10 Reasons Why Your Cat is Sleeping a Lot More Than Usual

Is your cat acting like it is auditioning for the role of sleeping beauty? On average, cats often clock in 12 - 16 hours of nap time daily, with kittens pushing this snooze time to 20 hours. However, each cat is a unique blend of fur and saas. So, if your kitty has upgraded its sleep schedule along with some other symptoms keep a closer look.

There are 10 significant reasons why your cat might be sleeping too much. Most of them are due to latent health conditions. Other than that, seasonal changes, dietary imbalances, and boredom are significant reasons for cats to take too many naps.

In this article, we will discuss those 10 reasons in detail.

Here's is an infographic that you need to know about a cats’s sleeping habits and when to worry about them.

10 Reasons Why Your Cat is Sleeping More than Usual

While often we are appalled by the places and positions cats are sleeping, too much napping or a drastic change in sleeping behavior might be a sign of a severe medical condition. In general, a cat might sleep too much due to the following factors:

• Seasonal Changes
• Thyroid Imbalance (Hypothyroidism)
• Chronic Pain
• Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)
• Dietary Imbalance
• Parasite Infestation
• Boredom or Environmental Stimulation
• Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
• Side Effects of Medications
• Undiagnosed Neurological Issues

Let’s elaborate on these factors.

1. Seasonal Changes

Despite hundreds of years of evolution, cats still retain some of the instincts of their ancestors. They would hunt less frequently in colder weather to conserve energy and reserve fat, especially in the winter. Therefore, it is very common for cats to sleep more during October to February.

Reduced daylight hours can influence your cat’s sleep cycle, making them find warm spots and curl up to take some Zs. Additionally, if you have adjusted your sleeping routine, your cat might also adapt to that. They will want to play outdoors less, climb on the top of your heater, and take a nap.

2. Thyroid Imbalance (Hypothyroidism)

The lack of thyroid hormone, thyroxine, in your pet cat’s system, can cause your cat to take more naps than ever. This hormone controls your pet's metabolic rate, meaning it regulates how quickly the body burns up energy. This condition can also impact the following organs and systems in your cat’s body:

• Heart
• Skin
• Body temperature and weight
• Infection fighting
• Brain and nervous system
• Energy levels

Hypothyroidism is a lifelong condition in cats. It is very challenging to detect in the early stages as this condition mimics other health conditions that worsen over time. If your cat is showing different health conditions related to low thyroid hormone, take it to a vet immediately. While there are no permanent remedies for this condition, you can manage the symptoms with the help of your vet.

3. Chronic Pain

Instinctively, cats are very stoic pets who don’t like to show any sign of physical weakness. However, various health conditions like arthritis, dental diseases, neurological conditions, infections, and even inflammatory conditions can cause chronic pain in cats. When your pet is suffering from any of those conditions, it might take very frequent snoozes.

If your pet projects this sign along with personality changes, litter box behavior changes, and a tendency to sleep in lower places than usual, get your furry friend checked immediately for chronic pain. 

4. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)

Aging can significantly impact your cat’s sleeping behavior. Older cats can develop CDS, which is similar to dementia that changes the sleep-wake cycle in your pet. Due to this condition, your pet will sleep more during the day and become active at night.

This situation might occur due to your cat being confused, anxious, or suffering neurological decline associated with CDS. In addition, your cat might get lost in familiar places, forget litter box training, decrease grooming, or show changes in appetite. If you discover these signs, make sure to schedule a veterinarian visit as soon as possible. 

5. Dietary Imbalance

If your cat lacks the necessary nutrients in their meals, it will also impact its sleeping behavior. A diet consisting of excess carbohydrates can cause obesity in cats and cause fatigue in those cute four-legged entities. 

If you see your cat is gaining too much weight, make sure to change its diet accordingly. If you are struggling to find out if your pet is overweight or not, take a look at our checklist. 

6. Parasite Infestation

Your cat’s sleeping pattern is directly related to its energy levels. However, if your energetic cat is sleeping too much lately, there is a chance it is suffering from parasite infestation. Parasites like heartworms or intestinal worms can sap your pet's energy levels. This can severely impact your friend’s health.

If you anticipate that your cat is suffering from viral infections or bacterial infections, immediately pay a visit to your vet for investigation. The sooner your cat is diagnosed, the earlier you can start the treatment.

7. Boredom or Environmental Stimulation

Like humans, cats can also get bored and even develop depression symptoms. Oversleeping is often a glaring symptom of this occurrence, accompanied by loss of appetite, avoidance, and other unusual behavior. 

Kittens as well as older felines, may develop this due to underlying illness. The best thing to do in this situation is to take your pet to a vet. To help your cat get out of boredom, you can also give it interactive toys and puzzles to play with.

8. Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Hypoglycemia or Diabetes is a common illness that occurs in felines. This causes an imbalance of blood sugar or glucose levels in the blood. As a result, your pet might show symptoms like lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, and dehydration on top of sleeping too much.

This can be regulated by insulin therapy recommended by a professional veterinarian. Some cats might need a combination of insulin therapy and medications. Also, you will have to maintain a strict diet and feeding schedule for your beloved pet.

Remember, the earlier your cat is diagnosed and treated for Diabetes, the better quality of life it can lead. With proper treatment, your cat may even enter a state of remission. However, even if your pet is in remission, you need to keep a close eye on it to make sure the chronic condition does not come back.

9. Medication Side Effects

If your cat is already medicated due to health conditions, it might sleep more than before due to the side of the medications. This is especially true for allergies, anxiety, or pain medications.

In such cases, you need not be concerned if you are following your vet's proper guidelines. Let your cat take as many naps as it wants and get better.

10. Undiagnosed Neurological Issues

Last but not least, cats can often develop a list of neurological issues. However, being stoic animals, cats are very good at hiding their weaknesses. So, it is natural for some neurological issues to be undiagnosed. 

Any problems that affect the brain or nervous system of your cat like brain tumors, seizures, or inflammation can cause lethargy or prolonged sleep cycle for your cat.

Here is how a cat usually sleeps. In the picture, you will have a clear idea about it.

Final Words

It is not uncommon for a cat to take multiple naps and snooze in a day. However, if you are concerned about the unusual routine associated with more abnormal behavior, make sure to pay your veterinarian a visit.

Each cat has different personalities and temperaments. Therefore, their sleeping habits will also vary significantly. So, as a pet parent, you should be able to detect if your pet is behaving out of its normal traits. If you see any such unusual behavior, make sure to take immediate action for your pet’s overall well-being.

It is often possible for cats to get lost while finding a suitable napping spot. In such cases, you can easily use PawMaw’s huge pet community to look for your pet and get it back home as soon as possible.