We all know the annoyance of being awakened by the racket of the kitties running around at
night, at least occasionally. Cats are naturally more active than most humans during the twilight
and overnight hours, so a certain amount of nighttime activity is to be expected and just comes
with the territory. [Read more…]
How to Stop Your Cat from Litter Tracking
Litter tracking happens when litter sticks to your cat’s paws and fur whenever using the litter box. In addition, cats enjoy digging, flinging, and kicking litter, resulting in litter ending up outside of the box. This litter ends everyone, the floor, the couch, and the bed. Plus, there is nothing like finding your foot covered in cat litter!
So how do you stop litter tracking?
Like there isn’t one reason why litter tracking happens, there isn’t one solution to stopping or reducing it. [Read more…]
Keep Your Cat and Your Home Safe This Holiday Season
As we head into the last two weeks of the year, there are a few safety considerations for feline pet parents to keep in mind. [Read more…]
How Often Should You Bathe Your Cat?
Most cats do a great job with general hygiene maintenance, with their careful and thorough daily routine of self-bathing using their tongues and paws. Their rough tongues are effective at getting most of the day-to-day detritus that works into their coats, and frequent brushing by a doting pet parent is not only a pleasant bonding moment for most, it can also help them maintain their cleanliness with fewer hairballs to clean up in various nooks and crannies of your home. However, The National Cat Groomers Institute of America recommends that you bathe your feline friend with water and shampoo about once every four to six weeks, to get to the dirt and grime that can build up deeper under the surface and lead to skin irritation or unpleasant smells. [Read more…]
Cats and Sleep
You may notice that your cat’s favorite hobby is sleeping a lot. Your cat finds the coziest spots, on top of a windowsill soaking up the sun, a comfy place on the couch, and sometimes on the pillow right by your head. Also, you may notice that your cat sleeps at odd times throughout the day and is wide awake right before you decide it’s time for bed. Your cat’s sleep cycle is complicated, but some of it is understood.
How many hours a day do cats sleep?
Despite all the cat naps, cats typically sleep between 12 and 16 hours each day. Older cats may sleep up to 18 hours a day or more to conserve energy. Cats sleep in a polyphasic sleep pattern; this means that they sleep in many smaller periods each day rather than the one long period we humans usually do—cats, on average, rest 50 to 113 minutes at a time.
Cat Sleep Cycle
Cats have a circadian rhythm or internal biological sleep clock that dictates their daily sleep-wake cycle. Cats sleep in a crepuscular process driven by predatory nature. This includes two peaks of activity, one before sunrise and one around sunset, to prey on morning birds or nocturnal rodents.
Like humans, cats experience sleep stages, including rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During REM, cats may dream as humans do.
Why is sleep important for your cat?
Cats need sleep for a variety of reasons to survive, including:
- Plays a part in memory formation
- Boosts their immune system
- It helps the body recharge
- Helps conserve energy
- Helps regulate emotions
- Helps with recovery processes
My cat is having sleep issues
If your cat seems to have unusual sleep patterns or seems to be experiencing excessive wakefulness – these could both indicate underlying health conditions.
- Too much sleep and lethargic behavior can indicate kidney disease, deafness, and hypothyroidism.
- Too little sleep and restlessness can indicate lack of stimulation, hyperthyroidism, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
Other changes observed in addition to sleep issues can include changes in behavior, bathroom habits, eating habits, and signs of disorientation. If you observe unusual changes in your cat, you should talk to your veterinarian.