Do Cats Sleep More in Winter?

During winter, when the days are short, grey, and often cold or wet, it can be oh-so-tempting to stay inside, throw on your comfies and curl up for a snooze whenever you get the chance. And if you’re a cat owner, you may have noticed your kitty doing the same (minus the cat pyjamas). 

From cat naps to luxuriously long snoozes, there’s no denying that cats take sleep very seriously. But have you noticed that your cat sleeps more during the winter? Don’t worry, we’re here to give you the lowdown on what’s normal when it comes to your cat and their winter sleeping habits, and whether our feline friends get the winter blues.

Keep reading as we explore:

• How much do cats normally sleep?

• Why do cats sleep more in winter?

• SAD: Is my feline feeling blue?

• How to help your kitty cope in winter

How much do cats normally sleep? 

Cats sleep a lot. In fact, it’s normal for your cat to clock between 15 – 20 hours of sleep during a 24-hour period and in the winter months, they may sleep even longer due to shorter daylight hours and changes to your routine, especially if you start going to bed earlier too.

Because of your cat’s inner primal instinct, it’s in their nature to sleep a lot during the day so that they can save energy to hunt late at night or first thing in the morning. Nowadays, your cat will use this energy for mealtimes, digesting, and hanging out with you!

Why do cats sleep more in winter?

As mentioned above, your cat’s desire to sleep more may be due to their primal instinct – during prehistoric times, cats would sleep during the day to conserve their energy and hunt at dawn or dusk. So, because it gets dark earlier during winter, this could signal to your cat that it’s time to curl up for a snooze! If you start to retire to bed earlier during the winter, your cat may also pick up on this and see it as a signal to catch forty winks.

Does your cat live entirely indoors, or do they venture outside too? House cats tend to be more sedentary than outdoor cats and as they’re less likely to notice the shorter days during winter and the changes in daylight, you might not actually see a huge change in your kitty’s sleeping behaviour.  

SAD: Is my cat feline blue?

With the cold weather and dark evenings that winter brings, it’s common for humans to feel blue during the change of seasons, with countless people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). But do cats get seasonal depression too?

Many owners report a change in their cat's behaviour in the colder months, like sleeping more, eating less, and being more vocal than usual. However, as this condition is hard to diagnose in humans, it’s even trickier to pinpoint in our pets.

While we can’t tell how our kitties are feeling emotionally, it’s not believed that they experience seasonal depression as we humans do. Cats are very in tune with our emotional states, so if you’re feeling gloomy during the winter, it’s possible they’ll reflect your mood. Also, less daylight and warmth means less time for your kitty to bask in the sun, so it’s no wonder they seem less chipper!

We may not be able to say whether the weather directly impacts your cat’s mood during the winter, but there are a few things you can do to keep you happy and engaged during the colder months…

How to help your kitty cope in winter

Fun and games 

Playing games with your cat is a great way to bond with your kitty and it’ll help boost their mood too. Plus, all that play and jumping around will help keep your cat warm too! 

Our feline friends love to play, especially if they’re indoor cats who rely on their owners to keep them entertained, which is why it’s important to treat your kitty to cat toys that suit their favourite play style – whether that’s an enticing teaser toy that’ll have your kitty jumping around or a set of rattle balls for them to paw at and chase, complete with furbulous feathers.

Warmth

Most cats like to curl up and be wonderfully cosy during the winter, so providing them with warm and comfy spots for them to snuggle down will have them purring with happiness.

At Yappy we have lots of home comforts that your cat will love. Whether destined for the living room, bedroom or a cosy corner, a high-quality cat cushion or blanket is a great way to instantly ramp up the comfort and cosiness. Plus, each design can be personalised especially for your cat! Choose from an array of personalised styles, colours, sizes, and materials to suit you and your cat’s home. Purrrrfect.

Yappy to help  

While it’s purrfectly normal for your kitty to sleep more in winter, it’s important to keep an eye on how much your cat is sleeping, as big changes in their sleeping habits can sometimes indicate health issues. Please make sure to take your cat to the vet if you’re concerned.  

If you’re worried that your cat is avoiding you, then make sure to check out our post on why your cat’s giving you the cold shoulder and how to overcome it.  

And, if you have any questions relating to this article or need any support with a Yappy gift order, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact us at help@yappy.com for all customer service-related queries and we’ll be more than happy to help.