If you think your pet spends most of the day in Morpheus’s realm, your suspicions are correct. In most cases, this is completely normal, as long sleep is an inherent trait of the feline nature. However, sometimes the pattern and duration of sleep can signal an underlying illness. Let’s delve into the details. How much should cats sleep? The perception that cats, whether pets or strays, doze all day has a basis in reality. In fact, they do spend most of their time drowsing. Nevertheless, sleep requirements can vary significantly even in the same animal depending on its well-being and the surrounding environment. Therefore, precise universal figures are not applicable here. Approximate guidelines are as follows: adult cats sleep from 12 to 18 hours a day; elderly and inactive pets — up to 20 hours; kittens — up to 20–22 hours in the first few weeks of life, with a subsequent decrease as they grow. “A cat’s sleep rhythm is very sensitive to its character and living conditions, so there is no strict norm. A healthy but, say, lazy house cat might doze for about 20 hours a day, whereas an agile street cat might sleep only 10–12 hours. Both scenarios are perfectly physiological.” veterinary therapist at the “ZooDoctor” clinic, Ufa Reasons for prolonged sleep in cats The tendency of cats toward long sleep has a logical explanation: They conserve energy for hunting. The main prey of wild cats—small rodents—are most active at twilight. Have you noticed how a pet that has been dozing all day suddenly comes alive in the evening? This is the “hunting time.” Since cats are crepuscular, they accumulate strength during the day for evening activities, meaning they sleep. For millions of years of evolution, the wild ancestors of cats had to expend a huge amount of energy during these hours, stalking, chasing, and catching prey. And although our domestic pets no longer hunt for every portion of food, innate hunting reflexes still dictate the need to conserve energy for dawn and dusk. They “kill” time. Social creatures often fill boredom with joint games or resolving conflicts. Cats, however, are solitary creatures and have fewer ways to entertain themselves. If the territory has been thoroughly explored and there are no visible threats, sleep becomes the preferred activity. Offer your pet something more engaging than a nap, and it will be more willing to stay awake. Scientific data confirms that human presence and care influence the activity level and daily cycle of cats. They are not sleeping deeply but dozing. Studies by American scientists show that true deep sleep in cats is shorter and more intermittent than even in humans. When you think your pet is sleeping soundly, it is likely in a state of light doze—relaxed, yet alert, reacting to sounds and ready to wake up quickly. “A cat sleeps a lot not from fatigue, but from a lack of occupation. Don’t hesitate to offer it a game or a walk, even if it’s dozing. Give it a choice, but don’t insist. It will decide for itself what it needs more at that moment: to continue resting or to engage in activity,” explains the veterinarian. When sleep becomes an alarm signal Prolonged sleep in itself should not cause panic. It is important to focus not so much on the total sleep time as on any changes in behavior and accompanying phenomena. Here are the signs that warrant a visit to the veterinarian: A sharp and distinct change in sleep duration. Adult cats develop a fairly clear pattern of waking and sleeping. If external conditions and feeding schedules have remained unchanged, but the animal suddenly starts sleeping noticeably longer or, conversely, less than usual—this is a reason to be cautious. Loss of interest in food and games. If increased sleep duration is accompanied by reduced appetite, cessation of play, or refusal of affection, this may indicate illness. You should also be vigilant if, during daytime sleep, the cat reacts sluggishly to sounds, takes a long time to wake up, or looks apathetic and worn out. Change in breathing pattern or sleeping posture. Difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, as well as repeatedly taking an unnatural posture while sleeping—all of these are potential markers of disease. “Long lying down by itself is not a cause for alarm. But you should be concerned if, without apparent external reasons, the cat begins to sleep several hours longer or, conversely, less than usual. If the pet also shows lethargy, loss of appetite, breathing problems, or noticeable changes in gait, consult a specialist,” warns the expert. Key Points Cats naturally sleep a lot: approximately 12–18 hours a day is normal; newborns and elderly individuals sleep even more. However, much depends on the environment and the individual characteristics of the animal. Excessively long sleep is not in itself a cause for concern. But sudden shifts in the duration or nature of sleep can indicate the development of some ailment.
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