6 Reasons As To Why Do Cats Sleep So Much

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So, you have a cat, and right now, he is sleeping. Right? Whatever you do, your cat won't care much as he needs to sleep (where? on your lap? XD). And you must have noticed that they sleep and wake up at certain times, which can confuse us, as sleeping all the time isn't considered healthy among humans.

However, It is totally normal for cats to sleep all day. In fact, they typically sleep around 16 hours every day! Further, they only have "cat naps," meaning they don't sleep in big chunks of time all the time. So, if your cat sleeps all day and gets up occasionally (to eat or do 'business'), cat owners can be confident that it sleeps enough as long as it appears healthy and happy.

Anyway, have you ever wondered why cats sleep so much? Here are six reasons:

Why do indoor cats sleep so much?

Cats are crepuscular

While watching wildlife channels like AnimalPlanet or Discovery, you might have encountered wild cats who sleep all day. And you may think that this is because of the scarcity of food or they are lazy.

On the other hand, domesticated cats get enough food but still sleep so much. So are they lazy or what?

The fact is, they sleep so much because they are crepuscular animals. In other words, they are most active in the early morning and dusk. This is the natural hunting time for cats as their prey is primarily asleep, making it easier for them to hunt their prey.

While humans are diurnal (active during the day), cats are primarily nocturnal (active at night). So, when you see your cat sleeping all day, he just does what comes naturally to him.

Cats are obligate carnivores

Cats are strictly carnivore animals. According to that review, they can not properly digest carbohydrates and other plant-based nutrients. This suggests that cats are obligate carnivores with carnivorous inclinations.

In nature, Carnivores sleep more than herbivores to conserve energy as they spend a lot of time searching for and digesting their food.

This is one of the factors that house cats tend to sleep so much, as they are natural predators and need to spend a lot of energy to digest their food correctly.

They sleep more when they age

Older cats tend to get more sleep than younger cats. Senior cats above 11 years display age-related behavioral changes such as increased sleeping habits and disorientation.

So, if you own adult cats, don't disturb them as they need more sleep as they age. Additionally, you can help them by giving supplements like Nutramax Dasuquin daily.

For this, we recommend reading The Best Reviewed Nutramax Dasuquin For Cats.

They feel relaxed in their surrounding

Generally, we feel relaxed when we are at home. That is because it is the only place we have the freedom to do anything. Right? The same goes for cats. When they are raised freely at home, they tend to sleep a lot (because that's what they love to do).

Farm cats slept for 40% of the time, usually at night. During the day, they spent 22 percent of their time relaxing. This is because they had the freedom to do anything they wanted.

On the other hand, in a 2007 study about The effect of hiding enrichment on stress levels and behavior of domestic cats in a shelter setting published at ResearchGate, in a shelter, caged cats were easily disturbed or awake 70% of the time and slept only 11% of the time.

So, this proves that cats also love freedom, just like us. And what they love to do is sleep.

They're sick or in pain

Usually, a "cat nap" during the day is a good sign that they are healthy and have lots of energy. However, if your cat sleeps more than usual and seems tired when it wakes, it may be a sign that they are sick or in pain.

Cats are susceptible to several diseases. According to ASPCA, Common Cat Diseases include Cancer, Diabetes, FIV, Leukemia, Rabies, Upper Respiroctary Infections, etc. If you think your cat is sleeping more than usual and is showing other signs of disease, such as weight loss, lack of appetite, or lethargy, it's best to take them to the vet for a check-up.

Overeating

If you know Garfield, the lazy cat who loves to sleep and eat, then you know that overeating can make a cat sleepy. 

Cats love to eat and will eat as much as possible if you let them. However, overeating can make a cat feel sluggish and sleepy.

Increased food intake increases total sleep duration. So, if your cat is sleeping a lot and seems overweight, it may be because they are eating too much. This is not good for their overall health, so you should reduce the meal size or the number of meals per day.

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Conclusion

Cats sleep so much because it's their nature. They have an ancestral instinct to conserve energy for hunting, so it's not unusual for them to sleep around 16 hours per day. However, you should observe their sleeping habits, such as how much sleep they get per day, whether they are active in the twilight hours and if they get deep sleep or disturbed napping times during the day.

Additionally, check their feeding schedules and if they have a medical issue. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian for further guidance.

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