All cats love to sleep. We don’t use the phrase “to take a cat nap” for no reason” All cat owners will be used to seeing their feline friend putting up plenty of zs, with the average cat spending 12-16 hours a day sleeping – and some snoozing for up to 20!
You’ll also have noticed that cats are light sleepers, ready to jump to the alert at sudden noises – such as that door to the cupboard where the treats live being opened… However, you may find that your cat is spending more time lazing around during the winter.
First things first, this is absolutely nothing to worry about. And you may not have noticed your cat being any difference than usual. As long as they’re getting plenty of exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, you should leave them to move from one favoured sleeping spot to the next to their heart’s content.
Why might cats sleep more over the winter?
Here’s a few reasons why they may be less active over the winter months.
Many outdoor cats will spend more time indoors over the winter, either due to their owner’s restrictions, or just because they don’t fancy the cold and wet. More time indoors means more time sleeping!
Cats like to be warm, so as the temperature drops, curling up in a cosy spot may take the place of sunbathing in the garden. Remember that there’s no need to turn up the heating for the benefit of your cat – their fluffy coat and a draft-free spot to rest in will be more than enough.
Wild cats in cooler climates will spend more time resting and sleeping through the winter as prey is scarcer, and it’s certainly possible that these evolutionary instincts still influence our domestic moggies today.
All in all, the only thing to do as an owner is to make sure your cat is getting some daily exercise – and we have lots of ideas for games here – and then enjoy the adorable site of your little friend snoozing around the house.
If you have any concerns about your cat’s weight or behaviour, please do get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to help!
