How Many Hours of Sleep Do Cats Get on Average?

Cats are well-known for their lives of leisure. In fact, they don't do much more than sleep, eat, seek out rubs and play. Domesticated felines even have a knack for training their humans to do their bidding on their own chosen schedule. But you really can't blame cats for sleeping an average of 15 or 16 hours per day -- the norm for healthy adults -- because it's in their biological programming. In fact, newborn and senior cats sleep 20 hours or more per day.

  1. Biology

    • Cats are genetically wired to sleep two-thirds of the day away. In the wild, they're fierce predators given to amazing bursts of speed and impressive maneuvering and acrobatics; they have to be to catch their prey. It's physically draining, so felines need lots of rest to keep it up, especially considering prey sometimes gets away. Of course, domestic kitties don't have this excuse, since their food is immobile and plopped down in a bowl for them, but they're hoping you don't notice. Also, because they're carnivores, cats live off energy-dense protein that allows them plenty of time for rest. Herbivores and omnivores have to spend more time grazing to acquire enough energy.

    Catnaps

    • A good chunk of a cat's average 15 or 16 hours of daily sleep consists of light dozing, or "catnaps." These naps generally occur in 15- to 30-minute long sessions. During these periods, cats are fairly alert. Their bodies aren't completely at rest, and the slightest movement or sound will have them on their feet and ready to go. This is a necessary defense mechanism in the wild, and it also means cats have the ability to get up and hunt if an enticing opportunity comes along.

    Regular and Deep Sleep

    • Cats engage in regular sleep, which falls somewhere between light and deep sleep, for more than half their average daily sleep. If you're lucky, or if you work at it, your cat will adjust away from her nocturnal instincts and toward your schedule so that her regular sleep occurs mostly overnight with yours. Roughly a little less than one-third of their sleep is deep, or REM, sleep. Regular and deep sleep are the most restful periods for cats, as their bodies shut down more and they aren't as alert as during their light dozes.

    Variables

    • A number of variables affect how much sleep individual cats get on average each day. Young, growing kitties need more sleep, and newborns can sleep almost all day long, waking only to feed and stretch periodically. Rainy days and cold weather can bring out extra laziness in cats just as they can in humans. Also, different breeds sleep different amounts, and some are more energetic than others while awake. Aging pets can experience significant changes to sleep patterns, and those with cognitive decline may experience excessive sleeping or insomnia. Many health conditions also affect how much and how well a cat sleeps; if you notice a significant change to your cat's established sleep patterns, consult your vet.