How Much Do Kittens Sleep? (Complete Guide)

If you have never owned a cat before, you might find it strange that your cat is sleeping too much.

But this is how cats are wired—even adult cats spend most of their day asleep.

At the point of birth, kittens will spend 90% of their day asleep. That translates to anything from 20-22 hours of sleep.

As they start to grow, the hours they sleep will decrease a little bit and they will start sleeping for 16-18 hours depending on a couple of factors.

There are a couple of reasons why cats sleep for so many hours.

First and foremost, it is a natural adaptation because cats are nocturnal predators. This means they sleep during the day and hunt at night.

Secondly, kittens need their beauty sleep because this is how they grow and develop.

Granted, there are a couple of scenarios where sleeping too much might be a sign of sickness but for the most part, sleeping for what seems like an eternity shouldn’t be taken as a problem.

How long do 6-week old kittens sleep?

Kittens start getting very active when they turn six weeks old.

Even though they will sleep for almost half of the day, they will spend the other half playing.

This is a time when they start to develop their personality and come face to face with their curious side.

Because of the heightened activity, it is recommended to feed the kitty every six hours.

However, you don’t have to worry about waking them at night to feed because they can sleep through the night—as long as you fed them well during the day.

How much do 2-month-old kittens sleep?

A two-month-old kitten will sleep for approximately 18 hours a day.

At this stage, the kitty is old enough to sleep alone and he will typically enjoy sleeping on their own or in any warm and dry places that are raised from the ground.

The sleep of a 2-month-old kitty is usually in two phases—a sound sleep phase and a REM-paradoxal-dreaming phase.

The sound sleeping phase typically lasts for around 25 minutes whole the REM-paradoxal –dreaming stage lasts approximately five minutes.

How much do 3-month-old kittens sleep?

It is normal for newborn kitties to spend almost 90% of their day napping. But this pattern keeps changing as they grow older.

By the time they are three months old, kittens sleep for approximately 70% of the day which translated to 16-18 hours.

At this age, kittens will have started to be very playful and so you may not actually realize just how much time they spent sleeping.

They usually take intermittent naps throughout the day which alternate from light to deep phases of sleep.

During the light phase, the kitten can easily awake from any slight noise but you don’t have to walk on pins and needles because it won’t take them long to get back to sleep.

Is it normal for a 3-month kitten to sleep a lot?

It is normal for a kitten that is 3 months or less to sleep a lot, so you shouldn’t worry when your kitties oversleep.

Kittens are usually born deaf and blind and they have to sleep a lot in their earlier days as they develop and grow.

By 3 months, their hearing and sight are OK but they still sleep for almost 18 hours a day.

 That said, sleeping too much can sometimes be a sign of sickness, especially in adult cats.

So, if you think your cat is sleeping too much and you are afraid that something might be amiss, look for other signs of sickness.

 Some of the signs to watch for are sluggishness after waking up and sleeping throughout the day.

These signs usually mean your cat is anemic which can be fatal if left unchecked.

A kitten that is suffering from anemia has a deficiency of red blood cells. One way of ascertaining this is by checking the color of their gums.

If the gums are pale, it means the cat could be anemic and you should take him to the vet immediately. 

How much do 4-month-old kittens sleep?

At four months, the kitten will have started to become leaner and longer as they approach their adulthood stature.

But at this age, they still sleep for 16-18 hours a day.

It is believed that cats got their habit of sleeping from evolution. Out in the wild, cats are adapted to sleeping throughout the day and hunting for prey at night.

This trait seems to have remained with domesticated felines.

Where should a 4-month-old kitten sleep?

A four-month-old kitten can sleep alone as long as they have a cozy and warm place.

Kittens love warmth and comfort and that is why they often cozy up on the couch or bed.

Even though four-month-old kittens sleep for long hours, they should not be left to sleep alone for the entire night and neither should they be left alone in the house whether during the day or at night.

That’s because the kittens will benefit from interacting with humans every 4-6 hours.

If you have to be away, make sure you arrange for someone to check on and play with them regularly. This can be a friend, a family member, or a pet sitter.

How much do 5-month-old kittens sleep?

At five months old, your kitty will still be sleeping for 16-18 hours a day.

They will sleep a little more during winter and a little less during winter. This is because they need more sleep during the colder months to stay warmer.

This is the age where puberty is starting to kick in, so the teenage hormones will make the behavior and temperament of the cat start changing.

For instance, they will enjoy playing for 10-15 minutes at a time. However, their sleeping patterns will mostly remain the same.

Can 5-month-old kittens sleep alone?

As puberty starts kicking in, the kitty will start enjoying sleeping alone. This is why it’s ok for five-month-old kitties to sleep alone.

Unlike the 4-5-month-old kittens, which need to be checked every 6 hours, a five-month-old kitty would be okay if left alone for up to eight hours.

This means you don’t have to worry about getting a sitter when you go to the office as long as you won’t be away for more than eight hours.

Moving your kittens from your room to a separate room might have to be handled with care.

You will need to introduce them gradually to the new surroundings and only leave them there for the night once they have fully acclimatized. This will help both you and the kittens not to deal with undue stress.

Alternatively, you can just allow the kitty to continue sleeping in your room.

How much do 6-month-old kittens sleep?

A six-month-old cat is still referred to as a kitten but he is fully developed at this stage and can even go into heat.

At this age, the kitty will sleep for approximately 16 hours a day although some can still manage up to 18 hours of sleep.

Just like kitties of any age, he will most likely look for a cozy place for his regular naps.

This is also the age where your cat starts shedding a lot, so it might be a good idea to encourage him to start sleeping in a cat bed.

You will have to train them first for them to accept the cat bed but it will help you contain unnecessary shedding around the house which can be such a pain.

