Mary Allen
Just like us humans, our velvet paws like it particularly cozy in winter. When it’s cold and wet outside, the kitties sleep even more intensely than usual. They prefer cozy and warm places to sleep.
The Cat Sleep
Cats seem to be able to sleep anytime and anywhere – a quality that we two-legged friends often envy. In fact, cats oversleep about 70% of the day. This of course depends on the age, the season, and the activity level of the respective cat. On average, cats sleep 16 hours a day – not in one piece, of course, but spread over several units. In winter it can be up to 20 hours. Kittens even sleep 90% of the day. Our house tigers are actually crepuscular and nocturnal. However, they have adapted many times to our way of life. Nevertheless, cat owners can often observe that the kitties are mostly active in the morning and in the late evening hours. In the morning the animals like to control their territory, in the evening they are especially active when their family is at work and they are alone during the day. Outdoor hikers like to oversleep the whole day and then go on tour in the garden at night.
Why do Cats Sleep so Much?
Cats sleep so much because they use a lot of energy when they are awake. They are constantly under tension, all senses are sharpened to the utmost and they are in a position of attention. Even during sleep, the cat’s senses continue to work so that it can be wide awake immediately in case of danger. Cats still have some of the habits of their wild ancestors. They use every opportunity to replenish their energy reserves for hunting. Even if the hunt often only consists of tattering to the filled food bowl.
Do Cats Dream?
Perhaps you have already seen your cat twitch its paws or the tip of its tail or even lightly meow while it sleeps. Very few people doubt that cats dream. What they dream of, however, is a mystery that has not yet been unlocked. However, researchers assume that cats, like us humans, dream in the REM phase (Rapid Eye Movement Phase). It is assumed that they process the stimuli of the day during these phases. Since the animals unfortunately cannot tell us about their dreams, this is only speculation. In any case, you shouldn’t disturb your cat in its deep sleep, as it urgently needs it for regeneration.
The Most Popular Sleeping Places in Winter
While cats like to stretch out on the cool kitchen tiles in summer, they love to cuddle up comfortably on cold days. Here’s how you can offer your kitties the perfect hibernation:
- a cozy pillow on the windowsill
- a cradle for the heating
- a cat cafe
- an insulated thermal blanket for your favorite spot
- for outdoors: a cardboard box with blankets in the gazebo
In general, you should keep in mind that cats like to hide on the one hand and love elevated places on the other. So you should give them a cat cave or build them a cave out of cardboard boxes. Your kitty can comfortably hide here. Scratching posts are of course suitable as raised sleeping places, but a cozy basket on an accessible cupboard can also serve this purpose. If you’ve already given up the fight against cat hair on clothing, you can also offer your velvet paws a compartment in your closet.
This is What Your Cat’s Sleeping Positions Mean
Above all, you can tell from your cat’s sleeping position whether it is in a deep sleep phase or is just dozing. You can often see animals curled up in their sleep. Your cat is particularly good at storing heat in this position. However, it can also be a sign that you are cold, as cats normally sleep stretched out at a comfortable temperature. But the behavior can also mean that she feels that she has to protect herself. Therefore, it is best to leave the sleeping cat alone in this position.
Your kitty is only lightly asleep when she lies on her stomach, but has raised her head and hidden all four paws under her body. The sleeping cat can get up quickly from this position if it feels threatened. On the other hand, the velvet paws show absolute trust when they sleep on their back and turn their stomach towards you. At this point, the fur noses are very sensitive. So the sleeping position shows that they are completely relaxed in your presence.