Last Updated on 2 years by GILBERT FILLMORE
Is your kitten sleeping so much and you are starting to get worried? It is a wholesome undertaking to take care of the “purr-penetrator” of the sudden joys of our lives. Being youngling felines, they require food, water, and shelter which we provide uncharged. We groom them, give them the necessary exercise they require and even take them to the veterinary if they have health issues. We will always try to give them the love and attention they need and always be concerned for their overall well-being. Sometimes, we are unable to predict something they do like sleeping so much.
Since it is our responsibility to ensure the best for our kittens’ lives, we have to be worried about why they are just lazily wasting their youth. If we view it positively, we can just assume they are having the greatest dreams of their lives. But far from it, there are a number of reasons that affect how long a kitten may spend sleeping. We have to be observant to differentiate normalcy from abnormality. To figure this out, let’s strap on and ride down the streets of knowledge concerning kittens and their beauty sleep.
Natural Sleep Cycles In Kittens
To determine if your kitten is sleeping too much, you have to know the normal sleep cycles of the kitten. Since they are young, kittens will typically sleep for around 16 to 20 hours a day. This probably reduces the amount of time you spend with them and can feel abnormal but it is perfectly normal. Kittens need a lot of rest since they are still developing and it is important for their well-being. Like adult cats, kittens go through two stages of sleep: rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep.
Kittens will generally take frequent naps with short periods of waking between them. They will spread out that sleep pattern throughout the day and also at night. Younger kittens will often tend to sleep more, as they grow they will reduce this time. As they almost reach adulthood, they will start sleeping from 12 to 16 hours per day. Another thing that people may not consider is that kittens in cross proximity to their littermates or humans, may snuggle up and sleep since they feel safe.
Behavioral Causes
Maybe kittens do sleep for longer periods of time, but there are some factors that extend these periods. For one, if a kitten is bored it will tend to sleep more. This can result from a lack of enough toys or activities that keep the feline young ones engaged. Kittens are naturally curious, and hence it is important to create a far more engaging environment for them. Stress can also make your four-pawed younglings tend to sleep more. A change in environment or unknown stimuli may trigger your kitten to sleep in order to feel relaxed.
Unfortunately, even kittens can have depression. There are a number of reasons that kittens will be depressed including lack of companionship. If they are constantly alone, they will tend to be under the covers more. When your four-pawed feline lacks enough exercise, they will tend to sleep more than usual. It is important to provide enough opportunities for your kitten to play or exercise. At other times, it may just be the individual personality and preference of your kitten. Observing these behaviors can help you understand how to alter or create a new routine for your kitten’s well-being.
Health Causes
Regrettably, health can also be a reason your kitten sleeps excessively and can often be overlooked. If parasites invade your four-pawed feline youngling, they can be fatigued and have lethargy. This way, they won’t be able to move around if they want to and will opt to sleep in order to maintain their energy. Respiratory infections can also cause a fever and fatigue, which will cause the kitten to feel uncomfortable moving around. It is crucial to be observant in order to separate regular sleep from health-related exhaustion.
When a kitten is anemic or has hypothyroidism, it will always tend to be weak. There are quite a number of other illnesses that can also cause a kitten to oversleep such as feline leukemia, immunodeficiency virus, and diabetes among others. It is important to note that these are not the only diseases that will lead your kitten to feel weak. In fact, many diseases will have the same effect so it is important to always go to the veterinarian in order to ensure that your kitten is in perfect health. While we can’t control most of these issues, some we have control over like heat exhaustion. Yes, heat exhaustion can lead to fatigue and lethargy meaning you have to ensure that your kitten is in a controlled heat environment.
Dietary Causes
While investigating the cause of excessive sleep, a great place to start is the source of all energy. You have to ensure that your kitten is getting the right set of nutrients, since after all food is where all the energy to play will come from. It is okay to feed them, but overfeeding is a negative outcome. This can lead to obesity and lethargy and finally, your kitten will be sleeping like the princess from ‘sleeping beauty’ . When it comes to feeding you have to ensure that your kitten is eating the right amount for their overall health and well-being. The nutrients also play an essential part in the behavioral nature of the kitten. Protein will support growth and development, hence you won’t have a fatigued kitten.
A lack of essential fatty acids important for brain health and eye development will also lead to lethargy increasing the time your kitten sleeps. Carbohydrates on the other hand are the source of energy that your kitten will have to burn in order to jump around. A lack of it will leave them weak, while too much of it can cause an energy crash resulting in your four-pawed young one oversleeping. You will also have to check on food allergies since they can cause your kitten to feel digestive upset, irritation, and lethargy leading to sleep. This just shows how diet plays an important role in the well-being of your kitten. Getting specially crafted formula for your kitten will help them get the right set of nutrients that they need in the right amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for a kitten to sleep all day?
Yes, it is normal for kittens to sleep for long periods of time. They can sleep for 16-20 hours in a day. Since they are growing rapidly, they need plenty of rest in order to support their development. Take note of health problems, since they can also cause the kitten to sleep.
Why is my kitten sleeping more than usual?
Your kitten may be sleeping more than usual for a variety of reasons. Some of them can be behavioral like boredom while others may be health-related like anemia. It is important to monitor your kitten to determine what is causing them to oversleep in order to engage the kitten.
How much does a 3 month old kitten sleep?
A 3-month-old kitten can sleep up to 16-20 hours per day. As they get older, they will increase their activity level and sleep less. It is important to monitor your kitten in order to notice any changes in sleep that may be health-related.
Why is my kitten so tired all of a sudden?
A kitten that seems tired all of a sudden may be lethargic. This can be a sign of illnesses or injuries that the kitten is going through. Watch out for other symptoms and if you are not concerned about them, it is important to take the kitten to the veterinarian.
How do you tell if a kitten has a fever?
A kitten that has a fever will have a loss of appetite, be dehydrated and be generally weak. The kitten may also shiver, have diarrhea, and vomit which shows how severe it can be. To check if they have a fever, check their temperature. If it is above 103°F, you should contact the vet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as a responsible kitten owner, it may disturb us as sometimes when our feline companions stay in bed too long. It is okay to be concerned since there are many factors that come into play when it comes to our kittens’ sleep. Apart from the obvious boredom, health issues can also plague our feline young ones. We have to take note of their natural sleep cycle which ranges from 16-20 hours, anything past that should trigger some alarm bells.
Apart from the obvious health and behavioral factors that can affect our kitten’s sleep, there is also the dietary factor. When kittens don’t get the right set of nutrients, or get them in excess it can cause them to be weak and tend to sleep more. Knowing this, it is important to get them crafted formulas or recommendations that satisfy their daily needs. Overall, you should not worry if your kitten sleeps too long, but you should monitor if they sleep excessively in order to change their routine or take care of their health.
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