If you are a cat owner, have you ever found your cat falling asleep so fast? It may appear to be quite strange to find how do cats fall asleep so fast. They sleep fast and wake up faster too. That is the reason why a usage called “catnap” has been quite popular.
Cats fall asleep faster because they spend the entire day drifting in and out of lighter stages of sleep cycle. This is called a polyphasic sleep cycle. Cats generally sleep in what is called slow wave sleep. That enables them drift into sleep relly faster. Cats belong to the crepuscular sleep pattern and spend almost 18 to 20 hours in sleep.
Why do Cats Fall Asleep So fast?
Cats tend to spend in sleeping most time of the day. This is called a polyphasic sleep cycle. The cats normally alternate between deep sleep and light sleep. Cats sleep fast because they are generally in the lightest stage of sleep which ideally amounts to 60% of its total sleep time. Purring too has a claiming effect which further makes them sleep better.
There are several reasons a cat falls asleep very fast. However, we will discuss three primary reasons that makes your cat fall asleep so fast.
The Sleep cycle of cats is different
Just like us humans, cats too have their own sleep cycle. They go through different stages of sleep, but most of the times, they tend to sleep in a slow wave sleep. Cats do have non-rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. Cats are known to have a polyphasic sleep pattern – which means they sleep in packets. Unlike we humans, they do not sleep at a stretch.
On an average a cat snoozes off for around 79 minutes out of every 104 minutes. They belong to the crepuscular category of animals and thus sleep in small packets through the day and get the rest they need. They tend to go to sleep as soon as they get time. Cts have a polyphasic sleep cycle or polyphasic sleep pattern which is a type of sleep cycle where the cats sleep through several sleep times all through the day instead of sleeping for single longest period.
The Crepuscualr animals belong to a category that stands midway between diurnal and nocturnal. Diuranl animals sleep during the night and nocturnal species sleep during the day. Crepuscular animals are those which stay active at the dusk and at early mornings. They sleep during the day and during the middle of the night. Some categories of fish are also known to belong to crepascular category.
An excellent relaxation technique
Cats tend to indulge in one of the best relaxation techniques. Purring is one of the best techniques that cts use for taking rest and feeling a sense of calmness. They also tend to fall asllep as soon as they find a place that is both comfortable and safer. In essence, cats do have an inhenert sense of taking res whenever they get time.
They need a lot of sleep
Cats in the wild used to spend their wake time in hunting and exploring things. This typical behaviour has been retained even today. Since cats get exhausted throughout the day after the end less hunting, exploration and play, they need a lot of sleep. This high need for sleep makes them sleep for at least 12 to 16 hours a day.
If you love your cat sleeping in your arms, you can follow a few simple tips –
- Feed your cat just before bedtime. Make sure that the meal is big enough.
- Get a good support. Something like a blanket or towel may be a good idea. This will help avoid too much squeezing on the cat’s body.
- Start talking slowly while the cat is in your arms. You may also consider singing. Be soft so that your cat is not startled.
- Go for gentle stroking and petting.
You can also indulge in a few activities that imitate the normal cat behavior –
- Head nuzzling
- Rubbing face
- Face petting
- Nibbling on its ears and paws
- Kneading
How Long Do Cats Sleep on Average?
How many hours do cats sleep? On an average, cats needs at least 12 to 16 hours of sleep. You may also witness them spending close to 20 hours sleeping. It is assumed that close to 50% of the entire cat population sleeps around 12 to 16 hours a day. Around 40% of them sleep more than 18 hours. It is also observed that cats tend to sleep more as they grow older.
Cats have what is called polyphasic sleep cycle. That would mean your cat sleeps several times a day instead of spending an entire stretch of sleep. They take short naps and ideally each nap lasts for around 78 minutes. On an average, you would find a cat sleeping for around 50 to 113 minutes.
