Understanding Your Cat's Sleep Needs
Adult cats generally need about 14 hours of sleep each day. Insufficient sleep can negatively impact their health and behavior. However, since cats cannot verbally complain by saying, "I didn't get enough sleep," how can cat owners tell if their feline friends are sleeping well?
Factors Affecting Cats' Sleep Quality
There are many reasons that can affect a cat's sleep quality, including excessively hot or cold room temperatures, the presence of visitors at home, noise from construction or renovations, as well as health issues such as illness or injury. Additionally, emotional factors like feeling lonely or anxious can also disturb a cat's rest. When cats are unable to get enough rest,
their overall well-being and behavior may be negatively impacted. It's important for cat owners to recognize these factors and create a comfortable, safe, and calm environment to help their feline companions sleep soundly and maintain their health.
7 Signs Your Cat Isn't Getting Enough Sleep
Here are seven common signs that indicate your cat isn't getting enough rest, helping cat owners take better care of their feline friends:
- Getting angry or irritable easily.
- Becoming more mischievous and playful than usual.
- Showing aggressive behavior toward family members or other pets living in the household.
- Becoming more clingy or dependent on people than usual.
- Showing less interest in basking in the sun and preferring to stay in dark, shaded areas.
- Waking up easily during naps.
- Experiencing a loss of appetite.
How to Help Your Cat Sleep Better
When a cat is not getting enough sleep, what the caregiver should do first is to identify the factors affecting the cat's sleep and try to eliminate all possible sources of stress. If the cat's lack of sleep is due to illness or pain, the top priority is to seek veterinary care and treatment. Early recovery will help the cat sleep more soundly.
Finally, it is also very important for the owner to provide sufficient care and attention regularly. Playing with the cat and grooming its fur can give your pet a strong sense of security, which in turn helps improve the quality of its sleep.
