Last Updated on February 17, 2025 by Melanie Haynes
Your pets may seem like they spend a lot of time sleeping. Dogs and cats love their daily naps, not to mention adjusting to their parent’s nighttime sleeping patterns. Just how much sleep do dogs and cats really need?
Most dogs and cats get between 12 to 16 hours of sleep daily. Eight hours of sleep at night is typical. Why do dogs and cats sleep so much during those four to eight hours daily?
Dogs and Cats Sleep A Lot Because They Can
Dogs and cats are predatory animals by nature. They can sleep as much as they want because they don’t have to worry about being the prey.
Pets typically live in a safe environment with their owners. They become comfortable around their owners and enjoy the safety that many other animals in the wild do not have.
Fight or flight is not something cats and dogs must rely on at every waking and sleeping moment. They can relax, nap, and sleep whenever and wherever they want.
Feral cats and wild dogs have different situations to deal with. Still, pets can rely on the safety of living among humans.
No Sleeping on the Job
Dogs with jobs, such as those working with police or providing a service to humans, will sleep less often. These dogs will be at their owners’ ready to perform their duties when needed.
A dog that services a blind person will be ready to guide that person whenever they need to go somewhere. Active dogs are not bored dogs. They aren’t looking for a time to sleep. Their first inclination is to do their work.
Sheepdogs and Great Pyrenees are dogs bred to guard livestock passively. They are alert to dangers to the herd but are slightly less active overall than active working dogs.
Passive working dogs may nap more during the day than working dogs. This may be because they have learned to be more alert when guarding their herd at night.
Cats have been categorized as “crepuscular.” This means they do most of their stalking at dawn or dusk. Cats will sleep more during the day, so they are ready to begin their hunt at night. Their instinct is to be active when their prey is.
A dog or cat will adjust its sleep schedule to fit their parent’s schedule.
If you think your pet is sleeping too much during the day, you need to find ways to keep it more active. Daily exercise and toys will keep them engaged and stimulate their minds. The more active a pet is, the less they will sleep. The more bored a pet is, the more likely they will take naps during the day.
Age and Size Matters
Bigger pets tend to sleep more than smaller ones. A German Shepard will typically need more sleep than a Westie.
Puppies and kittens spend a lot of time sleeping. This is because they are growing fast and spending time exploring. All that activity makes them really tired! Puppies and kittens will need 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. They will take many naps, but hopefully, they can get on a set routine with the rest of the house to sleep at night.
Older dogs and cats also sleep a lot. It can seem alarming to see your older cat sleeping more than it did when it was young and active, but this is simply a natural part of a pet’s aging. They simply need more rest.
A Dog’s or Cat’s Sleep Cycle is Short
Dogs and cats undergo up to 20 sleep cycles, each lasting about 15 minutes. Humans go through four or five cycles, each lasting up to 90 minutes. Cool, huh?
During these cycles, the experience involves a slow-wave sleep (SWS), where breathing is deep, and a restful sleep with rapid eye movement (REM), a deeper, dream-filled state of sleep.
Chemically, dogs and cats do not reach REM sleep like humans do. They spend about 10% of their sleep in the REM cycle, whereas humans spend about 25% in REM. Because dogs and cats reach REM less, they need more sleep to rest adequately.
Too Much or Too Little Sleep?
A dramatic change in a pet’s sleep pattern could indicate a health problem with your pet. The American Kennel Club suggests that depression, narcolepsy, hypothyroidism, dehydration, and diabetes are all conditions that can cause your pet to sleep more than usual. Illnesses, in general, can cause a pet to sleep more than usual.
If your pet seems to be getting too much sleep or not getting enough sleep, a trip to the veterinarian could be in order.
Finding Comfort
Dogs and cats have their preferences of where they like to sleep. Some cats will find the plushest location to nap, while a dog may be fine sleeping on the hard concrete garage floor.
Sleep locations for your pet will change with the environment and their age. Older dogs with arthritis will likely appreciate a soft bed to lie in. If a pet is scared of loud noises, it may find the quietest place in the house to nap.
The best option is to give your pet the most comfortable bed possible and encourage them to use it. They may or may not always use it, but at least it is available if they want to. Don’t be surprised to find your cat sunning by the window in your favorite chair.
Do Not Disturb
Dogs and cats are not happy when awakened from a deep sleep. Nobody likes to be woken up suddenly, including dogs and cats.
Pets can be just as grumpy as their owners and be annoyed when woken up. They may even lash out in anger if woken. There is an old saying: “Let sleeping dogs lie.” This advice is well heeded even for all pets. They need their sleep, too.
How Can We Help?
Dogs and cats need plenty of sleep. Their health and wellness depend on adequate sleep, including frequent naps during the day.
A little over half of a pet’s 24-hour day is spent sleeping. However, in their awake hours, they love playing with their owners, toys, or other fellow pets. If they haven’t been engaged enough, you might find them awake and curious about their surroundings, sometimes in a naughty way.
At Space Coast Pet Services, our pet care professionals will customize our services for your pet’s needs. We value your pet’s sleep routine and keeping to its schedule.
Please contact us to book our services at a time that works best for you and your pets. We would love for you to put your pets in our loving and caring hands.
Let’s chat!
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