Understanding Your Sleepy Cat
Kittens sleep more than adult cats. Photo Credit: © Amy Shojai, CABC
Cat sleep and understanding your sleepy cat is important because cats sleep two-thirds of their life away. That's sixteen hours or more each day, and is more than any other mammal, except for the opossum and some bats.
When awake the cat's brain broadcasts little bunched-together irregular peaks.
When kitty moves from light into deep sleep, his body relaxes; he stretches out, and rolls to one side. His brain patterns change and become smaller and closer together, and are very similar to his waking patterns. However, cats are fully relaxed and hard to awaken during deep sleep (referred to as "rapid sleep" because of the quick brain wave movement). This phase usually lasts only about five minutes, and the cat then returns to slow-wave sleep-and thereafter alternates between the two until he finally wakes up. Interestingly, kittens fall directly into deep rapid sleep without this alternating pattern until they're about a month old.
Cat dreams are born during rapid sleep. Yes, cats DO dream, but we can only guess the subject matter. When those paws twitch or cat-calls spill from the sleeping kitty, perhaps he's chasing dream mice!
The cat's senses continue to record sounds and scents during up to 70 percent of sleep, so the kitty can awaken quickly at the squeak of a mouse or smell of a rat. Slower wakeup times are characterized by a predictable pattern of blinking, yawning and stretching. First the forelegs, then back, and finally rear legs each in turn are flexed. Most cats also groom themselves briefly upon first awakening.
While humans may sleep in marathon eight-hour (or longer) sessions, cat sleep more commonly consists of short and long naps throughout the day. Habits vary between cats but very old and very young kittens sleep more than robust adults. Sleep time increases on cold, rainy or cloudy days.
Cats are most active at daybreak and sundown. That's why kitties seem to love playing at these times and can pester tired owners with wake-up calls. But they typically adapt to the humans they love, sleeping on the owner's schedule. That way, they sleep when you are gone and spend more awake time when you are home.
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Understanding Your Sleepy Cat
Why do cats sleep so much? Several issues are involved. Predators that have few natural enemies can afford to sleep for longer periods of time. Also, the need for sleep increases in direct proportion to the amount of energy required. Being a predator, the cat has extraordinary energy needs for hunting, but usually uses enormous bursts of energy to stalk, pounce, and wrestle that toy mouse into submission.Cat-Napping Champs!
The sleep activity of cats, like that of people and many other mammals, is characterized by two patterns of brain activity. This activity has been measured experimentally with an electroencephalograph (EEG) that records waves or pulses of activity on a graph.When awake the cat's brain broadcasts little bunched-together irregular peaks.
But when dozing, the cat's brain produces long, irregular waves called slow-wave sleep which usually lasts fifteen to thirty minutes total. As he dozes a cat generally lies with his head raised and paws tucked beneath him. Sometimes he actually sleeps sitting up, in which case his muscles stiffen to hold him upright. This way he's ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
Cat dreams are born during rapid sleep. Yes, cats DO dream, but we can only guess the subject matter. When those paws twitch or cat-calls spill from the sleeping kitty, perhaps he's chasing dream mice!
The cat's senses continue to record sounds and scents during up to 70 percent of sleep, so the kitty can awaken quickly at the squeak of a mouse or smell of a rat. Slower wakeup times are characterized by a predictable pattern of blinking, yawning and stretching. First the forelegs, then back, and finally rear legs each in turn are flexed. Most cats also groom themselves briefly upon first awakening.
While humans may sleep in marathon eight-hour (or longer) sessions, cat sleep more commonly consists of short and long naps throughout the day. Habits vary between cats but very old and very young kittens sleep more than robust adults. Sleep time increases on cold, rainy or cloudy days.
Cats are most active at daybreak and sundown. That's why kitties seem to love playing at these times and can pester tired owners with wake-up calls. But they typically adapt to the humans they love, sleeping on the owner's schedule. That way, they sleep when you are gone and spend more awake time when you are home.
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