If you have recently added new kittens to your family, you may be wondering how much sleep they require. Continue reading to learn more about your new kitty’s sleep habits. When you first bring a new kitten home, you will most likely have a lot of questions about how to properly care for them. You might be wondering how much sleep is necessary and normal for new kittens.
Finding out where and when your new family member sleeps is a great way to make sure that they are getting used to their new life and space.
There is a lot to learn about how much sleep kittens should get. So, learning as much as you can about the subject will help you get through the first few weeks with your family’s new member.
Continue reading to find out when kittens will begin sleeping through the night. Learn how much sleep is normal for young cats and what to do if your kitten isn’t sleeping enough. Lastly, decide if kittens should be allowed to sleep in the same bed as their owners and when to talk to a vet about strange sleeping habits.
How Long Do Kittens Sleep at Night
Adult cats sleep an average of 18 hours per day, with kittens sleeping even more! If you’ve recently adopted a new kitten or are caring for newborns, you’re probably wondering how much they should sleep. If you are concerned about your kitten’s sleeping habits, keep in mind that she needs to feel safe, warm, and comfortable in a quiet environment. The brain, nervous system, muscles, and bones of your kitten need sleep and the right food to grow and develop. Her sleep rhythm and quantity will be determined by her age, as well as her personality and lifestyle; the more active she is, the more she should sleep.
Newborn Kitten Sleeping Pattern
During the first week, your kittens may sleep more than 20 hours per day, accounting for approximately 90% of their time! Her sleep is light and agitated, with small, fast contractions of her facial muscles and ears, and she occasionally makes small noises. She is having “rapid sleep” (sometimes referred to as paradoxical sleep or REM sleep, for rapid eye movement). You may also notice that your newborn sleeps in the same room as her mother and siblings.
She sleeps this way instinctively to keep warm and safe because she is unable to regulate her body temperature. It is important to note that your kittens may double in size within the first week of life, and such rapid growth necessitates a lot of sleep. Sleep, among other things, allows your little friend to rest and strengthens memory and learning.
Kitten Sleeping Habits After Two Weeks
As your kitten grows older, she will sleep less as she becomes more active and as all of her senses develop. Her sleep has transitioned into a new deep phase (slow sleep or non-REM sleep), in which she is completely relaxed and breathing slowly. This is followed by “light” REM sleep in a cycle known as a “sleep bout.” Your kitten is becoming a typical “polyphasic sleeper” as her sleep time splits up into multiple periods between waking up.
Kittens will begin to sleep alone at three weeks of age, with longer periods of deep, sound sleep. She prefers to sleep on her stomach or side. She will become more daring as she grows and begins to explore her surroundings. Your kitten interacts with her environment by jumping, climbing, pouncing, and scratching (watch out for your curtains and furniture!). These natural behaviors are fun for your kitten and use up a lot of energy, which it needs to get back while it sleeps.
After two months, your kitten sleeps an adult-like 18 hours per day. Her sleep cycle could then be divided into two parts: a period of deep sleep (20-25 minutes) followed by a period of REM-paradoxal dreaming (5 minutes). She now sleeps alone, frequently in warm, sunny, comfortable locations high above the ground.
Why Is My Kitten So Active At Night?
Your kitten may curl up for a nap just as your household is waking up and getting busy. This is because cats are crepuscular mammals, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. In the wild, felines hunt at night and sleep during the day. Your cat is still biologically programmed to do so. Cats, on the other hand, are quite adaptable, especially if you are close to your feline friend.
You can teach her not to wake you up at dawn by providing more activity during the day. You can make her daily environment more interactive by playing stimulating games with her. She could sleep more at night if she is more active during the day!
You could also play with her right before bedtime. If she is an early riser, you could always give her a puzzle feeder, which is a toy filled with food that will keep her occupied until you have finished your coffee!
Do Kittens Sleep Through The Night?
Not always—kittens frequently wake up during the night. While it is true that kittens enjoy napping and can sleep up to 18–20 hours per day, this does not always occur when humans are sleeping. Cats are most active at dawn and dusk. Add in a kitten’s unfamiliar surroundings for the first few nights, and you’re in for a few longer nights than usual.
However, sleep is critical for your kitten’s development, so allow them this peaceful time off during kittenhood to ensure they grow up healthy and happy.
How to Make Kittens Sleep Instantly
With a few changes during the day, you can train or encourage your kittens to sleep immediately at night. The most important part is to schedule daytime play and feeding with your cat rather than rewarding nighttime behavior with attention.
#1. Provide your kitten with daytime activity.
Your kitten will get both mental and physical stimulation from a feeding toy that is full of food or treats. Purchasing new toys or rotating your cat’s current toys may also help keep your cat entertained during the day.
#2. Exercise and play
A tired kitten is more likely to sleep through the night. Schedule a play session close to their last nap of the day so they can burn off any remaining energy before going to bed.
