1. Introduction
2. Causes of this long sleep in cats
3. When to worry
4. Interesting facts to know
5. Conclusion
Every living organism needs adequate rest. For some people, 8 hours is enough for this, and for some it is not enough and 12. In particular, it can be seen that cats can sleep about 16 hours a day and this is the norm for them. Of course, this figure can vary according to the change of certain factors, which we will talk about further, because many are interested in the question, why do cats sleep so much, is it always normal and how to act if it is pathology? Therefore, further on we will talk about it.
Causes of such a long sleep in cats
The reasons for long resting cats are many and are usually natural factors, namely:
✅Age. Depending on age, sleep time can vary. Adult and active cats have shorter sleep duration than older cats or kittens. Older cats become much weaker than they were when they were younger, so their health requires more frequent rest and recovery. They can sleep up to 18 hours a night, while young cats can sleep up to 16 hours. Kittens can sleep up to 23 hours a night, depending on the age of the kitten.
✅Breed. A cat’s breed can also play a role in sleep duration. Breeds that sleep more include Maine Coons, Scottish and British breeds, as they have a calm type of temperament, spend most of their time at rest, move little and rest a lot. If we talk about the Bengal and Siamese breeds, then these are the cats about which we can say that they are real fidgeters. Due to their active and energetic lifestyle, these cats have no time to sleep for 18 hours a day.
✅Gender. Due to gender peculiarities, the amount of sleep can also differ. Typically, males sleep more than females. This can be influenced by instincts, because a cat often needs to raise offspring, the level of activity, usually cats are less active than cats, and also like to sleep after each meal, and in cats this “lazy” behavior is observed less often.
✅Temperament. Temperament is closely related to the breed, but we should not forget that each cat or cat has its own physiological features and needs. As in humans, the types of temperament in cats are divided into melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguine and choleric. According to each type, sleep duration will vary. Melancholics and phlegmatics are more quiet, prefer solitude, do not like to walk too often and actively rest. Sanguines and cholerics are very active and lively, easily get used to new things and have no problem making contact.
✅Weight. If a cat’s weight exceeds its norm, it can also affect its activity, so chubby Tails will rest more. Excessive body weight prevents them from moving freely and causes a number of discomforts with unnecessary movements. Such cats are difficult to make entertaining, even if it is Siamese fidgeters, they prefer to sleep. Such a cat can sleep for 20 hours a day.
When to worry
Of course there is a list of factors that may say that prolonged sleep is not the norm for a particular cat. So what are these factors?
We have already mentioned overweight, which can really become a problem and cause serious diseases, so it is worthwhile to start the fight against excess weight in time, namely: balance the diet, drink a lot of water and try to encourage the animal to play actively.
If the cat is always active, and then for no apparent reason became melancholic. This can talk about depression, physical discomfort or illness. In this case, you need to pay attention to the sources that negatively affect the mood of the cat, and also not superfluous will be a consultation with a veterinarian to prevent undesirable consequences in the form of disease. If the change of mood is associated with a change in the environment or circumstances of existence, for example: moving, change of diet, new acquaintance, then it is simply a process of adaptation, which will pass with time, so here you should not worry.
If sleepiness lasts for more than 2 days and is accompanied by refusal to eat, difficulty breathing, convulsions during sleep, problems with toileting, fever or even fever, then you need to immediately consult a specialist. Such symptoms can signal serious intestinal, heart or lung disease, among others. The veterinarian will help to identify the problem and fight it, as well as give important recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
Interesting facts to know about
It is not good for a cat to sleep with its owner, especially small kittens, to avoid injuries.
Neutered cats and cats sleep more. The fact is that unsterilized cats sacrifice sleep during the period of sexual activity, so they have to sleep off after mating.
Cats that sleep more are less likely to get sick. Of course, if sleep is not the cause of the illness.
Most cat naps are not full-fledged sleep, but dozing. In this state, they react better to surrounding stimuli (sounds, touch) and are easier to wake up.
The more comfortable the place to sleep, the more the cat will sleep.
The posture in which the cat sleeps can tell a lot. For example: if the cat sleeps curled up in a ball, it is probably cold; if the cat sleeps on its side, it is for a long time, the sleep is strong; if the cat sleeps on its stomach with paws tucked up, it is not a dream, but just a nap; sleeping on its back says that the cat feels safe; if the cat hides to sleep in a secret place, for example, in a box, it is afraid that he will be disturbed.
Scientists have researched that there is reason to believe that cats can also dream, and also mimic the movements during sleep that happen to them, for example: running or twitching of limbs. So if cats like to sleep so much, perhaps their dreams are significantly more interesting than our real world.
Conclusion
Sleep plays an important role for a cat’s brain to be healthy and fully functioning. Scientists have estimated that these animals sleep an average of 70% of their lives. Of course there are certain factors, depending on which this figure can fluctuate, which we mentioned earlier. But every owner should realize that a significant amount of sleep in your Ponytail is no cause for worry. If you are worried that the cat sleeps through most of its life, there is no reason to panic, because sleep is life for them. So do not wake up your furry companion unnecessarily, his fantasies can be a whole universe for him, much more interesting and exciting than our real everyday life.
