Does it matter where the cat sleeps? Temperature is one of the most important factors
2023. September 15 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
2023. September 15 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
We can say with confidence that most cats are far from being affected by insomnia, as they spend an average of 16 hours a day napping. For kittens or veterans, 20 hours is not uncommon. However, in order for the little head falling on the pillow to surrender itself to the world of sweet dreams under the most ideal conditions, you also have to do a few things.
We show you what determines where the cat sleeps, and what you can do to ensure that your pet’s time in the land of dreams is a flawless experience.
Our pets are not just picky about what they eat. Since they spend most of their sleep time in a non-deep sleeping phase, it’s important that they are able to sleep in the safest and most comfortable place. If a kitty doesn’t get enough sleep for some reason, there are a lot of health risks, just like obesity. For this reason, it is very important to try to see your home with a cat’s eye. We’ve brought you some specific details that cats instinctively like, so when it comes to sleep, they’ll definitely be looking for these things.
Cats like to change regularly between the different places they sleep. This is not a gentlemanly whim, it is to protect themselves from fleas and other parasites. So it’s wisest to provide them with a variety of beds in different places in the home. This is particularly important if you have more than one kitty. They rarely like to share, so it is important that each one can retreat to its own little corner.
When we talk about bed, we don’t just mean a traditional bed. It could be an armchair or chair with a soft cushion that only the cat uses, a stylish little tipi or a larger decorative cushion that they can have to themselves and not fight anyone for it.
They feel safest when they are somewhere high up, because they feel that this keeps them away from potential dangers at ground level. Plus they have a great little perch to keep an eye on their surroundings.
High cat ladders or seats are sure to be popular, but if they nestle on top of a cupboard, don’t worry about that, just be careful what ornaments you keep there. If you have the means, you can also get wall-mounted shelves that only the kitty uses.
Cats are particularly fond of warmth, so it’s best to avoid draughty, cold places when looking for a place of the bed. In winter, however, don’t place them near a heat source as they can easily overheat. Panting is common in dogs, but if you see a cat panting, you should immediately find a way to cool the room down, otherwise the consequences could be fatal. Soft, woolly blankets or pillows are a good idea if you can’t keep the heating on all day at home.
There’s one more thing to consider when it comes to bedding. As mentioned above, they will spend most of their sleep period in a shallow sleep so that they are ready to go at a moment’s notice if emergency arise. This means that they can be easily disturbed by noise. So keep those beds away from noisy places such as the washing machine or the front door.
When washing your cat’s bedding, avoid washing all the beds at the same time. Our pets rely heavily on their sense of smell to understand the world around them, so it’s important to always have at least one object in their environment that emits their own soothing scent.
They really like to sleep away from where they eat, drink and go to the toilet, so if you have the opportunity, place the beds away from the aforementioned utensils. The scratching post, however, can be as close to their bed as possible so that when they wake up rested, they can drain their energy immediately.
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