By The European Times | Created at 2026-07-18 16:47:08 | Updated at 2026-08-03 16:22:52
2 weeks ago
The meowing pets sleep between 12-16 hours a day! Maybe the number seems high to you, as it makes a big contrast to our regime, but that’s the nature of these animals.
Usually cats become more active after sunset, they can be awake at night, and after you wake them up in the morning and feed them, they quickly retire for a long nap.
Let’s find out why these animals need a lot of sleep!
They need energy to hunt
Pets have the physiology of a predator, which means they are strongly connected to chasing and hunting, and this happens mainly at night. Big cats like lions have a similar pattern of sleeping during the day and hunting at night.
Despite being domesticated for a long time, domestic cats still adhere to this wild regime. Even in their playtime, these animals will use their primal instincts and move silently through the shadows and furniture of your home in pursuit of prey. Be it a toy or something else.
Hunting takes a lot of energy. Whether your meowing friend often goes outside to play or chases a cat toy at home, he needs to rest and gather energy for the next run, pounce or stalk. This is the reason for those many hours of sleep. This is the time it takes for these animals to regain their strength.
Nap or deep sleep
Like humans, cats either doze in a light sleep or sleep very deeply. When your cuddly pet takes a nap (which lasts about fifteen minutes to half an hour), he positions his body so that he can jump up at any moment.
Deep sleep in cats usually lasts about five minutes, after which it turns into a nap. Babies and older cats tend to sleep for quite a long time.
Weather affects cat sleep
The behavior of temperamental animals can vary greatly depending on their breed, age, temperament and overall health. There is another thing that can affect their behavior – the weather. Just like with us, humans.
You may notice that your cuddly pet sleeps a lot more when the weather outside is conducive to it – for example, on long rainy or winter days. Whether your cat lives mostly indoors or walks in the yard outside, he will most likely look for a quiet place to curl up to sleep.
This is one of the things we can greatly envy them for, since they have no work to do, and they can relax and almost sleep through the gloomy days.
You may encounter a problem with excessive activity of purring animals at night. Many owners complain because their cats wake them up.
Generally, it is more typical for little ones to go wild at night and turn your house upside down, but you can gradually teach them to follow your regimen, as much as possible. Pet animals can adjust to their feeding schedule, and if you tire them out with a good game in the evening before bed – they will certainly leave you in peace.
Illustrative photo: pexels-francesco-ungaro-28352737
