Routinely, cats sleep during the day when there is light because they are programmed to be active at dusk, dawn and night. Some cats start being active when it gets dark and run around the house. Cats are metabolic sleep hogs and love to sleep. This is not by preference but due to the consequences of the biological clock. However, cats of this era can be very active depending on the humans they live with.
Some cats follow their owners’ pattern and follow the environment’s design and stimulation rather than brightness. The cats prefer sleeping when the owner is sleeping and not doing anything and follow the owner around when awake due to curiosity. Cats also sleep under the bed or in dark places because they are more likely to feel safe and secure in a dark place compared to the right place.
Can Cats See In The Dark?
It turns out that they can have much better vision than humans and see better in the dark. They can focus on more detail, and in the dark, they comfortably see the texture, shape and other fine details. However, evenings are not very clear for cats as daylight, but they pick up more than humans in low light. There are various reasons why cats possess better night vision, and most of the reasons have to do with the structure of the cat’s eyes. The reasons include:
Pupil shape
Humans and the majority of other animals have circular shaped pupils. On the other hand, cats have an elliptical slit-like pupil shape, which contributes to their ability to see in the dark. Elliptical pupils push more light into the eyes in the darkness. Cats dilate significantly by 135 fold to allow the most light in the dark. Thanks to the verticals pupils, cats see much more at night but are not blinded during the day.
Photoreceptors and rod-to-cones ratio
All retinas, including cats, dogs, humans and other animals, have two kinds of photoreceptors: cones and rods. Each photoreceptor has various functions within the eye. The rods are responsible for peripheral and night vision, while cones are liable for color processing and day vision. Human retinas have around 120 million rod cells, while cat retinas contain six to eight times that of rod cells. This explains why cats are way better at seeing at night.
Cornea size
The cornea is the eye’s outer layer, and when light enters the eye, the light is bent by the curved edge of the cornea. This plays a massive part in the sharpness with which the eye focuses on objects. The cornea of cats is larger than that of humans and contributes to the cat’s ability to see in the dark. The cat’s cornea has a large surface area meaning that their eyeballs are more prominent, and hence more light can enter. The more light entering the eye, the easier it is for the cat to focus and see better in the dark.
Tapetum Lucidum
The Tapetum Lucidum is an additional layer of tissue behind the cat’s retina. It is not present in the human eye but is very useful with cats and is the shiny green reflective surface commonly seen in cat photos or when the cats are outside at night. The Tapetum Lucidum acts as a retro reflector and reflects light into the eye, which gives the cat a higher ability to see through the night. Other animals that have the Tapetum Lucidum include dogs, deer, horses, ferret and cows.
UV Light Vision
Cats can see more than humans and see UV light that allows them to see items like flower patterns and even urine trails. This helps them during hunting. The ocular media of the cats refers to the transparent part of the eye. It transmits UV light wavelength allowing extra light into the retina, increasing night vision.
Ears and whiskers
It is not just eyes that enable cats to see well than humans at night. The whiskers are touch receptors that detect potential obstacles and sense the environment they are in. the sharp sense of hearing adds them the ability to notice the frequency of sounds from a far distance, helping them navigate well. The eyes, ears and whiskers of the cat are tailored explicitly for moving around in the dark.
How Cats View the World Compared To Human Beings
The difference between cat vision and human vision is the retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye that contains photoreceptors. The receptors convert rays to electrical signals processed by nerve cells, which are then sent to the brain and translated to images. Cats have a higher concentration of rod receptors and low cone receptors, which are opposite to humans. This explains why humans cannot see at night but have better detection of light. The differences include;
Visual field
Visual field refers to the area when the eyes focus on a single point. It can be above, below, sideways or straight ahead. The cat has a more comprehensive visual field of 200 degrees than the human visual field, which is 180 degrees.
Visual acuity
Visual acuity refers to the clearness of vision. An average human eye has a visual acuity of 20/20, while a cat’s visual acuity ranges from 20/100 to 20/200. This means that the cat must be elevated to a height of 100 or 200 feet to reach where a human being can get.
Color vision
A common misconception is that cats cannot see any color but only shades of gray. Humans are trichomats, meaning that they have three different kinds of cones that allow them to see red, green and blue. Cats, on the other hand, are trichomats but not as humans. A cat’s vision is similar to a color-blind human and can see shades of green and blue, but it is confusing. Cats do not see the same richness that humans see.
Distance
Cats are commonly nearsighted. This means that they cannot see very distant objects like long-sighted humans. Their capability to see near objects is well suited for their hunting and capturing nature.
