We are all familiar with the dog that twitches and makes little muffled woofs in his sleep. You can just imagine him running free in an open field, chasing and sniffing, ears flapping in the breeze. But what about cats? They take cat naps. Can you really get a good dream into a short snooze?
It has been observed that cats have REMs: ‘rapid eye movement’ cycles, during sleep, which causes people to think they are dreaming, because that’s what humans do. Scientists report that brain activity and physical ‘twitches’ occur then, so it seems pretty evident that they’re doing something more during this cycle than simply catching a few z’s.
Cats need roughly 10-16 hours of sleep daily, or as much as 20 for kittens and seniors. Vets point out that cats come from hot climates, where they would attack their prey at dawn, chow down, and then sleep it off in the shade during the hot day, so they could conserve energy. Then they would get up to hunt for dinner at dusk when the earth is cooling again. Dawn-dusk animals are called ‘crepuscular’ animals, as opposed to nocturnal types, because once they’ve had their dinner, they go back to bed instead of staying up all night.
Scientific American Journal poses some interesting thoughts. Dogs are so scent-driven and so bonded with their owners that they probably dream about smelling and doing fun things with their humans. Cats are primarily hunters and primarily visual, so they are more likely dreaming of chasing birds and mice than about their family.
Because our cats sleep in small 15-30 minute naps so they can spring into action if a predator comes around (or a can opens), their REM sleep is only about five minutes long. Please don’t wake kitty because it is just as important to process experiences and do internal data management during this time as it is for people.
Yes, cats can have nightmares. It is very rare to see a cat in a loving household who doesn’t sleep peacefully. But those who have lived in the wild or who have spent time in shelters do have sometimes fitful sleep. If you think your cat is having a nightmare, simply make a little noise in the room, and let your cat wake up naturally.
However, if you see drooling, strong jerks or spasms, it’s best to consult with your vet for possible medical problems.
There is nothing cuter than watching a kitty sleeping. And there’s nothing more peaceful than an afternoon nap with your little friend.
Heron’s Crossing provides end-of-life care for pets in the Metro Atlanta area. In-home appointments with compassionate vets are available. If you’d prefer a home-like setting away from your home, our Decatur office is also available by appointment.