Deciding Where Exactly Your Cat or Kitten Should Sleep
Cats sleep about 15 hours a day (jealous?), so where they end up sleeping can be extremely important. The nice thing about cats is they can sleep virtually anywhere, but where is actually the best place for them to sleep?
Okay, ‘fess up. Where does your cat sleep? Nestled in the crook of your knees on your antique quilt? On the larger part of your pillow where your head isn’t? On an easy chair close to the bed? Or does she position herself flush against the closed door to your bedroom? Or in her own bed in another part of the house?
A recent online survey revealed the following facts about cats in the household:
- About 96 percent of cat owners allow their cats to sleep in the bedroom.
- Almost 50 percent of those cats are allowed to sleep in the bed.
- And 38 percent of those sleep on the pillow with the owner. It should be noted, too, that younger cats prefer the pillow, while older cats prefer to sleep at the foot of the bed.
Although the amount of time spent sleeping varies from cat to cat, and depends on age and personality, felines spend an average of 13 to 16 hours each day curled up in slumber. And when it comes to sleep, your cat likes warm and cozy. She looks for a place that feels comfortable and safe and has the right temperature. When the weather is warm, she seeks high shaded sleeping nooks, where she can stretch out. During the cool winter months she’ll find a place in the warm sunshine or near a heat source, and there she’ll curl up with face between paws to reduce body heat loss.
Is It Okay for Cats to Sleep in Bed With Me?
Not only is it okay, it can be a great idea! It’s certainly not detrimental to the cat and can have great health benefits for you. Cats provide a natural source of warmth, reduce stress, and provide a sense of security. Studies have shown that people often have deeper and more restful sleep when they sleep with their cats.
The only downsides to sleeping with your cat are if you have cat allergies, or if you are finding their crepuscular activities to be disruptive to your sleep. Also, if your cat has anything communicable, like fleas or ringworm, you could be affected if you let them in the bed before the problem is resolved.
Where Should New Kittens Sleep?
If you are bringing home a new kitten, it’s a good idea to provide a comfy bed, basket, or box with plenty of blankets and possibly even a hot water bottle. Once they get comfortable with the home, they will probably decide for you where they are going to sleep.
Where Should New Cats Sleep When There Is a Cat in the House Already?
When you are introducing a new cat to a cat home, you want to do everything you can to avoid territorial battles. You should bring a brand-new bed or basket into the home and locate it somewhere where your new cat can go and isolate him or herself from the existing cat.
Do NOT try to force them to sleep together. Once they get used to each other, they will work out the sleeping arrangements among themselves.
