It’s a cat’s life. Our cats spend a lot of time sleeping. Being one of their most favorite activities, cats will sleep 2/3 of their lives away. In fact, our cats are all sleeping right now as I write this. I wish I could say that about myself too. In general cats will sleep about 14 to 18 hours a day which sounds like our cats.

A cat’s sleeping patterns
The time a cat spends sleeping breaks down to 75% light sleep and 25% deep sleep. A cat’s light sleep is a defensive sleeping pattern, governed by evolution that allows them to escape predators quickly or defend themselves against intruders. The term ‘cat nap’ came from a cats ability to take short, light naps. A cat’s deep sleep is where your cat will dream. If your cat’s paws and faces are twitching they’re dreaming and having a nice deep sleep.

Cats are nocturnal predators. They sleep during the days and stay awake during the night. Spending more time with your cats can influence their sleeping times. More daily activity will keep your cat awake during the day and sleeping more at night.

How long do they sleep?
How long your cats sleep depends on their diet and health. Kittens will sleep just as long as an adult cat or longer to release growth hormones.

A domestic cats sleep habits are genetically related. Wild cats need lots of sleep in order to conserve energy between hunts. If your cat has been sleeping longer than usual, have your vet check them for any possible illness.

Finding a place to sleep
Cats will sleep in a place that feels safe with a good sleeping temperature. In hot weather cats will find a nice shaded sleeping spot. In cold weather cats will sleep in a warm sun beam or near a heater.

We only have one cat bed that Jade has commandeered for herself. The cats have free rein to sleep anywhere in the rest of the house and they do. Our cats will sleep in a number of different places. The couch, foot stool, kitchen chairs, bed, floor near the vent, window sill and cats bed are a few places they use.

Letting your cat sleep with you in your bed is a great way to build a strong bond with them. In our house, having four cats on the bed does get a bit crowded, but they do a great job keeping our feet warm during those cold winter months!

Where does your cat sleep?

Here are the Band of Cats doing what they do best (in between tearing around the house like mad cats) and the various places they pick to catch some well deserved zzzz’s.