Why Do Cats Always Nap?

1 Why Cats Nap So Much: Sleep Cycles and Dreams

Clearly your cat is a champion napper, so you wonder: do they dream a lot, maybe of mice? Experts confirm cats dream while dozing, but still do not know what of.

Cat sleep cycle

Cat sleep is much like human. Cats pass stages. Stage 1: drowsy, eyes slowly close, still alert; at a sound the ears twitch or eyes open. Stage 2: brainwaves grow rhythmic, heart rate and temperature drop. Stage 3: swings between light and deep sleep. Stage 4: finally deep sleep. Stage 5: rapid eye movement and other muscle twitches.

In deep sleep, cats may loop stages 2 to 5. But most naps are brief and may not reach any stage. Dreams start at stage 5, called paradoxical sleep.

In this stage, signs mirror wakefulness: paws and face may twitch, tail sway, skin ripple. Yet they are hard to wake – yes, very relaxed, so relaxed they cannot lift the head. If the muscles were fully slack, how could the whiskers twitch or paws paddle?

Also, serotonin – a neurotransmitter that drives large muscles – is active in other stages but off in stage 5, so only small movements show. Note cats often sleep semi-upright without falling; paws tucked under the belly. A human in stage 5 on a slope would fall, as our muscles are fully slack.

What do cats dream?

Though unclear, one researcher found clues. In the late 20th century, biologist Michael Jouvet found that when cats lacked the brain part that relaxes muscles in stage 5, they squeaked and scratched in sleep, as if attacking prey – suggesting they dream of hunting.

This spurred study of other mammals. All mammals except anteaters have stage 5 sleep. Predators spend more time there than prey, as they are safe from being eaten. Prey always wary of predators cannot fall so deep.

How much sleep do cats need?

Harvard Business Review notes full sleep aids body function; the body recovers in deep sleep. But deep sleep is not the most important – cats spend more time in light sleep.

If your cat stays awake all night?

Cats cycle through activity, feeding, grooming, sleep daily. A last play and a snack before bed satisfies and relaxes the cat, leading to dozing and sleep.

Give good sleep chances often

Give your cat good sleep chances. When curled up, it rests a paw on its warm belly; after waking it still needs rest. Do not wake a deep-sleeping cat – deep sleep matters. Give a trusted spot: warm, comfy, not large; cats like small, hidden spaces.