Have you ever wondered why your cat snoozes the day away? Maybe you just want to find out if your cat’s sleepier than average. As all pawrents know, cats snooze *a lot*, but why do cats sleep so much? Here at Lovebug we decided to find some answers…

So why do cats sleep so much?

There’s a simple answer to this question, and it’s evolution. Our pet cats at home have an easy life filled with snoozing and snacking, so it’s easy to forget what they’d be doing in the wild. 

Cats have evolved to hunt for their food, so they sleep this much to preserve their energy for whenever they need to find dinner! So while, these days, our cats are served their dinner in a bowl with no hunting required, their natural hunting instincts remain—and the energy preservation to go with it. 

How many hours do cats sleep in a day?

The average cat sleeps for approximately 15-16 hours each day—but research shows that cats may sleep up to 20 hours in a day! 

The age of your cat will have something to do with how often they sleep: kittens need more sleep and will likely snooze for most of the day, but an adolescent cat with loads of energy to burn off will need a lot less rest. As cats get older, they’ll often sleep more—so a senior cat might spend most of the day snoozing away in a comfy spot. 

Even at the average of 15-16 hours, that’s a lot of time spent asleep!

And what about cat-napping?

We’ve all heard the term “cat nap”, which is exactly how our cats sleep! They sleep a bit differently to us humans, so instead of settling down for a solid eight hours of sleep, our cats will sleep in short bursts throughout the day. This is yet another evolutionary thing: sleeping in these tiny cat naps means they are always ready to react to their surroundings.

When do cats sleep?

Although it might seem like the answer is “always!”, there is actually a pattern to their snoozing. Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk.

It’s not quite the same as being nocturnal. Cats evolved to take advantage of these periods of low light to go out and hunt their prey, while resting during the darkest hours of the night—unlike nocturnal creatures. 

Where do cats like sleeping?

Maybe your cats at home seem to sleep basically anywhere, but there are a few things that cats look for when it comes to a cosy sleeping spot: comfort, warmth, and safety. 

Comfort goes without saying, for humans and felines alike! Warmth is also something that cat pawrents can’t miss: you might have found them snoozing in any sunny spots in your home, or maybe they love your laptop keyboard! In winter, a radiator bed can make a great warm and cosy option.

When it comes to safety, many cats like to sleep in enclosed spaces or beds because it helps them to feel safe and protected. Igloo beds or cardboard boxes filled with comfy blankets are a great option. Cat trees offer another sleeping spot that lets your cat feel safe—being able to snooze high up means they can keep an eye on their surroundings while they cat nap.

Every cat is different, and this is intended as a guide to why cats sleep so much. If you’re concerned about your cat because their sleeping habits have changed or they’re sleeping more than normal, it’s always best to speak about it with your vet.