While humans generally sleep 8 hours a night, cats sleep nearly 16 hours a day. He goes through different sleep phases, from drowsiness to nap and deep sleep. Each of these phases is punctuated by a moment of activity.
The cat's sleep cycles
Your cat goes through several sleep phases throughout the day. Like humans, they go through deep (or REM) sleep and light sleep. Let's take a look at these different stages in a cat's life.
REM sleep
During this phase, your cat is completely relaxed and without muscle tension. This can be a concern for novice owners. This phase usually lasts about ten minutes at most. The cat is sound asleep, although its eyes, tail or paws may move. This is the time when your cat is dreaming, just like humans. Kittens go through this phase more than adult cats, who rest primarily through mental sleep.
Light sleep
This phase does not allow your cat to rest completely. His muscles remain tense and he is ready to react, jump or move. He's somewhere between wakefulness and deep sleep, neither totally relaxed nor totally on guard. The slightest noise can make him move.
Mental rest
This is also called mental decompression. This is the majority of the adult cat's sleep, while the kitten spends the majority of its time in deep sleep. Mental rest lasts up to 30 minutes maximum during each rest period. Brain waves are slow and the cat spends about ten hours a day in this phase, allowing for rapid regeneration and recovery.
Sleep varies with age
Your kitten's sleep pattern is different from that of your adult or older cat. Sleep patterns vary depending on your feline's age.
Kittens sleep most of the day, with more deep sleep than mental rest. The adult cat rests mainly through mental rest during the day and is more active in the evening. At night, it is not uncommon to see him moving around. This activity is related to its origins, as its ancestors hunted in the dark.
Older cats tend to sleep even more, up to 20 hours a day. This is normal. However, he may also wake up at night or meow. If this happens, consult a veterinarian, as it may indicate an illness.
The reasons for such a need for sleep
Your cat spends two-thirds of her life sleeping. Although this may seem like a lot, it is due to its nature as a stray or feral cat. Outdoors, a cat spends a lot of energy hunting and searching for food. In particular, it must eat quickly to avoid someone stealing its prey. Therefore, it spends less time feeding than a herbivore and has more time to rest and save energy.
This feline is not usually a prey in the wild. It may therefore be less alert to danger and more focused on survival.
Even though your cat is domesticated and has access to a food bowl at set times, she still has this natural instinct. His internal clock has not changed.
Your cat suffers from sleep disorders
If your cat is unable to get enough rest at night and spends his time meowing or being active, disrupting your sleep, it may be due to :
- An underlying disease. Consult your veterinarian to be sure. With hyperthyroidism or high blood pressure, your cat may seem more agitated and nervous. Conversely, a fever may cause your cat to be lethargic all day, with no arousal or activity.
- A lack of activity during the day or evening. Your cat is bored and spends most of her time lying down. As a result, she has energy to burn after dark. If this is the case, try changing his pace, interacting with him more or playing with him more often.
