Cats sleep an average of12 to 18 hr a sidereal day . So , it only make horse sense that part of your day includeswatchingyour cat sleep .
We do n’t fully realize what ’s going on in their furry noggins as they nap . But cat - loving experts agree — the feline quietus cycle is like mine and yours . You might even catch your furry BFF ’s manus swatting like there ’s an unseeable mouse .
So , what does it think of if you see your cat twitching in their sleep ? Our team of expert get to the bottom of these questions . Plus , learn when it ’s time to talk to a vet about the behaviour .
What Does Cat Twitching Look Like?
Sleep twitching in cat , like motion in human beings when sleeping , can deviate . Dr. Jo Myers , a veterinarian at Vetster , say these hallmark signs of a Caterpillar twitching while sleeping are n’t out of the ordinary :
A cat ’s rapid heart trend ( REM ) cycle endure about six minutes . “ Harmless vellication could be look to last this length of time , ” saysDr . Alex Avery , a New Zealand - ground modest animal veterinarian . During REM , you might hear your cat make rest noises , twitching their bottom , or trying to suckle .
“ Because each Caterpillar ’s quietus movements vary so much , the effective indication something else could be at play is knowing your cat ’s normal sleep characteristics and therefore be able to acknowledge when something out of the ordinary bump , ” Dr. Avery read .
Why Do Cats Twitch in Their Sleep?
Humans can feel a range of a function of movements during sleep . When we first fall asleep , we may experience hypnic jerk , or what some call a slumber start . At the end of each 70 to 100 - minute nap cycle , we inscribe REM . This sleep cycle is defined by increased brain body process as well as slumber talking , eternal rest twitch , and sometimes even sleep take the air .
“ Thankfully , cats do n’t ever appear to somnambulate , ” Dr. Avery says . But cats can experiencehypnic jerksand have a physiologicallysimilar REM hertz to humans .
According toDr . Cathy Barnette , the notable difference between a computerized axial tomography ’s REM stage and a human ’s REM stage is timing . While humans have longer geological period of REM sleep space farther apart , cats cycle in and out of REM faster .
“ During REM eternal sleep , a cat ’s trunk normally die into a state of staring brawny relaxation , the extent of which varies by individual , ” Dr. Avery explains . Some nerve signals may make their path through the sleep palsy , causing a twitch of a paw or whisker .
Do Cats Dream?
Cats and humans likewise have a specific part of the mentality to thank for sleep musculus relaxation . In the fifties , slumber enquiry trailblazer Michel Jouvet took a hands - on advance to cook this area of the learning ability to reply the question , “ do cat dream ? ”
Jouvet find that without self-contradictory sleep ( complete muscular relaxation ) , cats act out bowel movement that appear to mimic ignite living activities like walk , stalking prey , and grooming . He called these sleep movementsoneiric behaviour . Jouvet could n’t be certain , but because no external stimulation caused the movements , he suppose that a cat ’s oneiric doings is a reaction to a dreaming - like state .
“ Because we can’tyettalk to our cats , we ca n’t be certain that what they are experiencing during their paradoxical sleep sleep is the same as us , ” Avery says . “ They may dream in a different way of life or may be experiencing a like physiologic state in the absence of daydream . ”
In his book “ The Paradox of Sleep : The Story of Dreaming , ” Jouvet concluded , “ How can we wake a computed tomography during paradoxical eternal sleep and ask it head ? We can not , but the discovery and analysis of oneiric behavior would lead us to conceive that cats do dream . ”
Cat Twitching: When to Contact Your Veterinarian
Dr. Myers and Dr. Avery agree : most sleep vellication is wholly harmless . Signs of something more are “ generally too profound to be confused with regular sleep twitching . ” If your big cat is showing any of the following signs , it ’s best to schedule a visit to the veterinarian :
Dr. Avery add that cat twitches in sleep could be a sign of feline allergic reaction , likeitching from a flea snack . “ While your Caterpillar may appear completely oblivious to the outside world while they are kip , the body is still able to encounter messages of what is go on in their surroundings , ” he say . “ A cat who is antsy while they are sleeping is one who will surely be itchy when they are awake . ”
Cats can also jerk when they ’re alive Dr. Myers says . This could happen when they ’re delirious or stalk their favorite toy mouse . “ These types of twitching are all voluntary and can be disrupt , ” she says . If your cat is squeeze while alive and the vellication ca n’t be interrupted , your cat could be suffering fromfood toxic condition , a calcium imbalance , epilepsy , orfeline hyperesthesia syndrome .
Wondering if your cat twitching in their sleep could be a capture ? “ While it ’s possible for a seizure to occur when a computed tomography is sleeping , most seizure in cats pass during periods of excitement , such as while feeding , during play , or while fall down asleep or waking up , ” Dr. Myers explain .
polarity that your cat could be experiencing a seizure include :
“ The duration of time a capture lasts depends on what ’s causing it , ” Dr. Myers excuse . “ If you think your cat is having a seizure , try waking them up . If it ’s sleep twitching , the kat will wake up and act normal . ”
If you ’re worried your cat ’s twitching may be unnatural , Dr. Myers propose writing down observations and recording a video when possible . “ The veterinarian will also want to know how often it happens and if your cat is show up any other symptom . Also tell the veterinarian about any medications , supplementation , pesticide , or natural product you apply on or around your Arabian tea , ” she says .
Otherwise , enjoycurling up with your pet napping feline . If she ’s tweet , she ’s in all probability just dreaming of catching mice , eating her favorite meal , or cuddling withyou .
