Cats typically spend a lot of time napping or sleeping. On average cats sleep between 13 and 14 hours per day and kittens may sleep up to 18 hours per day, while newborn kittens may sleep almost all the time. A cat that is sleeping more than usual may have an undetected illness or the extensive sleeping hours may also be caused by pregnancy or old age. It is good to know how much your cat usually sleeps and be able to identify any possible changes in his sleeping patterns.
Cat Sleeping Hours
An adult cat can sleep between 12 to 16 hours. Kittens sleep even more, due to the growth hormone that is released.
The number of hours a cat sleeps varies according to his lifestyle and age. Typically, cats like to sleep during the day and keep awake during nighttime; however, if your keep your cat active during the day, he will adjust to sleeping during the night and stay awake during the day.
Cats often just take a nap, which means that their sleep is light and they can wake up at any time, due to a noise or if something draws the cat’s attention.
If your cat starts sleeping even more than usual this may indicate that there is a problem or that he is getting older.
Aging
You may be used to your cat sleeping a lot of hours, however as your cat gets older, he will tend to sleep more to conserve his energy. The prolonged sleeping hours may also be due to the lack of energy or the fact that the cat is ill.
Illness
A cat that is ill may sleep more than usual. This may be due to the fact that the body tries to fight the disease and requires more rest time.
Monitor your cat for other symptoms and take him to the vet if you notice anything unusual. The cat may be suffering from an infection that may be easily treated or he may have a more severe illness such as cancer.
If the cat sleeps more and this is accompanied by snoring, this may point to a respiratory problem.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy may cause the cat to sleep more. This may be due to the fact that the cat is no longer interested in mating and is preparing to have the kittens. In addition, the increased amount of hormones may also cause sleepiness.
The pregnancy signs may be visible as early as 3 weeks after breeding; the cat’s nipples will be swollen and pink and she may also vomit (cat morning sickness). The behavior of a pregnant cat will also change; she will be more friendly and caring towards you.
Winter Season
During the winter season, your cat may sleep more to conserve his energy levels. If your cat doesn’t display any abnormal symptoms, only sleeps more than usual, this shouldn’t be a concerning factor. As soon as the weather warms up, the cat should get back to his normal sleeping hours.