Do Cats Really Sleep 16 Hours a Day? The Evolutionary Reason
Cats average 12–16 hours of sleep per day; elderly cats can reach 20. This isn't laziness — it's a carnivore's survival strategy. Wild felids have a hunting success rate of only 20–30%, meaning each sprint burns enormous energy that must be recovered through extended sleep. Cats cycle between light sleep (most of the time) and deep REM sleep. During light sleep, they remain alert — that's why a sleeping cat's ears still twitch at sounds. During REM, cats dream of hunting: you'll see subtle claw and whisker movements. Sleep isn't wasted time for a cat — it's an active strategy for maintaining peak performance. If you hold your sleep to high standards, every cat on earth understands exactly where you're coming from.