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How Many Hours Do Kittens Sleep? Early Habits & Behaviors Explained

Written by: Codee Chessher

Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Ginger kitten sound asleep outside on the ground

How Many Hours Do Kittens Sleep? Early Habits & Behaviors Explained

Cats love to sleep, and no kitty loves to sleep more than a newborn does! New kittens sleep most of the day away, being awake only for brief intervals to nurse. The youngest kittens sleep an average of roughly 22 hours a day, though that starts to decrease as they grow and become more active. In contrast, an adult cat sleeps about 16 hours per day.

Kittens sleep 22 hours or so for their first 2 weeks, and around the third week, that starts to change. As their senses develop, kittens will want to engage with the world more often and even gain the ability to sleep more deeply during their brief “cat naps.”

If you’re as fascinated by cats and their sleep habits as we are, you’re in the right place! We have all the info that you might want to know about kittens, sleep, and how to help your kitty get a better night’s rest!

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Why Do Kittens Need So Much Sleep?

Like baby humans, kittens are new to the world and need sleep to grow. More specifically, they feed during their fleeting awake times and promptly go back to sleep. That’s when their bodies do the magic of converting mother’s milk into muscles, bones, brain tissue, and all the stuff that makes a cat a cat. During this time, a kitten is cozied up to their mother and littermates, which keeps them warm while their body learns how to regulate their temperature.

During their time asleep, their brain is busy not only growing neurons but also reinforcing everything they learn during their time awake. They know that their mother takes care of them by feeding and grooming them, which provides the foundation for socialization. They don’t know much else during these early days, but the comforting presence of the mother and littermates helps the kitten develop healthy attachments. When it all comes down to it, sleep is vital for both the kitten’s physical and emotional well-being.

kittens sleeping
Image Credit by: New Africa, Shutterstock

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Why Isn’t My Kitten Getting Enough Sleep?

Kittens that don’t get enough sleep can suffer a range of negative consequences, from a compromised immune system to excessive weight gain to noticeable anxiety or aggression. There are a lot of different reasons a young kitten isn’t getting enough sleep, so let’s check some off so you can deduce the cause of your kitten’s lack of sleep.

Reasons for Lack of Sleep in Kittens:
  • Boredom: Kittens need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation during their waking hours to ensure they’re tired out enough to sleep well.
  • Anxiety: New kittens are especially prone to anxiety and problems sleeping, but many cats also suffer disturbed sleep following drastic life changes.
  • Pain or discomfort: Kittens suffering from painful injuries or diseases may be in too much pain to sleep, causing them to not sleep as much or as often.

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How to Help Your Kitten Get Enough Sleep

kittens sleeping
Image Credit by: luxstorm, Pixabay

Helping your sleepless kitten sleep better at night is essential for their continuing growth and well-being, and it helps you sleep more soundly when they’re not climbing on the walls at all hours of the night. To improve your kitten’s sleep habits, try some of our handy kitten sleep tips.

Tips for Helping Your Kitten Sleep:
  • Ensure your kitten gets ample playtime during their time awake to minimize boredom-related insomnia.
  • Provide your kitty with a warm, safe, comfortable, and private sleeping space to help them sleep more deeply.
  • Avoid feeding your kitten close to bedtime to minimize bowel or urinary-related sleep disturbances.
  • Failing all else, consult a trusted vet to get to the bottom of your kitten’s insomnia and rule out any related health issues.

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Conclusion

Kittens are bundles of furry, cuddly joy, but they sleep more than 90% of the time early on in their lives. They need every wink they can get to continue growing up happy and healthy, which makes sleep an important consideration early and later in life.


Featured Image Credit: super-mapio, Pixabay

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