The Complete Sleep cycle of Cats – Different stages of cat Sleep
Your cat does not sleep in one go like we humans do. They go through the cycle of different sleep cycles or sleep patterns. This is called Polyphasic sleep pattern. The different stages in the sleep cycle of a cat can include
Slow wave sleeeep stage
In this stage, your cat sleeps for around 15 to 30 minutes. It will spend the time dozing. It spends this time in shutting its eyes while sitting. The normal pose for this slow wave sleep stage involves your cat sitting upright with its legs tucked in. Cats tend to be in this stage throughout the day.
Deep sleep stage
This stage lasts only 5 minutes. They will adopt a comfortable sleeping posture during this stage. It is quite impossible to awaken your at in this stage. They will not respond to touch or voice in this stage.
Your cat will keep alternating between the two stages of sleep. This cycle keeps continuing until thee cat is ready to wake up finally.
Do Certain Breeds of Cats Fall Asleep Faster than Others?
Yes, there are a few cat breeds that love sleeping. A few cat breeds like American Shorthair, Persian, Exotic, Maine Coon, and ragdoll tend to sleep more than the other breeds. Persian cats have been known to be the longest sleeping cats. Persian cats, unlike other breeds do not like high action activity.
The cats that love sleeping do not need you take a lot of care, except for food and medical costs. They do not expect you to offer them a lot of attention. As long as they are left alone, and offered a little petting now and then, they will remain happy. While a fw cats fall asleep so quickly, a few others tend to sleep too much.
Some cat breeds that sleep a lot include
Exotic
These cats look similar to persian cats, but have short fur. They are peaceful and quiet by nature. They can be best for an apartment living.
American Shortthair
They are known to be laidback and gentle. That is one of the reasons why they are preferred by most cat owners. They love sleeping beside you than exploring the surroundings.
Persians
Persians are perhaps the laziest among all cat breeds. They prefer lazing and relaxing through the day. The Persian cats are known to avoid high intensity activities.
Ragdoll
If you want a sedentary cat, Ragdoll should be the right choice. They are not energetic like other cat breeds. They love the attention from humans and love spending time on your arms.
Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?
Cats have learned to sleep so much due to the evolution that they have gone through. In the wild, they had preserve their energy for the long hours of chasing and hunting. Even when the hose cats that we have today do not need to hunt, they have preserved the instincts even today and sleep for longer hours.
A few typical reasons why cats sleep so much can be
Conserving energy
Cats used to be crepuscular in the wild. They had to spend a lot of energy hunting and chasing their prey. Once they have found their prey, they needed a lot of sleep to recharge their bodies and get energy for the next day’s prowl and hunting. The domesticated cats cannot hunt as efficiently as their wild cousins used to, but have retained the sleeping patterns even today.
Sleep helps them keep cool
In the warmer climates, cats sleep for longer hours to keep themselves cooler. If you are from a hot climate and your cat does not sleep much, it can experience a lot of heat related health conditions such as Excessive sweating, lethargy, panting, vomiting, rstlessness and dizziness.
When Should you be Concerned about Your Cat’s Sleep?
Cats generally sleep for close to 20 hours per day. If you have noticed that your cat had a lot of activity and now looking to sleep, it may be quite natural. You do not have anything to worry about. However, an excessive sleep, or a new sleep pattern may indicate some sort of underlying health condition.
If you observe an excessive sleep and lethargic behaviour in your cat, it may be an indicator that it has any health condition.
- Kidney disease – A cat with some sort of kidney disease may eat less, drink more water and sleep incessantly. You may also find it howling at night.
- Deafness – If you have a deaf cat, it can tend to sleep more. This is because such cats may not be disturbed due to the sound around them. You may also find such cats showing a lot of howling at night. They may also eat and drink less.
- Hypothyroidism – This is another reason that can cause a cat t sleep for longer hours. The cat may eat less and show lethargy.
If you suspect any of these issues, it is advisable to take your cat to the vet.
Do All Cats Sleep Same?
Not exactly. While most of the cats sleep between 12 to 18 hours, not every cat sticks to that pattern. There are multiple factors that affect and decide the sleeping pattern of a cat. Some of the factors would include health, age, ambient temperature and the lifestyle.
- Health – Some issues can result in either more or less sleep than usual. Kidney diseases can make your cat show the signs of disturbed sleep. Stress and anxiety may also affect the quality of sleep.
