Why do cats sleep so much? Is the amount of time your cat sleeps normal? How much sleep is enough sleep for a cat, anyway? And can too much sleep be a sign of a serious health issue?

So many questions! Luckily, we’re here to give you the answers and set your mind at rest when it comes to… well, rest. Here’s everything you’ve always wanted to know about cats’ sleeping behaviors and patterns – including how to spot a change in your cat’s sleep levels that might signal a health issue.

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Why do cats sleep so much?

Just like us, cats need sleep to survive. Regular sleep recharges and restores the body for the next day, and supports memory function as well as the immune system. Different types of sleep including NREM and REM support different functions of the body.

Cats have evolved to sleep for long periods during the day. Doing so allows them to save on energy, which in the wild they would use for hunting, chasing, and finding their next meal. After all, cats are natural hunters (their hunting instinct is one of the main reasons why cats run away). Just like big cats, your house-lion still keeps to a schedule of hunting, feasting and sleeping1.

A cat sleeping on its side

Since cats in the wild are typically both predator and prey1, it makes sense that they need a lot of energy to:

  • Hunt and bring home their next meal,
  • Avoid becoming a snack themselves.

Even the most domesticated of cats are still driven by this ancient biological wiring. Because of this, cats tend to sleep more lightly than humans and take several cat naps throughout the day, rather then one long, deep sleep session at night.

How much do cats sleep?

Cats are sleepy creatures, and chances are, your feline family member is curled up cat-napping right now. It might seem like your furry friend sleeps all day, but how much do cats sleep really? As for the exact amount of hours a cat sleeps, that depends on factors such as:

  • Age: senior cats have less energy and tend to sleep more than younger cats. Kittens, like babies, require lots of sleep to grow.
  • Activity level: cats tend to need to sleep more after a high-action day.
  • Health condition: if your cat is suffering from a disease, for example cat dementia, their sleeping cycle may be affected.

How many hours a day do cats sleep?

According to veterinary experts, cats normally sleep anywhere from 12 – 20 hours a day2.

  • The average is 15 hours a day, with 40% of all cats sleeping over 18 hours a day. That’s right, your cat sleeps about 2-3 times as long as you!
  • Cats tend to sleep more hours per day as they grow older.

⚠️ Watch out though – a change in your cat’s sleep patterns (especially as they grow older) can be a sign of concern.

In fact, one of the early signs of Cognitive Dysfunction syndrome (CDS) in cats is:

A cat sleeping on a wooden table

“…a change in sleep-wake cycles – e.g., the cat is awake when normally sleeping and vice versa.”

– International Cat Care3

So if you’ve got a senior cat at home, it’s wise to keep an eye out for any changes in behavior – especially around their normal sleep times – so you can catch on to a shift earlier. (And get them to a vet for a preventive checkup, before their condition worsens.)

✅ A Sleep Tracker built for cats can help you monitor changes in your cat’s sleeping habits – and spot health issues early – with just a glance at your phone. We’ll cover it in detail a little further below.

Discover Sleep Tracking

How long do cats sleep?

Our feline friends, unlike us, are polyphasic sleepers. This means that cats sleep several times a day, rather than in one long period. So this explains why your cat probably never sleeps through the night like you do. Instead, your cat naps multiple times throughout the day, usually for period of 50 to 113 minutes, or 78 minutes on average4.

How long do kittens sleep?

Newborn kittens need much more sleep than adult cats. n the first weeks of life, kittens sleep almost continuously. They might wake up occassionally to nurse with Mama Cat. But as they get older, they stay awake for longer – but even as they continue to grow, young cats still sleep for a large part of the day. (Often 16 to 20 hours!) 

As cats grow older, their daily hours of sleep decrease as well.

💡 See why it’s a good idea to pick up on your cat’s Sleep data? Now that you’re aware of what’s normal for most cats – you can compare how your cat is sleeping and whether they’re getting more or fewer winks.

Do cats dream?

You’ll guess it – yes! Just like humans, cats go through different stages of sleep. During the REM (rapid eye movement) phase, cats are in deep sleep and can dream.5 When cats dream, you might observe their muscles twitching – or even hissing or meowing.

So at this point, you might be wondering: what do cats dream about? Well, unfortunately, it’s still a secret. Researchers aren’t 100% sure of what exactly might be going through your cat’s mind while asleep. But just like humans, it’s possible cats are able to process events they’ve just experienced.6 So just like with dogs, who can also experience dream sleep – it’s possible your cat might be dreaming of you too. (And the fun you have together.)

😿Think your cat might be experiencing a nightmare? It’s best not to wake them up if they’re having a bad dream when they’re in deep sleep.7 This is an important phase of sleep where your cat’s body is healing and repairing itself. So if you wake them up during this phase, you might interrupt the cell renewal process.

Rather, we’d recommend you wait for your cat to wake up by themselves – and give them plenty of hugs and cuddles after. Your presence is comforting enough to overcome any bad dreams.

Are cats nocturnal?

Nope, this is actually a myth. Cats are crepuscular, not nocturnal. This means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk.

This behavior is based on their hunting behavior, as cats in the wild tend to prey on animals who are also most active around these times. So if you feel uneasy about your kitty walking around at night, remember that they’re much better equipped for the dark than you are.

Is my cat sleeping too much? Or too less?

Changes in sleep patterns may be normal – but could also indicate illness in your cat8. If you notice your cat is sleeping more – or less – than normal, plus displaying other worrisome behavior such as not eating, this could signal a serious health issue.

Where a Sleep Tracker for cats can step in

🐱 With its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive device picks up on your cat’s movements throughout the day – including when they’re asleep.

A cat sleeping in the background with Tractive Sleep tracking in foreground

Which, with time, helps you build a picture of your cat’s sleeping behavior. Including:

  • How much sleep your cat gets on the regular
  • How much quality sleep this includes – plus how many times they were disturbed
  • Any weird spike or dip in your cat’s sleeping behavior – like if they’re sleeping too much or too little

All of which can lead to a more productive, data-driven, informed discussion with your vet. No need to rely on your memory, where you might end up missing some important details.

Help your cat stay fit and healthy

Get a complete overview of how much exercise and rest they’re getting. Compare their activity to that of similar cats. Set daily goals.

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Does your cat seem to sleep all the time? Here’s a short, sweet video explaining a few reasons why:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.

Your furry friend’s health and wellbeing means as much as to us as it does to you. So we’ve made it a priority to only share medically-relevant content on our blog.

This post was checked, double-checked, and medically verified by Georgia-based vet, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.

Dr. Dwight Alleyne, DVM

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began his career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinary technician. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University.

Now practicing in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. He also writes pet health articles on his website, “The Animal Doctor Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).