Can Cats Dream? Exploring Feline Sleep

Cats are known for sleeping most of the time in a day. They can take a nap for 12-18 hours in a day. Some cats even indulge in more than 18 hours of rest ^[1]. Their sleeping has stages and they can indicate many signs at that time. You may find your pet sprawled across its favorite spot, paws twitching gently, ears flicking, and perhaps even emitting soft "mews." Did you think these are the signs of your pet’s dream? Let’s get the answer. In this blog, we will delve into the fascinating world of cat dreaming and will cover the following topics (click to jump):

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Can Cats Dream?

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The answer is “yes.” Cats can dream like all other mammals in the world.^[1]The details of their dreams are still unknown. Feline’s sleep patterns follow various stages like human beings. Two primary stages are particularly important to understand about their dreams. That are:

1. REM Sleep (The Dream State)

This is where it gets to be really interesting. Just like human beings do, cats go through REM sleep and share around 20 - 25 % of their respective sleep cycle.^[4] Dreams occur in this rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage. 

On this stage, their brain activity increases as well as the quick movement of their eyes beneath their eyelids as though possibly watching something. If you find your cat twitches, flicks its tail, or emits soft sounds while it is sleeping, it is most likely in REM.^[2]

2. Non-REM Sleep (Light to Deep Sleep)

In the NREM ( non rapid eye movement ) stage cats remain mostly relaxed. This is the lighter part of the sleep. During NREM felines snooze peacefully without much movement.^[5] During deep sleep (still part of non-REM), tissue repair and growth occur, as well as general bodily restoration.

Side note for cat parents: It is really a significant period in the development of the kittens as every little body requires nourishment to cater to its rapid growth.^[3]

The question remains, what do cats dream about? That’s where science starts to provide some fascinating clues.

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Decoding the Signs of Cat Dreams

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Wondering whether your kitty is in a dreamland of scratched posts and laser pointers? Here are a few common clues to tell you that your kitty is not merely sleeping but actively dreaming:

1. Twitching and Paddling Paws

When your cat sleeps, look at their paws. If you notice small twitching motions, it is a  sign that your furry friend is experiencing a dream.^{[6] [7]} Your pet’s paw can gently move as if it is running or batting something. Their muscles briefly spasm as the brain becomes more active.

2. Eyes Blinking

This sign can be seen during the REM stage that is a dream-rich part of the sleep cycle. Check your pet’s eyes during their sleep. If you find their eyelids fluttering or their eyes moving rapidly beneath closed lids, it is a good indicator that your cat is in dreamland.^[2]

3. Flicking Ears

Cats manage to retain a trace of alertness even in their dreams!^[8] Look for some subtle twitching movements of the ears, which may just hint at the possibility of hearing something in dreamland.^{[6] [7]}

4. Whisker Movement

A cat’s whisker plays a vital role in their sensation of the world. If your furry friend twitches the whiskers during sleep, it might be exploring something in its dream.^{[6] [7]}

5. Tail Flicks

We all know that cats flick their tail gently when they are excited. This behavior they can show during sleep. If they are doing it in their sleep, it may be because of dreaming something exciting.^{[6] [7]}

6. Soft Vocalizations

Soft vocalizations like meows, chirps, or even growls might trigger a guess that such are the ways by which the cat speaks in its dreams. These vocalizations might indicate a specific dream scenario unfolding in their mind.^[9]

7. Sudden Twitching or "Running" Movements

Some cats experience running during sleep. They move their legs as though they’re chasing something. If your feline friend does it suddenly during sleep, it can dream about their daytime activities like stalking prey or playing with toys.^[9]

8. Changes in Breathing

Just like humans, breathing patterns also can be altered with dreaming. Snoring sounds and light and uneven breathing are associated with rapid eye movement during sleep and possibly dream as well.^{[10] [11]}

