Why cats might sleep more in winter

Whether you have an indoor cat or a feline that heads out on daily adventures, with shorter days and a chill in the air, you might have started to notice some changes in their behaviour. Especially their snoozing! Here’s all you need to know about what’s normal when it comes to cat naps and wintertime blues.

Do cats sleep more in winter?

On average, cats sleep for around fifteen hours of their day, with some felines getting up to twenty hours of shut-eye! Winter can change a cat’s behaviour with some sleeping more during the colder months.

If you think your cat tends to nap more once the clocks have gone back, you might not be wrong since the darker days might actually affect their normal cycle.  

Why do cats sleep more in the winter?

There are a number of different factors that might change your cat’s usual sleeping pattern. This means their behaviour is influenced by us. So, if we spend more time indoors in the winter, our cats might also become sleepier.

Winter is also cold and since our feline friends have a tendency to conserve energy in wintertime (thanks to their natural instincts), they might sleep for longer simply because their body tells them to. The chill can also disrupt their REM cycle, leading to decreased quality of sleep which might lead to more naps to make up for this.

Remember: They might also try to find a warm place to sleep to prevent this, too, so be sure to provide them with plenty of bedding and blankets in winter. 

Since winter is darker, a cat’s built-in circadian rhythm (the internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle) responds to the reduced daylight hours in the same way ours does, by sleeping more.

Can cats get SAD?

Very little research has actually been done on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in cats but since we share similar brain chemistry with our feline friends, the changes to the production of mood-regulating hormones could be behind your cat’s naps. Or maybe, we simply project our mood changes onto our pets.

How to help your cat cope in the winter

Here are tips for keeping your cat happy and healthy during the darker months!

• Provide a warm and cosy place to sleep.
• Keep cats indoors during extreme weather.
• Play games with them to keep them active and stimulated.

It might seem like your cat is sleeping their life away, especially with any changes during the darker months, but it’s likely linked to their wild ancestors. That said, speak to your vet if you feel that your cat’s behaviour is uncharacteristically different in winter as it can also point to more serious health concerns like anaemia, gastrointestinal problems or depression.