It probably won’t surprise you to learn cats can sleep for 16 hours a day. That’s twice as much as humans typically clock up. And four times as much as Margaret Thatcher.
Just in time for National Sleep Awareness Week, Cats Protection has released its top ten pictures of conked-out kitties.
With heart-melting images of ginger kittens slumbering in slippers and a Siamese with his paws clasped over his face, this set of snaps will make your day.
“Cats are known to sleep almost anywhere and need plenty of sleep to allow their energy reserves to be replenished,” said Maggie Roberts, Cats Protection’s Director of Veterinary Services.
“This allows them to hunt whenever they detect prey and not wait until they are hungry. However, they are light sleepers and tend to wake at the slightest touch or sound – hence the expression cat nap.
"This is an important survival mechanism as the ability to wake and become alert quickly helps them escape daytime predators.”
The charity suggests the following tips to ensure your feline is getting enough shut-eye:
- Give cats a variety of places to sleep as they like to rotate their sleeping area, traditionally as a means of parasite control
- Ensure they have access to somewhere elevated where they can feel safe
- Provide a scratching post near their sleeping area as they often scratch to maintain their claws when they wake up
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and has around 6,000 cats and kittens awaiting new homes at any one time.
Photos courtesy of Cats Protection supporters