Sleeping Behaviors in Kittens

The domestic kittens that many pet owners care for were first brought to the United States by colonists. Today, over 60 million cats live in North America. Domestic kittens descended from their wild ancestors and still carry many genetic and behavioral traits, including the tendency of kittens to sleep for long periods of time.

  1. Wild Kitten Naps

    • Wild kittens and cubs, like lions, jaguars, leopards and tigers, are predatory animals. They hunt to survive. Because wild cubs and kittens are programmed to hunt at night or at dusk, the animals are often dormant during the day. Hunting requires large amounts of energy, and wild kittens instinctively sleep while they are not hunting to preserve energy and to refuel. Domestic kittens are related to wild cats and have some of the same instincts, making it natural for kittens to curl up and nap for hours.

    Why Kittens Nap

    • Like human babies, kittens are growing. Early development is speedy and requires much energy from the kittens. This means that kittens must sleep for longer periods of time than older cats if they are to develop healthily. Also, in the wild, kittens are known to sleep for extended amounts of time. This protects the kittens and cubs by keeping them from wandering off and being spotted by predators. Domesticated kittens also share some of these instinctual habits.

    Stages of Sleep

    • Both humans and kittens share similar sleep stages. When kittens are not in the rapid eye movement stage, they appear peaceful and very still. However, when they are in the REM cycle, their brain activity increases. This causes the kittens to twitch and move. It may also cause their eyelids to flutter and their eyes to move rapidly beneath their lids. This is part of the sleeping process, and the behavior is completely natural and since kittens are still growing, they encounter this cycle many more times a day than do cats or humans.

    Light Sleepers

    • Unlike some other animals, kittens are light sleepers. Although they need several hours of sleep every day, kittens' bodies are instinctively alert to subtle noises and movements. These instincts were also passed on from wild cats. Domestic kittens, although typically safe from predators, still have the ability to wake suddenly and spring into action.