Kittens' Napping Habits: How Much Sleep Do They Need?

Kittens are known to sleep a lot, and this is completely normal. Newborn kittens sleep for around 22 hours a day, which is about 90% of their day. This is referred to as rapid sleep or REM sleep, and it is necessary for their development. As they grow older, they will sleep less, but even at six months old, they will still sleep for about 16 to 20 hours a day. By the time they are three months old, they will sleep for about 18 hours a day, similar to adult cats.

Kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day during their newborn stage

Newborn kittens sleep for around 90% of their day, and they may double in size within the first week of their life. This rapid growth requires a lot of sleep, as sleep allows kittens to rest and reinforces memorisation and learning. Sleep, along with proper nutrition, is essential for the development of a kitten's brain, nervous system, muscles, and bones.

After the first week, a kitten's sleep pattern will begin to change. They will experience a new deep phase of sleep (slow sleep or non-REM sleep), where they are totally relaxed and breathing slowly. This alternates with "light" REM sleep in a cycle called a "sleep bout". By the time they are three months old, kittens will only need to 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 to 18 hours per day.

Cats are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk

Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. This is distinct from the behaviours of nocturnal and diurnal animals, which are active at night and during the day, respectively. Crepuscular animals are primarily active during twilight, which includes both dawn and dusk.

The term crepuscular comes from the Latin word 'crepusculum', meaning twilight. The behaviour of crepuscular animals is synchronised with the low-light conditions that occur during these times. Cats' retinas have a high concentration of rods, the photoreceptors that are sensitive to dim light. They also have a reflective layer behind the retina, known as the tapetum lucidum, which enhances night vision by reflecting light back through the retina. This adaptation significantly improves their ability to navigate and hunt at dawn and dusk.

Cats' crepuscular nature is an evolutionary adaptation that enhances their survival as both predators and prey. As predators, their activity peaks when their prey is most active. As prey, they reduce the risk of encountering larger predators. This behaviour may also help cats avoid the heat of the day.

While cats are crepuscular, their behaviour is not fixed and can vary according to season, environmental conditions, and human interaction. Domestic cats, in particular, may adapt to more diurnal behaviours to align with their owners' schedules.

A kitten's sleep is vital for its development

Kittens sleep a lot. From birth until about two weeks of age, kittens need to sleep for around 22 hours per day, only waking to feed. During this initial phase of sleeping, known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the kitten stays alert as its senses develop. After a couple of weeks, the kitten will start to be more independent and will begin to sleep alone. As their senses become sharper, they will develop a new slower sleep stage and will seem more relaxed while resting.

By the time they are three months old, kittens will only need to sleep for about 18 hours, similar to an adult cat. Their sleep cycle could then be split into a phase of sound sleep (20-25 minutes) followed by a phase of REM-paradoxical-dreaming (5 minutes). Kittens tend to sleep in warm, sunny, and comfortable places, high off the ground.

It is important to provide a safe, quiet, and dark place for a kitten to sleep. Kittens need to feel protected, warm, and comfortable in a quiet place to ensure they get sufficient quality sleep during the day.

Kittens sleep in short bursts, or polyphasic sleep

A newborn kitten will sleep for around 22 hours a day, or 90% of their time. This is light sleep, often in the company of their mother and siblings to keep warm and feel protected. They will experience 'rapid sleep' or REM sleep, during which they may twitch and make noises. After a couple of weeks, a kitten will start to sleep alone and develop a new, deeper sleep stage. At around three weeks old, they will begin to sleep on their side or stomach and will sleep for longer periods.

As they grow, kittens become increasingly active and bold, discovering their surroundings and engaging in instinctive behaviours such as jumping, climbing, pouncing and scratching. These activities are very stimulating for a kitten and require a lot of energy, which is then restocked during sleep. After two months, a kitten will sleep for around 18 hours a day, similar to an adult cat. Their sleep cycle will be split into a phase of sound sleep (20-25 minutes) followed by a phase of REM sleep (5 minutes).

It is important to provide a kitten with a safe, quiet and dark place to sleep, such as a cosy bed or blanket in a low-traffic area. This will allow them to get the rest they need to support their development and growth.

A kitten's sleep cycle includes REM and non-REM sleep

Kittens sleep a lot—from birth until about two weeks of age, they sleep for around 22 hours per day. By the time they're three months old, they'll sleep for about 18 hours a day, and this number decreases to 16 hours once they're adults.

During REM sleep, a kitten's eyes move behind their eyelids, their limbs twitch, and their whiskers move around. This is the stage of sleep when most dreaming occurs, although some dreams do happen during non-REM sleep as well. The dreams that occur during non-REM sleep are more fragmentary and less visual. As kittens mature, the amount of REM sleep they experience decreases, along with the muscle twitching that goes along with it.

While we can't know exactly what kittens dream about, it's likely that they dream about similar things to what they experience while they're awake. This includes instinctual behaviours like playing and stalking prey.

Frequently asked questions