Why is my 6-month-old kitten sleeping so much?

As we have already seen, kittens sleep for the better part of the day.

If it is the first kitten you own, you may innocently wonder why they sleep too much but it is natural and fine.

The only problem would be when the kitty sleeps for more than 20 hours a day.

 If that happens, you can take your cat for a checkup just to ensure they are well.

Otherwise, your kitty will most likely enjoy snuggling on the couch and sleeping for what will look like the entire day.

Should I let my kitten sleep all day?

It’s totally fine for your kitten to sleep for up to 90% of their day.

Out in the wild, cats are accustomed to sleeping throughout the day and hunting at night.

This adaptation seems to be hardcoded in their DNA and that is why kitties love napping during the day.

Some cat owners have complained that their kittens want to be lazy and sleepy the whole day and then suddenly come to life at night.

This shouldn’t be looked at as abnormal behavior because that is how cats have evolved and adapted.

It is normal to wonder if you should wake your cat up for a snack or so you may play with them.

 The sounds the cat makes can also make you think it is best to wake them up but it’s not.

Kittens need to sleep well through the day because growth and development happens in their sleep.

You should therefore provide a secluded and quiet spot for them to sleep during the day.

Let the kittens sleep until they wake up themselves at which point you can feed them and then allow them to go to sleep again.

Is a kitten sleeping too much bad?

It is good for a kitten to sleep for anything from 16-20 hours a day depending on their age.

Sometimes, cats might sleep longer than usual for several reasons.

 For starters, your cat might sleeper for longer (at night) during the darker months.

Additionally, cats tend to sleep longer during winter than during summer.

So to put it plainly, it’s perfectly fine for your cat to sleep most of the time. 

Should I worry if my kitten sleeps a lot?

Before you worry about your kitten sleeping a lot, start by understanding what too much sleep means for cats.

Cats naturally sleep for long hours. Even adult cats can sleep for up to 16 hours a day.

Kittens sleep for even longer—they can sleep for up to 20 hours in a day.

 So, there is no cause of alarm just because your kittens are sleeping a lot.

That said, some sicknesses could result in abnormal sleep patterns. For instance, if your cat has the habit of suddenly falling into a deep sleep, you may want to have him checked. 

Any other sign that is out of the ordinary should be taken as a sign that all is not well and you should take the cat to the vet immediately.

Do kittens sleep through the night?

Kittens need their beauty sleep but it is not uncommon for them to wake up at night.

As we have seen, cats are adapted to being most active from dusk to dawn.

The fact the kitten will be struggling to adjust to a new home will not make things any easier.

That said, the kitty still needs to have enough sleep so you may have to help them to sleep better at night.

The following are a couple of things you can do to help your kitties sleep better at night.

A. Exercise and play

A tired kitten will sleep better at night. You may want to keep your cat busy with some playtime just before you turn in for the night.

The idea is to exhaust any reserve energy before they go to bed as that will help them to be asleep for longer.

Daytime activity

Keeping your cat occupied during the day will also help them to spend their energy. For instance, you can give them toys to play with during the day.

The toys will not only stimulate them mentally but will also involve physical activity which will keep them busy in between their daytime naps.

B. Familiar objects

A familiar object may just be the missing link.

If you get your cat from a shelter or from a breeder, try to find out if they had a blanket, toy, or some other object they were used to.

 Giving him a familiar object will help them rest more easily at night.

C. Use a different feeding schedule

If your kitten has a problem sleeping at night, you may have to think about changing its feeding schedules.

Cats will typically get sleepy right after a meal. You can control the amount of food you give them during the day to try to regulate their sleeping patterns and also move the evening meal to nighttime before they go to bed.

Be sure not to overdo this though because you still want to keep within a safe calorie intake range.

D. Medication

If everything else, you can consult your vet for a medical solution.

Some medications can help with sleep but the vet could also prescribe natural remedies like valerian or melatonin.

However, this is a risky route because it is possible for the cat to develop a tolerance for the medication after a while and you will be back to square one.

My kitten sleeps a lot and is not very active: should I worry?

There aren’t a certain number of hours of sleep that indicate a problem.

The best approach is to understand the normal sleeping pattern of your cat.

If the pattern changes for no good reason, there is a good chance your cat needs the attention of a vet.

This change could either be sleeping for longer or also for fewer hours than usual.

When the sleep pattern changes drastically, your cat could be suffering from hyperthyroidism, physical pain, or some other condition.

An anemic cat will also be less active whenever they are awake and also sleep for longer than usual.

So, if you notice your kitten sleeping a lot and being dull when awake, take him to the vet just to make sure all is well.

Should you wake a sleeping kitten?

You know what they say about sleeping dogs, right? But can the same be said of cats?

As it turns out, yes! At the point of birth, your kitten is both blind and deaf.

So, they will spend most of the day sleeping as their hearing and eyesight develops.

 Eventually, they have fully developed vision and hearing but they still need to sleep for elongated hours to allow for the formation of stronger bones as well as overall growth.

This is why you should not wake your kittens when they are asleep. The cat needs to sleep uninterrupted.

Even though kittens need to feed every 2-3 hours, you shouldn’t wake them for that.

When they get hungry, the kittens will wake up, and then you can feed them.

Closing Thoughts

Kitties are known for their playful nature but one other distinct quality is their love for sleep.

Your cat will normally spend 75%-90% of the day napping. This nap time typically oscillates between light sleep and deep sleep.

It is during these nap sessions that your kitten develops and grows, so you should ensure they get enough of it.

You can do this by providing a quiet and raised place in your house that is cozy and warm.

A comfortable cat will sleep well which means they will also develop well.