Cats are the cutest furry friends, especially while they are sleeping. Be it pet cats or stray cats, they sleep for 15 to 20 hours a day on average. Although pet cats have their owners to look after them and their daily food needs, things are not so simple and easy for stray cats. If you ever spot an injured or vulnerable stray cat, promptly search the internet for “animal NGO near me” to get in touch with a reliable animal NGO. If you are curious as to why cats sleep so much, the below reasons might explain why:
6 Reasons Why Cats Spend So Much Time Sleeping
1. Saving energy
Stray cats have to fend for themselves. They once had a home but are now abandoned, lost, or moved away. This is why they have to be out and about searching for food and water. As a result, when they are not busy looking for food, they conserve energy by sleeping. Simply put, cats sleep to save energy. Constant movement or activity can be a tiring task for the small bodies of cats and hence, they tend to take short naps to rest and recharge their energy. These short naps can last for half an hour or less.
2. Behaviour genetics
Stray cats, although different from wild cats of the jungle, still share the same genetic makeup as wild cats, i.e. to hunt. They tend to sleep in the daytime and are most active during the early morning and twilight hours. When they are not actively seeking food, they sleep and regain energy for the next time. While cats are sleeping, they are always on guard due to their behaviour genetics. They tend to be on the lookout for any threats to them.
3. Change in the weather
With the change of seasons all year long, stray cats brave the wind, rain, and other climatic conditions. As they have no home or place to take shelter in, they tend to sleep and get through the weather. This is why a lot of stray cats can be seen sleeping in harsh weather conditions. So, it is vital to check up on them when the weather is not pleasant as they may be more prone to getting sick than pet cats.
4. Stress
Cats can be sensitive, and when there are certain changes in their schedule or surroundings, they become easily stressed. Mostly, they try to sleep it out. But sometimes situations can get very overwhelming, especially for stray cats. They may avoid interaction with humans and only sleep to avoid stress. It is important to maintain frequent human interaction so that they do not feel isolated and dejected. Petting them or playing with them can significantly help in improving their mood.
5. Require adequate sleep
Just like we humans need sleep to function on a day-to-day basis, cats have the same requirements. They too need to sleep. Their small bodies need frequent rest to recharge and gain strength. Even though these recharge periods are small, they are quite frequent throughout the day.
6. Sickness
Another reason stray cats might be sleeping more is that they might actually be sick. They might be feeling pain, and any type of movement makes them feel uncomfortable. So, they sleep. These patterns might be easy to notice in house cats but it can be a challenging task to figure out for stray cats. Paying close attention to how they look and behave can tell a lot about their health. Moreover, being overweight might also restrict their movements and the only option available to them would be to sleep.
In case you come across any stray cat who looks sick or who needs care and attention, you can always reach out to credible animal healthcare NGOs in India.
