Cat Key Resources – Sleep

Did you know cats should be sleeping for 12-15 hours per day? But I bet when you read that you thought it was more. Why do they only need that much when dogs need 16-18 hours per day? This goes back to cats’ necessity to be free roaming, they would spend the rest of the time hunting, patrolling territory, mark making, guarding, and checking in addition to catching food for the day. Especially when only 1 out of 15 stalking ends in catching prey, that’s a lot of time required for getting dinner!

Open that door!

Cats have a natural infinity to enclosed places, so they feel safe, and they also like to feel in control. So, if a door closes although it may feel like you are helping by creating a closed space your cat may scratch at it to open it. This isn’t about who is dominant as cats don’t have a hierarchy, it is about being in control of their space and feeling confident about it. Let’s remember some cats are more confident than others, just like humans are, let’s not label them with bad personality traits.

Territory ranges

Your cat will feel more comfortable having ensured their territory is secure and by seeing their territory. Being up high allows an overview and means they can scan their immediate territory. Cats have a range of territories.

• The core territory is where key resources can be found such as food and water
• Territory border they will defend up to, this might be your garden and neighbours
• Home range territory is a range they would travel and explore too but wouldn’t defend.

These will differ depending on your cat’s environment, such as urban, countryside, town etc. and if there is a large population of cats this space may be smaller and may mean your cat is a lot less confident. If your cat is an indoor cat its territory is even smaller.

How to aid sleep

Aiding your cat’s sleep isn’t about a plush bed. Something new won’t have its scent and although may look like the best thing to us may not be ideal for a cat. Cats also don’t like to stay in one place too long, as solitary survivors they wouldn’t want to be discovered. But don’t be put off or dismayed if your cat doesn’t appreciate its new bed, try rubbing some of its scents onto it and placing it in a position that is out of the way, maybe up high.

Top tip: The type of large standard Amazon boxes that get delivered are ideal cat beds, many cat bed inserts fit exactly into them and provide a warm, dry, and safe place to be for your cat.

Explore your space and think ‘cat’

With recent design trends and storage solutions, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and Divan beds don’t help. Think “where can my cat retreat to when they need to feel safe? What options would I have”

Leaving a kitchen cupboard empty and open can be an ideal place for your cat to curl up, think under the bed, on top of the wardrobe or under the stairs, leave a shelf empty and see what your cat, over time, prefers.

Top tip: Leave your cat carrier out before a trip to the vet. Ideally, the box can be left out all the time as a permanent fixture in their environment. This gives your cat a chance to get used to the carrier and ensure its scent is on there. Put in a blanket and make it comfortable. Before you go to the vet place paper down under the blanket just in case your cat pees.
Who knows, your cat may even prefer this as a safe place.

Safe and secure allows time for sleep

Having these options allows room for safe sleep. You will notice older cats will sleep more, but if you feel your cat sleeps too much or too little establish if it is a medical condition and get a vet check. If your cat suffers from arthritis your cat may seek out a warmer place, try pet heat pads under their bedding in a warm place (ideal for rabbit hutches too).

Read about the other cat key resources

Other cat key resources include scratching posts, play, water, litter and chemical interpretation.

Having behaviour trouble?

Medical reasons should be ruled out first before contacting me for a consultation: email zoe@thefriendlypetnurse.co.uk or get in touch by phone on 07917094715