You might be surprised by the signs your cat shows when they're dreaming! They can also show more body movements and facial expressions. While these signs are fun to watch, they are part of normal REM sleep behavior and shouldn't spark concern.^[6]

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Benefits of Dreaming for Cats

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Having dreams is a key factor in the overall health of a cat, and indeed, responsible for many aspects.. Some of the key benefits include:

• Memory consolidation: Perhaps dreams enable cats to process and store information from their waking experiences, assisting them in enhancing learning and recall abilities.^[12]

• Emotional regulation: It is likely that dreaming acts as a therapeutic experience in relieving stress or imparting a positive experience to the life of cats, similar to how it happens in humans.^[13]

• Reinforcing instincts: Dreaming about hunting or play helps cats sharpen their natural instincts. This keeps them mentally and physically prepared for real-world interactions.^[14]

• Promoting restful sleep: In cats, deep, restful sleep upon healthy dream cycles energizes the feline for the next session.

  ^[14]

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What Science Says About a Cat Dream

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The idea that animals can dream isn’t just folklore or speculation. Neuroscience has given us some compelling insights into what’s happening in the brains of our feline friends while they snooze.

Research on Dreaming of Cats

REM Sleep Studies:

It was groundbreaking research of scientist Michel Jouvet in the 1960s which proved that cats experience a state of REM sleep-a stage very closely associated with dreaming in mammals-while proving the existence of sleep in cats. These studies showed that during REM sleep cats manifest electroencephalographic activity similar to awake cats along with rapid eye and muscle movements.^[3]

Behavioral Observations:

Cats exhibit twitching, vocalizations, and paw movements during sleep. These behaviors provide some evidence that they are visualizing dream-like scenarios^[16] . These observations can't confirm the content of their dreams. But they correlate with some actions seen in humans during REM sleep.^[17]

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What Do Cats Dream About? ^[7][9][14]

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Although we cannot see into a cat's dreams, behavioral science gives us a good starting point for speculation. The following is a list of possible dream topics for cats based on movement during dreaming and day-to-day habits:

1. Hunting Adventures

Cats have a natural hunting instinct.^[8] Even if you have a pampered indoor kitty that doesn’t know what to do with a live mouse or flying squirrel, you will see this natural instinct. Their dreams might include stalking prey, pouncing on toys, or climbing trees. Researchers suggest that this might be an excellent way for chicks, with some practice here in dreamland, to prepare for their attack on prey. They can be twitching, flicking tail or moving paws in the dreams if they are having hunting adventures, 

2. Comfort and Cuddles

Feline friends love their cozy sleeping area. That’s why it’s possible they dream about curling up in their favorite soft blankets, laying on their beds or on your lap. If they are curling up during sleep or moving their paws like kneading to make territory, they may be doing these activities in their dreamland.

3. Interactions with Other Animals (Real or Imagined)

Cats deeply cope with their surrounding environment and they might dream about the interactions with other pets or humans. This can do playful activities with other cats, dogs or birds.

4. Processing Daily Events

Dreaming is believed to be a means of re-experiencing and processing the events of the day. Cats may dream about reliving memories of having dinner, grooming, staring out the window at birds or exploring a new part of the house.

5. Random Whimsical Things

While we will probably never know for sure, perhaps it is nice to think that sometimes cats dream about something silly or totally random-gliding through clouds, or living in a house made of catnip.

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Can Cats Have Nightmares?^[3]

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Yes! Cats can have nightmares like all other mammals as they do dream. When observing sleeping cats, certain behaviors can indicate a bad dream. These include:

• Whimpering or crying out.
• Growling or hissing.
• Sudden, agitated movements.
• Waking up in a state of apparent fear.

It is recommended to not wake up your pet during bad sleep. It can make them confused and lead to attacks on you. Also, it can break down their natural sleep circle. Still it is unknown that cats get distress from bad dreams. So, you should remember that no harm will happen during a nightmare. If you want to prevent your cat’s bad dream, you should ensure your pet doesn’t have any fairy experience in the day's activities. Engage your furry friend with mental stimulation and offer a dreamy space for snoozing. 