#3. Alter the feeding routine
Cats frequently doze off after eating. Changing the amount of food and feeding your cat more frequently during the day can help keep your kitten entertained while you’re at work. Changing the type of food and delaying evening meals may help your kitten fall asleep before bed. But before giving your kitten an extra or larger meal, think about how many calories it has. You don’t want it to stay awake because it ate too much.
#4. Introduce well-known objects
Having something that smells familiar can go a long way toward helping kittens sleep at night. When you adopt a kitten from a shelter, they are often happy to let you have their favorite blanket so they can keep a piece of their old home close as they adjust to their new life.
#5. Take charge of your own space
If changing the time of day does not work, close your bedroom door and keep your cat out of your room. Create a comfortable sleeping area with a litter box as far away from your room as possible. To prevent scratching or rattling, place a towel at the bottom of the door.
#6. Medication may be beneficial.
If none of the other changes help, your vet may give you medicine or natural sleep aids like valerian or melatonin. But sleeping pills can cause your cat to build up resistance after a few nights and stop working.
Should I Leave the Light On or Off?
Cats can see in low light, so even with the lights turned off, they should be able to move around with ease. However, it may take some time for them to adjust to their new surroundings, so having a low nightlight on to make things easier at first is a good idea.
When should I call my Vet?
If you have tried all of the above suggestions to get your cat to sleep more and have been unsuccessful, it may be time to seek professional advice from a veterinarian on how to proceed. Also, you might want to take your cat to the vet if you notice that he or she is sleeping a lot or if their sleeping habits have changed in a big way.
Pawp veterinarian Dr. Sylvaln Hammond says “signs of illness such as lethargy, weakness, and/or loss of appetite” are cause for concern. In such cases, the owner should consult with their veterinarian.
When it comes to young cats, it’s best to be cautious. If something about your kitten’s sleep schedule seems unusual to you, it’s best to consult a veterinarian for the sake of your new pet’s safety and your peace of mind.
Should you wake a sleeping kitten?
Kittens, in particular, need to sleep to build their bones and muscles, so you should never wake them up.
Should I let my kitten sleep all day?
When kittens are young, they sleep a little more than when they are a few months old. A kitten will typically sleep between 16 and 20 hours per day. Don’t be alarmed if you notice your kitten spending a lot of time snoozing.
How long do 2-month-old kittens sleep at a time?
Physical and mental growth. Your kitten sleeps a lot, approximately 20 hours per day. He will work nonstop for the next four hours. He’s ready to interact with others, but he keeps a positive attitude.
What do you do with a kitten at night?
Simply leave them a soft bed and a blanket, turn off the light, and shut the door. You can set an alarm to wake them up and check on them halfway through the night if you want. Visit your kitten in their room first thing in the morning.
When should I let my kitten roam the house?
There is no set age at which kittens should be left alone in the house. They shouldn’t be left alone in the house until they know how to pick up after themselves and are used to the area.
Do kittens get lonely at night?
You can probably guess the answer: kittens require attention every four to six hours, so they cannot be left alone overnight. Kittens, in addition to their food, water, and litterbox requirements, can get themselves into trouble if left alone for an extended period.
Where should kittens be kept during the day?
Make a haven in the room for your kitten, such as a bed with blankets or a hot water bottle. Your kitten will find it soothing and reassuring if you have a blanket or towel with their mother’s scent on it. Spend some time playing with your kitten before leaving the house.
Should I put my kitten in a cage at night?
A happy, healthy, and well-adjusted kitty should not require nightly crates. If your kitten or cat is having trouble using its litter box properly, it may be best to keep your cat in a crate at night while you train her to use the litter box. Consider an automatic litter box for ease of training.
Should I keep my new kitten in the bathroom?
Bathrooms are especially effective! They’re simple to clean and get in and out of. Best of all, they don’t usually have a lot of furniture for New Kitty to hide under or on the soil while she learns where her box is. It is critical to prepare the space with food, water, a bed, and a litter box.
Conclusion
How long do kittens sleep? A lot. When they are newborns and for the first six weeks of their lives, they sleep 90% of the time. Following that, activity increases while sleep decreases, and they spend approximately 65 percent of their day sleeping. If only you could persuade her to stop sleeping on your computer keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do 8 week old kittens sleep?
Physical and mental growth Your kitten sleeps a lot — approximately 20 hours per day. He’ll work nonstop for the next four hours. He’s ready to interact with people but keeps it positive.
Is it cruel to keep a kitten in a cage?
Crating and confinement training is not cruel, and most pets find comfort and security in their crates when done correctly. Often, the crate and bed can be transported with the pet, providing it with a “home away from home.”
How much time should you spend with a new kitten?
Playing with kittens can help them develop trust in humans. A minimum of two hours of play per day (all at once or in segments) will suffice; don’t worry, it will fly by! While you’re on their level, spend some time socializing each kitten in a litter individually.
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