Gina Johnson
Cats need more sleep than most mammals and it is important to their health and well-being. Kittens, in particular, need sleep to build their muscles and bones. If you have a kitten, avoid waking it unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do need to wake a kitten, a small noise or light touch should be enough. However, it is best to let sleeping cats lie.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Should you wake a sleeping kitten | Avoid waking a kitten unless it is absolutely necessary |
| How to wake a sleeping kitten | Lightly brush your finger against its head or ear |
| Kitten's first night sleeping arrangements | In a warm, quiet, and comfortable space where they feel secure, such as their own room for a few nights |
| Kitten's preferred sleeping spots | A soft and warm couch, or their owner's bed |
| Kitten's sleeping patterns | Kittens have a lot of energy and may not sleep through the night |
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What You'll Learn
Orphaned kittens and feeding routines
It is generally advised to let sleeping kittens lie, and this is especially true for orphaned kittens, who require a lot of sleep to grow and develop. Orphaned kittens should be fed on a strict schedule, and it is important to keep them warm and comfortable to ensure they can properly digest their food.
Feeding Routines
For the first week of an orphaned kitten's life, they should be fed every 2-4 hours. After the first week, the frequency can be reduced to every 4-6 hours until weaning. It is important not to overfeed orphaned kittens, especially in the first six days of life, as their energy requirements are lower initially and should be increased gradually. Kitten milk replacer should be warmed to approximately 100°F (38°C) and should be the sole source of nutrition until 3-4 weeks of age, when the weaning process can begin.
Weaning
Once a kitten shows interest in eating independently, continue to offer bottle feedings 4-5 times a day. The kitten should be weaned at 6-8 weeks and will be ready to start its vaccinations.
Weight and Development Tracking
It is important to keep a logbook to track the orphaned kittens' development, including their weight. Birth weight should be recorded, and weight should be recorded daily for the first four weeks of life. From the fifth week onwards, weekly weigh-ins are sufficient.
Kitten Comfort
Kittens should be held in a horizontal, head-neutral position during feeding. It is important to be gentle and never force the formula down their throats. The kitten should be fed until it is comfortably full, but be careful not to allow its stomach to become tight or distended. After feeding, the kitten's reflex to eliminate should be stimulated by gently stroking the area between the anus and vulva or penis with a warm, moistened cotton ball or soft cloth.
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Kittens and REM sleep
It is generally advised to let sleeping kittens lie. Kittens, in particular, need more sleep than adult cats as they are still growing and their nervous system is not yet fully developed. During their first three weeks of life, kittens sleep 90% of the time and are usually licked awake by their mother when it is time to nurse.
If you are concerned about a kitten's health, it is best to consult a veterinarian. However, it may be necessary to wake a kitten up to feed it if it is orphaned and being hand-reared. Multiple sources advise against waking kittens to feed them, but one user reported that their kittens slept for eight hours straight, and they always ended up waking them up out of worry.
Like humans, cats cycle through different stages of sleep, including non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Cats experience REM sleep, which is when humans dream, so it is theorized that cats also dream during this stage. During REM sleep, cats may squeak, twitch their eyes, ears, whiskers, and tails, and experience a loss of muscle tone. This phase lasts about five to seven minutes, and cats are slow to wake from this deep sleep.
The amount of REM sleep a cat experiences decreases as they get older, so it is assumed that kittens are more likely to dream than adult cats. This could be because kittens have a lot of new information to process as they learn about the world around them.
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Kittens and deep sleep
Kittens, like cats, sleep a lot throughout the day. They need more sleep than most mammals, as they have bursts of high energy, especially when they are very young. Sleep is important for kittens as it allows them to build their muscles and bones. It is also during sleep that their immune system is restored, and their bodies are generally repaired and regenerated.
Kittens will often have bursts of activity during the night, during which they might run around, pounce on your feet, or explore their surroundings. This is because cats are crepuscular animals, meaning they are naturally more active at dawn and dusk. As kittens grow, their sleep patterns may start to align more closely with those of their human family members.
It is best to avoid waking a sleeping kitten unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do need to wake a kitten, a small noise or light touch should be enough. However, it is important not to wake a kitten too frequently, especially if they are very young. If deprived of sufficient sleep, a kitten may become irritable or lethargic.
On a kitten's first night in a new home, it is best to allow them to sleep in a warm, quiet, comfortable, and secure room where they will not be disturbed.
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Kittens sleeping in your bed
Kittens need a lot of sleep during the day as it is important for their development. They like to sleep in warm and cosy spots that are secure and elevated off the floor. While some pet owners allow their kittens to sleep on their bed, others prefer to have them sleep in a separate bed.
If you are thinking of letting your kitten sleep in your bed, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, kittens are very active in the early morning and may disturb your sleep. They might pounce on your feet or play with noisy toys. Secondly, kittens have sharp claws and might accidentally scratch you. Thirdly, a small kitten could injure itself by falling off the bed or getting rolled over accidentally. It is recommended to wait until your kitten is at least six months old and fully litter box trained before letting them sleep in your bed.
If you want your kitten to sleep in a separate bed, you can create a cosy space for them in a cat carrier or a small pet bed with a soft blanket and some toys. Put the bed in a quiet spot, preferably in an elevated position, and make sure it is away from any draughts. You can also try using a pheromone complex like FELIWAY Optimum to help your kitten settle in and feel more relaxed.
In general, it is best to let sleeping kittens lie. However, if you need to wake them up, it is usually safe to do so, and they will go back to sleep if they are still tired.
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How to wake a sleeping kitten
It is generally advised to avoid waking a sleeping kitten unless it is absolutely necessary. Sleep is important for kittens as it allows them to build their muscles and bones, and ensures they grow up healthy and strong.
If you do need to wake a kitten, it is best to do so during a light nap, as they are still in tune with their environment during these periods. A small noise or light touch should be enough to wake them up. You can try lightly brushing your finger against their head or the tip of their ear, being sure to keep your touch gentle.
If you are waking a kitten from a deep sleep, it is important to be aware that they may become irritable or lethargic if deprived of this important stage of sleep. If you think your kitten is in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep or deep sleep, it may be best to let them continue sleeping.
If you are trying to establish a sleeping routine for a newborn kitten, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian for advice. Most vets agree that newborn kittens should not be woken up to be fed, as they need plenty of sleep to support their development.
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Frequently asked questions
It is generally advised to avoid waking a sleeping kitten unless it is absolutely necessary. Kittens need sleep to build their muscles and bones, and to restore their immune system. However, if the kitten is sleeping somewhere inconvenient, a small noise or light touch should be enough to wake them up.
While it is not recommended to let a kitten sleep in your bed right away, sleeping with their human can provide a kitten with warmth, comfort, and a sense of security. It is important to wait until the kitten has had full health clearance from a veterinarian before letting them sleep in your bed, as they can carry various parasites and infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans.
Most vets agree that you shouldn't wake a kitten up to feed them. However, if you are concerned about their development, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
