Do you ever wonder what your cat does when you’re not looking? Whether you’re away at work or busy in another room, your cat doesn’t just lie down and wait for you to come back. In fact, cats spend less time sleeping than you might think.
Observing your cat’s daily behavior can tell you a lot about their mental and physical health, especially when their habits change unexpectedly. Here we explore the different ways cats spend their time and offer tips for keeping a close eye on your cat’s activity.
1. Take a nap
If you suspect that your cat spends most of its time sleeping, you are not wrong. The average cat sleeps anywhere from 13 to 16 hours a day. However, most of the time when your cat is sleeping is light sleep. A lot of snoozing, really.
In a state of light sleep, your cat is rested but ready to spring into action quickly, if needed. Periods of deep sleep usually last only 5 to 10 minutes, often evidenced by relaxed ears and involuntary muscle movements.
How much time your cat spends sleeping can vary depending on its age and health status. For example, older cats may sleep up to 20 hours a day. If your cat suddenly starts sleeping more than usual—especially if he’s sleeping at regular feeding times or sleeping in unusual places—it could be a sign of a growing health problem.
2. The Bridegroom Himself
Kirsten McCarthy
Experts estimate that cats spend between 30 and 50 percent of their sleeping hours grooming themselves. That equates to an average of two to five hours a day! There are many reasons why cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves, such as:
- Imitating their mother’s behavior (cats learn to groom themselves early)
- Cleansing or soothing injured or painful areas
- Hiding their scent from predators (it’s a natural reaction)
- To stimulate the glands in their skin and distribute natural oils
- Humiliating yourself or bonding with another cat
- Helping regulate body temperature (evaporation of saliva has a cooling effect)
Changes in your cat’s grooming habits may be a cause for concern. Overeating, for example, is often associated with depression. You may notice your cat grooming more often than usual or notice skin lesions or bald patches.
Decreased grooming, on the other hand, may present symptoms such as greasy or matted fur, poor coat condition, unusual odors, or excessive shedding. Cats tend to stop grooming themselves when it becomes difficult or painful for them. Other common causes include toothache, joint problems such as arthritis, or obesity.
3. Keep Waiting
Research sponsored by Friskies Pet Care in 2009 revealed that cats spend up to 30% of their time looking out the window. As apex predators, it’s no surprise that cats spend most of their time watching.
Looking out the window is not just a form of entertainment or a way to satisfy curiosity, however. It is also driven by your cat’s instincts and prey drive. (Check out this interesting article on why cats talk to birds through the window to learn more!)
If your cat can’t reach the window, it’s time to make a change. Window perches exist specifically for this purpose, although something as simple as placing a cat tree in front of the window or placing a chair nearby may do the trick.
You might be surprised how much time your cat spends in his new favorite place!
4. Check and Play
When not grooming or observing their surroundings, most cats spend most of their time roaming or playing. Wandering is one of those natural behaviors. Your cat likes to keep tabs on everyone in the house and make sure her space is protected (and maybe find something to eat while she’s out and about).
Some cats enjoy playing with interactive toys and puzzle feeders while others prefer to play with their favorite person or another cat. Individual energy levels vary, but pet parents should aim for two 10- or 15-minute playtimes per day.
As with grooming, significant changes in your cat’s activity level can indicate a growing problem. Excess energy, for example, can suggest boredom, stress, or underlying health problems such as hyperthyroidism. On the other hand, a loss of interest in exercise or play may indicate pain or illness.
5. Have a Snack
Kirsten McCarthy
According to the same Friskies study mentioned above, cats spend about 4 percent of their time eating or looking at food. If you feed your cat a fixed diet, he may spend less time eating than free-feeding cats. (Yes, they may make a difference in time by begging you to eat!)
Feral cats tend to eat small meals throughout the day since their prey tends to be on the small side (things like rabbits, mice and birds). Domestic cats with free access to food tend to eat this way, although some struggle to control it and do better on a portioned diet.
Changes in your cat’s appetite are a key indicator of stress or illness. Missing a meal may not be a problem for a healthy older cat, but going 24 hours with little or no food is a big problem. Overeating can also be a problem, especially if it leads to unhealthy weight gain.
How to Keep Tabs on Your Cat
Every cat is different. While it is important to understand what is healthy and normal for cats in general, it is equally important to learn what is normal for your cat. Because cats have a natural tendency to hide pain or illness, subtle changes in activity or behavior may be the first clue that something is wrong.
Now, we’re not suggesting you follow your cat around the house all day or set up a live stream to monitor it at all hours. But it is worth paying attention to their habits so that you can notice if something changes.
Here are a few easy ways to start keeping tabs on your cat’s behavior:
- Create a consistent schedule for things like eating, picking up trash, and playtime. Not only will your cat enjoy the security that comes with predictability, but you’ll develop a sense of your cat’s normal behavior over time.
- Measure your cat’s food and feed it at the same time each day. Also, predictable feeding is good for your cat’s peace of mind but you will also be able to easily monitor your cat’s diet. (Hint: consider automatic cat feeders!)
- Consider setting up pet cameras if you spend a lot of time away from home. Pet cameras allow you to check on your cat throughout the day, and some even let you interact using two-way audio or by offering treats.
- Hire a pet sitter or have someone take in your cat if you go out of town or work long hours. Changes in foraging or litter box use can occur suddenly and, in some cases, indicate a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately.
- Invest in a cat tracker that includes health alerts and activity monitoring. A cat tracker can not only help you find your cat if it gets lost, but some models provide detailed information about your cat’s daily sleep and exercise habits.
If you’re the type of pet parent who likes to know where your cat is and what it’s doing at all times, the Tractive CAT Mini might be a good fit. It combines real-time location tracking and detailed health monitoring, so you can see what your cat has been doing day-to-day and monitor long-term trends in its activity and sleep. The Tractive app will also send email alerts if your cat shows unusual changes in its activity or sleep patterns.