Ashwin Lewis
Kittens sleep a lot—newborns sleep for around 22 hours per day, and this gradually decreases as they grow. By the time they are three months old, kittens will sleep for about 18 hours a day. Kittens that are five months old are still growing quickly, and they need a lot of energy to fuel their development. As such, they will still sleep more than adult cats, averaging 16 to 20 hours of sleep per day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep time | 16-20 hours a day |
| Sleep habits | Sleep more after meals; sleep less as they grow older |
| Sleep patterns | Sleep a lot and deeply due to high activity levels |
| Sleep environment | Safe, cosy bed; low beds are safer for young kittens; beds placed somewhere undisturbed |
| Sleep and development | Sleep aids growth and development; lack of sleep can be harmful |
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What You'll Learn
Kittens sleep a lot to conserve energy for hunting
Kittens sleep a lot because they are so active. They are curious about the world around them and want to explore and play. This can be exhausting for them, so they need to nap to recharge their batteries. Kittens also sleep a lot because they are growing and developing. During sleep, their bodies can focus on developmental and growth functions.
Kittens gradually settle into a sleep pattern as they grow. Newborn kittens sleep around 22 hours per day, waking up only to feed. By the time they are three months old, they will sleep for about 18 hours a day. This is not far from the sleep requirements of adult cats, which average around 16 hours per day.
It is important to let kittens sleep as much as they need to. Interrupted or lack of sleep can be harmful to them. Kittens should have access to food and water 100% of the time, but it is a good idea to encourage additional napping by feeding them some extra meals of wet food and creating a food/nap schedule. If your kitten seems tired or lacks energy even after sleeping all day, you should reach out to your vet.
Kittens should have a cosy, snug bed or blanket placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed. You can make a ''kitten home' inside a large puppy crate, with a litter tray, food and water bowls, and some kitten-safe toys. This will give them a safe place to sleep and play during the day.
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A cosy, snug bed helps kittens sleep undisturbed
Kittens sleep a lot—up to 22 hours a day in their first two weeks of life. By the time they are three months old, they'll be sleeping for around 18 hours a day. This is not far off the sleep requirements of adult cats, which average around 16 hours per day.
Kittens are naturally crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dusk and dawn. They will sleep for some of the night and take naps throughout the day. This sleep pattern allows them to hunt for small prey when their prey is also most active.
Kittens need a lot of sleep because many vital developmental and growth functions take place during this time. Interrupted sleep or a lack of sleep can be harmful to kittens. Therefore, it is important to ensure your kitten has a cosy, snug bed where they can sleep undisturbed.
Firstly, it is important to remember that kittens like to sleep away from where they eat, drink and go to the toilet, so make sure they have clear areas for each of these activities. If you are able to supervise your kitten, you can leave the door open so that they can come out to explore when they are feeling confident. When you can't supervise them, you can close the door so that your kitten is safe and can sleep undisturbed.
If your kitten is new to your home, you can ask the breeder or previous owner to provide you with a blanket that your kitten has slept on. Having a familiar scent on their blanket can help your kitten to feel more secure when they come to live with you. Once your kitten has established a bond with you, a piece of your clothing in their bed will be comforting and lengthen how long your kitten sleeps at night.
You can also help your kitten feel secure and snug by getting them a microwavable heat pad. These must always be used with appropriate covers to prevent burns. A small cardboard box or cat igloo will also give your kitten somewhere to hide and feel safe.
Kittens and adult cats are nocturnal hunters by nature, so being active at night is to be expected. If your kitten is keeping you up at night, there are a variety of ways to encourage them to sleep through the night. Firstly, make sure they are getting enough exercise during the day. You can wear them out with evening playtime, around an hour before bed. This will help sync their schedule to your own. Try playing with a toy on a string, playing fetch with a ping pong ball, or playing chase with a wind-up toy. You can also mimic play fighting to mimic hunting behaviour.
You can also encourage your kitten to sleep through the night by feeding them a bedtime meal of high-protein wet food half an hour before bedtime. This will encourage them to settle down with a full tummy. Dry food often contains higher carbohydrate content that can quickly release unwanted bursts of energy when fed at bedtime, thus affecting how long your kitten will sleep.
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Kittens sleep less as they grow older
Kittens sleep a lot—almost 22 hours a day—from birth until they are about two weeks old. At this stage, they only wake up to feed. As they grow older, they sleep less and spend more time playing and exploring. By the time kittens are three months old, they will sleep for about 18 hours a day, spread across daytime and nighttime. This is not far off from the sleep requirements of adult cats, which average around 16 hours per day. Kittens that are six months old sleep for about 16 to 20 hours a day.
