Studies have shown that pet owners who sleep with their cats (6) have a closer human-cat relationship than pet owners who don’t. There are plenty of benefits to sleeping with your pet, including lower stress levels and feeling a general sense of comfort and security. This can be a sign of trust or a sign that your cat loves the extra warmth provided by your body heat or blankets. Why Do Cats Sleep Next to You?Įven if you’re on an opposite sleep schedule from your cat, you might notice that your cat likes to sleep near you or in your bed. If you have a cat that wakes you at sunrise every morning, this could be an effect of your cat’s circadian rhythm. Cats are crepuscular, meaning that their circadian rhythms (5) tell them to be awake at dusk and dawn, and to sleep at night and during the day.īecause human and cat sleep cycles are different, you might be asleep when your cat is most active and vice versa. Humans are usually awake during the day and asleep at night. Humans and cats are also affected by circadian rhythms (4), which are 24-hour cycles that dictate when to be awake and when to be asleep. You may notice your cat taking naps throughout the day, but they’re still ready to pounce at the slightest movement or noise. When cats are in the light sleep phase, they are relaxed but on alert. In humans, the three cycles of non-REM sleep move from light to deep sleep. Cats also experience REM sleep (3), with their eyes moving in both vertical and horizontal directions.Ĭats and humans also have cycles of non-REM sleep.
During this stage, the eyes move back and forth, breathing and heart rate become faster, and dreams occur. Rapid eye movement, or REM (2), occurs in humans as one of the stages of sleep. How Is Cat Sleep Like Human Sleep?Ĭats and humans experience similar features of sleep. However, if you notice significant changes in your cat’s behavior, you may want to consult your veterinarian. If you’re worried that your cat might be sleeping too much, keep in mind that they require more sleep than humans do. Some older cats can sleep for 18 hours or more per day. As cats get older, they tend to sleep more (1) to conserve energy. On average, cats sleep between 12 and 16 hours each day. It might seem like your cat is only awake for a few hours a day. If you’re a cat owner, it’s helpful to know how much your cat should sleep, how your pet’s sleep is similar to your own, and why your cat sleeps the way it does. Just as with humans, the sleep cycle for cats is complex. You also may have noticed your cat pawing at the air in its sleep or waking you up every morning at the same time. You may have wondered if your cat sleeps too much, or why your cat seems to be wide awake when you’re ready for bed. If you live with a cat, you’ve probably noticed that your cat sleeps for a good part of the day.