To learn more about cats and their sleep habits, Bored Panda got in touch with Hyunmin Kim, DVM, Director of Veterinarians, ASPCA. She said that cats usually sleep about 15 hours a day but some can sleep even up to 20 hours per day. "Age is one of the most important factors influencing how long a cat will sleep," Kim explained. "Kittens and senior cats tend to sleep longer than teenage and adult cats. Cats tend to sleep this much because of their wild ancestral need to conserve energy for hunting down their next meal."
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Kim also said that cats like to rest in areas that reduce vulnerability. Like a cardboard box where five out of six sides are protected and they can make a quick getaway. "Cats are also very clean creatures by nature and tend to choose areas that are clean and not soiled. Cats also choose sleeping areas based on temperature. For example, in cold weather, they're more likely to be snuggled on top of a heating vent, and in warm weather, they might sleep stretched out on a cool tiled floor," the veterinary surgeon added.
When your cat looks this adorable in its sleep, it's only natural if you feel a sudden urge to snuggle up next to it. Or even wake up, the little buddy and pet it, trying to somehow show the animal just how much you adore it. And it's not a bad idea! If you know how to go about it. "Normally it's fine to wake up a cat from its sleep. They tend to be light sleepers so it’s relatively easy to wake them up," Kim said.
"However, there are two stages of sleep where it is better to leave them be, called REM or rapid eye movement and non-REM sleep. In REM sleep, cats may move or twitch slightly. In Non-REM sleep, cats will be motionless and appear very relaxed. If a cat is deprived of these two sleep stages it can become ill and irritable. Cats should also not be woken up too frequently especially if they’re very young or very old because they need sleep to maintain their health."
If you have a feline companion, feel free to check out all the information ASPCA has on cat care. Their veterinarians and behaviorists offer up helpful tips, solutions, and answers to some of your most frequently asked feline questions to keep your kitty happy and healthy.
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