How Much Do Cats Normally Sleep?

darskayairene · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 148

Normal cats sleep 2/3's of their life away. They spend about twice as much time sleeping as most other mammals. The amount of time a cat spends sleeping can depend on age, weather, temperature, hunger, sense of security, and sexual influences.

If your cat seems to sleep more than usual, acts depressed when awake, has had weight changes or other signs of illness, contact your veterinarian.

You should also contact your veterinarian if your older cat is sleeping less. It could be due to a condition called hyperthyroidism. This disease occurs when your cat is producing too much thyroid hormone and his metabolism shoots into high gear.

Studies have shown that cats can enter into a deep sleep like us, and have similar brain wave patterns as we do when we dream. So if you see your cat asleep, whiskers twitching, and the eyes under the closed lids rapidly moving to and fro, your cat is probably out on the hunt in her dreams. Wish her 'Happy Mousing!'

Purr · Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 553

darskayairene wrote: Studies have shown that cats can enter into a deep sleep like us, and have similar brain wave patterns as we do when we dream. So if you see your cat asleep, whiskers twitching, and the eyes under the closed lids rapidly moving to and fro, your cat is probably out on the hunt in her dreams. Wish her 'Happy Mousing!'

Purr can really get into this sometimes, and it's entertaining to watch. :D

darskayairene · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 148

I also saw my Kirill behaving like this and I really was understanding that he was seeing dreams as his legs were twitching as if he was running somewhere in his dream.

Jonathan · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 208 Location: San Diego

Always rather entertaining to watch, isn't it? :lol:

darskayairene · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 148

Winter came and my cat is sleeping all the day long. I put a chair near the heater for him and he sleeps sluggishly and immoderately the whole day.

Purr · Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 553

Purr has two cat beds she loves to sleep on. Both have covers made of faux sheepsheep skin, which are easily removed for washing.

Sammy's Mom · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 36

from a comedian...

"My cat had an operation, and the vet says, 'make sure he gets plenty of sleep.' 'You mean more than his usual 20?'"

Purr · Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 553

Sammy's Mom wrote: from a comedian...

"My cat had a operation, and the vet says, 'make sure he gets plenty of sleep.' 'You mean more than his usual 20?'"

:lol:

Jonathan · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 208 Location: San Diego

Purr wrote: Sammy's Mom wrote: from a comedian...

"My cat had a operation, and the vet says, 'make sure he gets plenty of sleep.' 'You mean more than his usual 20?'"

:lol:
Ditto that! :lol: :lol:

Sammy's Mom · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 36

Yipes Stripes! I can't believe I did that! It was an accident. I can't believe I typed "a operation" instead of AN.

Purr · Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 553

I don't think anyone is going to call the grammar police. :lol: :wink:

bmason · Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 77

Sammy's Mom wrote: Yipes Stripes! I can't believe I did that! It was an accident. I can't believe I typed "a operation" instead of AN.

Maybe you did type "AN" but your "N" key was not working. :)