- Age – Kittens sleep more than the adult cats. It is also observed that cats tend to sleep more as they get older. The adult cats tend to sleep comparatively lesser.
- Lifestyle – A stray cat is likely to show signs of less sleep when compared to a house cat. House cats sleep comfortably as they have no threat. A stray cat on the other hand needs to be alert and thus has a less sleep.
Do All Cats Need 16 Hours of Sleep?
It is not necessary that every cat will sleep for 16 hours a day. There are several factors that would affect the sleep cycle of a cat. However, most of the cats sleep anywhere between 12 to 16 hours a day. The average time that cats sleep will be around 14 hours. The actual sleep cycle is dependent on multiple factors such as age, activity level and boredom.
Some other breeds of cat tend to sleep more than the other breeds. Some of the factors that would determine the cat and its sleep cycle can include the breed, individual sleep cycles, and change in the environment. In case your cat dos not get enough sleep, it will display the signs of General restlessness, Excessive vocalizing, Irritability, and Moodiness.
Do Cats Sleep Differently During Different Seasons?
Yees, cats are known to be quite adaptable to the seasonal changes, and tend to sleep as per the seasons and temperatures around. You would fin them sleeping more during the winter months than during the summers. You will also notice them sleeping a lot when it rains.
When the winters arrive, cats know instinctively that they need to preserve energy. This is done by preserving the fat reserves in the body. It can affect the sleep patterns of the cat quite severely.
Do Cats Dream While They Are Asleep?
Yes, cats get dreams when sleeping. You might have observed the cats twitching, chattering and showing a few physical movements when in deep sleep. Cats have the same brain structure as the other mammals, and thus it goes into a deep REM sleep cycle. Your cat will dream in this specific period of sleep.
A few indicators to show that your cat is dreaming is the unusual twitch, chattering of the teeth, or even a howl even when in deep sleep. An unusual position of the body when sleeping can also be an indicator to the fact that the cat is dreaming.
How Fast Can Cats Fall Asleep?
Cats can enter the phase of slow wave sleep almost instantly without any efforts. They may doze in this stage for around 15 to 30 minutes. They will sleep even when they are in the middle of an activity or while sitting. With their ability of polyphasic sleep cycle, they are able to sleep or nap several times of the day.
Being of the crepuscular nature, cats tend to be active during dawn and dusk. Throughout the day, they fall asllep or at least snooze for at least 79 minutes for every 104 minutes.
The Closing Thoughts
Cats tend to sleep really quickly. There are several reasons that cause it. I assume that the details I have shard above have been helpful in letting you understand the cat sleep patterns and how to deal with them. While the sleep patterns of humans and cats generally clash, it is always important to understand that cats tend to adapt to their owners behavior. If your cat belongs to that category, you are perhaps lucky.
My cat definitely DOES NOT belong to that category. She keeps waking us up by 5 am because it is beyond her wake up time and we are still sleeping. And when we are just about to go to bed, again, it is her wakeup time! That is how a crepuscular animal lives, and if you are a cat lover, you need to learn to adapt to your cat.
A few FAQs
What can I do to help my cat fall asleep easily?
Provide your cat separate play and sleep areas. Offer a comfortable sleeping area and make sure to play with your cat during the day to avoid making sleep. Make sure that you feed your cat at the same time every day. This will create a consistent pattern and your cat will begin sleeping at the predefined times.
Why do cats sleep so much?
Cats are crepuscular animals and that is why they tend to sleep for more hours per day when compared to the diurnal and nocturnal animals. They remain active at dawn and dusk. Rest of the time, they tend to be sleeping. That apart, they tend to be hunters and predators. Like most other predators, they tend to preserve their energy and thus sleep for longer hours. That is one of the reasons which may make it difficult for the cat to bee sleeping throughout the night.
Are cats ever fully asleep?
No, cats do not sleep fully. Only around 25% of its sleep belongs to deep sleep category. For the rest of 75% of time, they tend to just snoozing. While they get enough of rest when snoozing, they are alert enough of what’s happening in their surroundings.
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