Ashwin Lewis
Kittens sleep a lot, and this is completely normal. A 3-month-old kitten will sleep for about 18 hours a day, spread throughout the day and night. This is because they are growing and developing, and their bodies are expending a lot of energy. It is important to let your kitten sleep as much as they need to, as many important processes take place during sleep, and a kitten's healthy development relies on getting enough of it. As your kitten grows, you'll see their sleeping habits gradually settle into a pattern.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep hours | 18 hours per day |
| Sleep pattern | Sleep throughout the day and night |
| Sleep requirements | Similar to adult cats |
| Sleep and development | Kittens need sleep for healthy development |
| Sleep and health | Lack of sleep can be harmful to kittens |
| Sleep and diet | A full kitten is often a tired kitten |
| Sleep and play | Kittens need to sleep more during the day to make up for being active at night |
| Sleep and exploration | Kittens explore their environment more as they grow older and sleep less |
| Sleep and routine | A nighttime routine can be set up using a cat bed |
| Sleep and hunting | Kittens sleep a lot to conserve energy for hunting |
| Sleep and growth spurts | Kittens need more sleep during growth spurts |
| Sleep and diet | Lack of nutritious food may cause drowsiness |
| Sleep and overfeeding | Overfeeding may result in longer periods of sleep |
| Sleep and weather | Kittens sleep more during winter or rainy months |
| Sleep and boredom | Kittens sleep more if they have nothing to do |
| Sleep and dehydration | Dehydration may cause drowsiness |
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What You'll Learn
Kittens need 18 hours of sleep a day
Kittens need around 18 hours of sleep per day when they are three months old. This is spread throughout the day and night, and it is important that they are not disturbed during this time. Kittens need a lot of sleep because they are growing, which takes up a lot of energy. They also need to conserve energy for hunting and playing.
Kittens should be allowed to sleep as much as they need to. If they are lively and eating, drinking, and going to the toilet regularly when they are awake, they are probably healthy. However, if they are sleeping a lot and not playing when they are awake, this could indicate a medical issue, and you should consult your vet.
Kittens need a cosy, snug bed where they can sleep undisturbed. It is best to keep their bed low to the ground, and you can place a small cardboard box or cat igloo nearby for them to hide in. You can also create a ''kitten home' inside a large puppy crate, especially if there are other pets or children in the home.
Kittens need plenty of kitten-safe toys to play with, and it is fine to let them play and be active at night as long as they can get enough sleep during the day to make up for it. You may want to keep them confined to one room or a crate at night so that they do not disturb you.
Kittens need a lot of sleep for their healthy development, and many important processes take place during sleep. Lack of sleep can be harmful to kittens, and it is important to let them sleep as much as they need to.
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A kitten bed should be snug and cosy
Kittens sleep a lot, and this is especially true for younger kittens. A three-month-old kitten will need to sleep for about 18 hours a day, spread throughout the day and night. As such, it is important to ensure that they have a safe, cosy, and snug bed where they can curl up to recharge.
Kittens need to feel safe and secure in their bed, so it should be placed in a quiet and low-traffic area. The bed should also be made of soft and comfortable materials, such as plush fabric, merino wool, or fleece. It should be big enough for the kitten to stretch out and curl up in, with enough room for them to turn around and adjust their position.
Some kitten beds come with a built-in heating pad to keep the kitten warm, which can be especially beneficial for elderly cats or those who need help regulating their body temperature. Alternatively, you can place a heated mat inside the bed to provide warmth. If you live in a multi-cat household, consider getting a larger bed that can accommodate multiple cats, such as the PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge, which can fit four or more cats at once.
In addition to a comfortable bed, providing a small cardboard box or cat igloo will give your kitten somewhere to hide and feel secure. You can also place a litter tray, food and water bowls, and some kitten-safe toys nearby so they have everything they need within reach.
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Kittens are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk
Kittens sleep a lot. From birth until about two weeks of age, they sleep for around 22 hours per day, only waking up to feed. By the time they are three months old, they will sleep for about 18 hours, spread throughout the day and night. This is not far from the sleep requirements of adult cats, who average around 16 hours per day.
Kittens are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. This is a type of circadian rhythm. Their sleeping habits are programmed this way because, even if they are well-fed pets, they were designed to hunt for their food. Hunting requires a lot of effort, and kittens need to be fully rested to have the best chance of catching their next meal.
Crepuscular behaviour in zoology refers to animals that are active primarily during the twilight period, either at dawn, at dusk, or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the hours of daytime and of night, respectively. Many factors affect the time of day an animal is active. Predators hunt when their prey is available, and prey try to avoid the times when their principal predators are at large. The temperature may be too high at midday or too low at night. Some creatures may adjust their activities depending on local competition. The word crepuscular comes from the Latin 'crepusculum', meaning twilight.
Some predatory species adjust their habits in response to competition from other predators. For example, in regions with high human activity during the day, Asian black bears may avoid these areas, instead visiting during twilight or nighttime hours. Light pollution impacts crepuscular behaviour because it mimics natural light conditions, leading crepuscular animals to behave as they would normally.
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Kittens need plenty of sleep for healthy development
Kittens undergo many vital developmental and growth functions during sleep, and interrupted sleep or a lack of sleep can be harmful to them. Therefore, it is important to let them sleep as much as they need to and never wake them when they are fast asleep. You can help your kitten sleep by providing a safe, cosy, and snug bed or blanket, placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed while life goes on around them.
Kittens are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dusk and dawn and will nap throughout the day and night—this is called polyphasic sleep. This behaviour is programmed into cats, who were designed to hunt for their food. Hunting requires a lot of effort, and cats need to be fully rested to have the best chance of catching their next meal.
If your kitten is lively and meowing at night and during the early morning, that can be perfectly normal, especially if they have plenty of kitten-safe toys to hunt and play with. You may want to keep them confined to one room or a large puppy crate during the night so that you can get a good night's sleep.
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A kitten may sleep a lot due to boredom or lack of nutritious food
Kittens are known to sleep a lot, and this is considered normal behaviour. From birth until about two weeks of age, kittens sleep for around 22 hours per day, and by the time they are three months old, they will sleep for about 18 hours a day. Kittens need plenty of rest to grow and develop properly.
However, if your kitten is sleeping a lot and always seems exhausted, there may be underlying reasons. One possible reason is boredom. Cats tend to sleep more if they have nothing to do. To increase your kitten's activity levels, provide them with interactive toys and engage them in playtime. Scratching posts, cat trees, and cat shelves can also provide stimulation and vertical territory for your kitten.
Another possible reason for excessive sleeping in kittens is a lack of nutritious food. Kittens need plenty of healthy calories in their early weeks to build up extra strength. An imbalanced diet may cause lethargy and drowsiness. Kittens should eat AAFCO-approved, formulated kitten food to meet their nutritional needs. Their diet should be based on animal protein and fat, with about 20% of their daily food intake coming from animal fat. Fish, seafood, and specific vegetables can also be included in their diet.
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Frequently asked questions
3-month-old kittens sleep for about 18 hours a day, spread throughout the day and night.
Kittens sleep a lot to conserve energy for hunting. They also sleep more when they are going through growth spurts.
Kittens sleep best if they have a cosy, snug bed or blanket, placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed. You can also pet them until they sleep and provide them with toys that mimic their mother's heartbeat.
