Why Do Cats Not Sleep Completely?
Cats sleep for 12 to 16 hours a day, but their sleep is never as deep or as prolonged as ours. The behavior of cats running around at night and meowing at the crack of dawn is actually quite natural. Even cats living in a home environment maintain their ancestral hunting instincts. Moreover, their biological clock operates completely differently from ours.
Here are all the details about why cats never truly sleep...
Cats are "crepuscular" creatures, meaning they are most active during twilight.
This routine of cats stems from their natural hunting habits in the early hours of the morning and at dusk. Humans are 'diurnal' species that are active during the day and sleep at night, so the sleep pattern at home often clashes with that of the cat.
In the wild, cats hunt at these times and spend the rest of the day resting or hiding. This instinct still persists in domestic cats. They also lightly doze off for most of the day, occasionally gathering energy with short deep sleeps. This way, they remain ready to hunt or play at any moment.
There are several reasons why cats roam around the house at the crack of dawn.
The most fundamental reason is their hunting instinct inherited from their ancestors. Dawn is the time when prey is most active in nature. Therefore, cats instinctively receive the 'it's time to move' signal.
Another reason is related to habits. Domestic cats establish their own routines based on their owners' daily routines. If you feed, pet, or play with them every morning, your cat perceives this as a reward. So, without realizing it, you're actually reinforcing the habit of waking up early in the morning.
Cats can experience sudden bursts of energy during the night.
Energy bursts are commonly seen in cats that sleep too much during the day or are left alone. If they spend the entire day resting, they will want to expend their energy at night. Their jumping and running around with their toys, in particular, is actually an instinctive simulation of hunting.
Apart from this, boredom, hunger, or age-related changes can also affect a cat's sleep pattern. Aging cats, much like humans, wake up more frequently during the night. Sometimes, they may also have restless sleep due to health issues. When all these factors combine, cats are unable to achieve a truly 'deep sleep'.
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