoleiny / Pixabay
by Nomi Berger
Felines are famously known for their catnaps, but as every cat owner knows, their precious pusses are also adept at sleeping the days away.
Cats spend a great deal of their time sleeping. The average cat sleeps for 13-18 hours a day. The exact number can change according to the cat’s age and personality. Cats that spend the day alone at home tend to sleep throughout the day.
Newborn kittens spend most of their time sleeping. In fact, this is nature’s way to make sure that the kittens do not wander out of the nest, or make noise that might attract predators while the mother cat is away. As the weeks pass, the kittens’ sleeping hours gradually change to match those of the adults.
When do cats sleep?
Being nocturnal predators, cats tend to sleep during the day and keep awake during the night. However, you can influence your cat’s sleeping times. If you provide plenty of stimuli during the day, in the form of cat toys or a companion cat, the cat is more likely to keep awake during the day and then spend the night sleeping. If you wish to reduce your cat’s nightly activities, you might try to spend some time with her, playing some interactive games to tire her out before bedtime.
The famous Catnap
Unlike dogs or humans, cats can spend many hours sleeping relatively lightly. If you try to wake that sleeping cat, he can turn immediately from being deep asleep to fully awake in a matter of seconds. You can often see the cat sit with its eyes half closed, or even wide open, enjoying a short nap.
Favorite Sleeping places
Cats look for a sleeping place that feels safe and has the right temperature. During hot summer days, they will look for high shaded sleeping nooks. In the winter, most cats will look for a spot of warm sunshine or a nearby heater. The temperature also effects the cat’s sleeping position. When cold, cats tend to curl and put their face between their paws to reduce body heat loss.
You can make a nice soft bed especially for your cat, or buy one of the many plush cat beds available in the shops. Still, many felines prefer one specific bed in the house – ours! For the cat, our bed is soaked with comforting and secure scents and is often the ideal sleeping place. Sharing your bed with one or more cats can help strengthen the special human-feline bond, not to mention the cat’s role as a furry, purring hot bottle…