Kittens need a lot of sleep because their bodies are growing, which requires a lot of energy. Sleep is also important for their development and can help them fight off illness later in life. It is therefore crucial to let kittens sleep for as long as they need to. If a kitten is lively when awake and is eating, drinking, and going to the toilet regularly, it is probably healthy. However, if the kitten seems tired or lacks energy and playfulness when it is awake, a veterinarian should be consulted.
Kittens should be provided with a cosy, snug bed or blanket, placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed. A small cardboard box or cat igloo will also give them somewhere to hide. It is important to remember that kittens are usually not fully litter-trained when they are adopted, so it is easier to clean their machine-washable bed than to get the smell of cat urine out of a mattress.
Kittens can be encouraged to sleep by feeding them kitten food right before bedtime, taking them to their litter box, and then tucking them into their bed. A full kitten is often a tired kitten. They may be soothed by being petted or by toys that mimic their mother's heartbeat.
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Kittens need 18-20 hours of sleep daily at 8 weeks old
Kittens are curious and energetic, but they require a lot of sleep. Newborn kittens sleep for almost 22 hours a day, and as they mature, they sleep less. By the time they are three months old, they need about 18 hours of sleep. This is not far off from the sleep requirements of adult cats, which average around 16 hours of sleep per day.
Kittens may sleep a lot during the day and be more active at night. They may also wake up frequently during the night because they are hungry, bored, or missing their littermates. It is important to provide them with plenty of kitten-safe toys to play with and hunt, and they should always have access to food and water.
Kittens need a lot of sleep for their growth and development. Interrupted sleep or a lack of sleep can be harmful to them. Therefore, it is important to let them sleep for as long as they need. If your kitten seems tired or lacks energy when it is awake, you should contact your veterinarian.
To help your kitten sleep, provide a cosy, snug bed or blanket placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed. Making a ''kitten home' inside a large puppy crate can also work well, especially if there are other pets or young children in the home. You can place a litter tray, food and water bowls, and some toys inside the crate.
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A full kitten is often a tired kitten
Kittens sleep a lot, and this is important for their development. A kitten's sleep pattern is linked to its feeding pattern. A full kitten is often a tired kitten, so it's a good idea to feed your kitten right before you go to bed. Make sure they eat their fill, and then take them to their litter box before tucking them into their bed. You can pet them until they fall asleep, and they may curl up and go out like a light.
Kittens have a lot of energy, and they need to burn it off. They do this through play, which is instinctive and also helps them to develop hunting skills. Hunting requires a lot of effort, and cats need to be well-rested to have the best chance of catching their next meal. As your kitten grows, you'll see their sleeping habits gradually settle into a pattern. From birth until about two weeks of age, kittens need to sleep for around 22 hours per day, only waking to feed. By the time they're three months old, they'll only need to sleep for about 18 hours, spread throughout the day and night. This isn't far off the sleep requirements of adult cats, which average around 16 hours per day.
Kittens are usually considered adult cats when they reach one year of age, but they may not be fully grown at this point. Kittens typically reach a length and weight close to their full-grown size by nine to twelve months. However, they still need plenty of sleep. On average, kittens six months or older and adult cats usually catch about 16 to 18 hours of shut-eye a day.
If your kitten is lively and meowing at night and during the early morning, that can be perfectly normal. As long as they have plenty of kitten-safe toys to hunt and play with, it's fine to let them carry on. You may want to keep them confined to one room or a large puppy crate during the night so that you can get some sleep. If your kitten seems to meow a lot and you're concerned, speak to your vet. Remember that your kitten will need to get plenty of sleep during the day to make up for being active at night.
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Frequently asked questions
Kittens that are 5 months old will usually sleep between 16 and 20 hours a day.
Sleep is important for a kitten's development and can help them fend off illness later in life.
Try feeding your kitten some extra meals of wet food and creating a food/nap schedule. You can also try to pet your kitten to sleep or provide them with toys that mimic their mother's heartbeat.
Feed your kitten kitten food right before you go to bed and make sure they eat their fill. Then, take them to their litter box before tucking them into their bed and petting them until they fall asleep.
If your kitten seems tired or lacks energy and playfulness when they are awake, you should reach out to your vet. Otherwise, it is normal for kittens to sleep a lot.