Night vision
Having good night vision is being able to see well in low light. Cats cannot see sufficient detail but can see better than humans in the dark. This is because they have a higher number of rods in the retina that are very sensitive to low light. Cats also have the Tapetum that acts as a mirror and reflects light that passes between the cones and rods. This improves night vision and allows the cats to pick up sufficient detail with little amounts of light. It is also the feature that makes the cat’s eyes glow at night.
Do Cats Sleep Through The Night?
Cats are known to be crepuscular animals meaning they are very active at dusk and dawn. They are natural predators and are wired to hunt and chase at night, making them quiet during the day and probably sleeping. Even though cats are domestic animals, their biological nature is wired to being active at night. They will spend time playing, pouncing and stalking, which requires immense energy gained while sleeping.
While the cats sleep twice as much as humans sleep, they prefer having short and long naps rather than sleeping all through the night. They sleep very quickly after a lot of physical activity. As cats sleep, they seem to be deep in slumber, but they are very sharp in sensing especially hearing and smelling. They can speedily spring into action if they smell or hear a mouse nearby. Like humans, cats sleep more when it is cold, rainy or drizzly.
How Long Do Cats Sleep?
A cat sleeps for an average of 15 hours a day, while small kittens can sleep for up to 20 hours in a single day. Several factors contribute to this, including age. Kittens tend to sleep most of the day, but as they grow, they change their sleeping patterns and become more active. Older cats, on the other hand, are not very active and sleep for more extended periods.
How to Get the Cat Sleep through the Night
Rule out medical issues
If the cat wanders restlessly around the house crying or meowing, he might be having a medical condition that is causing pain or discomfort. If that is the case, take the cat to the vet so you can rule out medical conditions.
Schedule interactive sessions with the cat in the evening
At dusk, use toys that mimic the moves of birds and mice. The toys wiggle and dingle and aim to get the cat to run around. Other games include ping pong balls, furry mice for cats who like fetching and softballs. This makes the cat tired and eventually sleeps at night.
Feed the cat a main meal just before bedtime
Cats are prone to sleeping immediately after eating a heavy meal. If the cat wakes up at night, get a timed feeder that can be filled with food and dispenses on its own. If the cat gets hungry at night, he will go straight to the feeder and not bother you. Ensure that the meals are in proportionate amounts to avoid the cat being overweight.
Integrate various enrichment activities
Identify and engage the cat in various activities during the day. The more energetic the cat is during the day, the more likely the cat will sleep at night.
Add another cat to the family.
If the cat is very social with other cats, reflect on adding another cat to the family. If the cats get attuned, they are likely to play with each other and reduce disturbance at night. However, many cats can cause havoc in the house, creating more damage than good.
Where Should Cats Sleep At Night?
Cats need to feel warm, safe and cozy while sleeping. The cat’s instincts are wired from their biological ancestors and have the primary need to be safe from predators, even the domesticated cats. To help the cat feel safe, you should provide a cat bed with a cushion surrounding it for maximum protection. The cat bed should be bigger than the cat’s size to accommodate him when he grows bigger. You can also add a layer of the blanket to the bed’s interior to make it cozier.
If you have two cats and cannot purchase two different cat beds, you can improvise and use a laundry basket or card box. Have folded blankets or towels to make the baskets or box look cozy and safe. You can also have a folded blanket by the window where the sun shines to make it a lounging spot for the cat.
How to Choose a Cat Bed
When finding the perfect cat bed, choose one that is cozy and nice for the cat. Raised cat bedsides make the bed warmer and provide hiding grounds for the cat. You may also add a blanket or towel to the bed to make it comfortable and warm. Choose a bed that can easily be washed but do not wash all bed items as cats are creatures of smell, and the scent helps them feel safe.
If the cat is not interested in the new bed, you can put items or clothes that smell familiar such as blankets that the cat has been sleeping on. Cats can also like clothes that the owner has worn, especially if they get used to sleeping on dirty clothes left on the bedroom floor. You can also add treats in the bed for the cat or toys that the cat likes.
Is It Okay For A Cat To Sleep In The Bed With His Owner?
It is an excellent idea for the cat to sleep with the owner in his bed. It makes the cat feel safe and have crucial health benefits for the owner. The cat provides natural warmth, provides a sense of security and, in a way, reduces stress. The disadvantage of sleeping with cats is they can transmit allergies, and since they are crepuscular, they will disrupt sleeping patterns. If the cat has a disease such as ringworm or flu, he can communicate to the owner and become infected.
The Bottom Line
It is common for cats to be awake all through the night as much as they love sleeping. They are very active at dusk and dawn, and when in a new environment, they can stay awake for most of the night. Sleep for a cat is essential in developing their body system, and it is crucial to give them utmost peace while sleeping. This makes the cats grow up happy and healthy.