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Tips to Ensure Sweet Dreams to Your Cats

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A happy, well-rested cat will experience deeper sleep, thus ensuring that it reaches REM stages (and dreams). Here’s how you can help:

1. Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment

Make sure a cozy and quiet territory to rest where they will feel secure and content. Add soft blankets, plush beds, houses like caves or trees. For premium quality and reasonable options you can check our Catspo cat beds, blankets and houses.

Some recommended products that will promote your pet’s sweet dreams:

2. Stick to a Routine

Cats prefer sticking with schedules, when they do, cats feel more at peace knowing about the next feeding.

3. Engage in Regular Play

Encouraging a lot of activity during the day consumes some of your cat's energy, making it easier for it to enjoy restful sleep later.

4. Provide Mental Stimulation

Offer your feline companion a variety of Interactive toys or puzzle feeders during wakeful hours and keep your cat’s mind sharp. It will contribute to more stimulating dreams.

5. Offer High-Quality Nutrition

Finally, you should offer them proper health starting with great food. A nutritious diet ensures your cat has the energy it needs for both active days and peaceful nights.

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FAQs:

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Q: Do cats dream about their owners?

A: Yes! It's highly probable that cats do dream about their owners. Felines love affection from their owners. If you love your kitty so much and do hugging, kiss frequently, they may replay the moments during sleep.^[7]

Q: Why do cats twitch in their sleep?

A: Certainly! Cats twitch in their sleep. It's something that happens often and is generally harmless. Some common reasons for twitching are REM sleep and dreaming, normal muscle reflexes, neurological development, temperature regulation, medical issues and more unknown facts.^[7]

Q: Is it normal for cats to twitch in their sleep?

A: Yes! It is normal for cats to twitch in their sleep specially during REM sleep, dreaming or normal muscle activity. When they are in the REM stage, their brain becomes highly active and leads to twitching of the paws, whiskers, ears, legs and tails. They can also do small jerks or their body.^[6]

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Cats and Dreams: A Fascinating Feline Mystery

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Cats do dream like humans when they enter the REM sleep stage. They even do have nightmares. We can understand the dreaming of cats by checking signs of twitching like blinking, flicking ears, tails, whisker movement, soft vocalization and more. The exact content of those dreams remains a mystery. But we can imagine that cats can dream about their daily activities like hunting, sleeping on the owner's laps, interaction with other pets or random whimsical things. 

Dream doesn’t have any cause of concern for your furry friend, rather it has many benefits. So, if you find the signs on your pet that we discussed above during sleep, you should let your pet enjoy the dreams.

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References:

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1. Article of Sleep Foundation about how much do cats sleep?

2. Sleep Doctor article about sleeping habits of cats.

3. Article of Every Paw regarding three stages of cat sleep.

4. The blog of the National Library of Medicine about Sleep Encyclopedia.

5. Blog of Marley and Dan about understanding and improving your cat's sleep.

6. Blog about Lola Hemp about the topic does cat sleep twitching mean seizures?

7. Bow Wow Meow blogs about catnaps and kitty dreams. 

8. Article of National Park Service about cats: predators or prey?

9. Ellevet blog regarding dreaming of felines.

10.  Journal of Oxford Academic regarding cat sleep.

11.  Increased upper airway during sleep in the cat by PubMed in National Library of Medicine.

12.  Article of News Medical Life Sciences about the role of sleep in memory consolidation.

13.  National Library of Medicine blog by PMC about the role of sleep and emotional brain processing.

14.  Blog of Purina AU regarding dreaming of felines.

15.  Research on the National Library of Medicine regarding the biology of REM sleep.

16.  Health and medicine blog of Britannica about animal’s dream.

17. News article of Hannegrice about cat and dog’s dreaming.