How many hours a day is normal for a cat to sleep?

Most adult cats sleep somewhere between 12 and 16 hours a day, with kittens and senior cats often sleeping even more. This is entirely normal feline behaviour rather than a sign of illness on its own.

Is it normal for an older cat to sleep more than a younger one?

Yes, senior cats typically become less active and sleep more, partly due to lower energy needs and partly because joint stiffness can make resting more appealing than moving around. It becomes a concern only alongside other changes like reduced appetite or reluctance to move.

How can I tell if my cat is just asleep or actually unwell?

A cat that is easily roused, still interested in food and greets you normally is very likely just resting normally. A cat that seems hard to wake, dull when they do wake, or is sleeping alongside a reduced appetite or reluctance to move needs a vet check.

Can changing my cat's food help if they seem to be sleeping more due to age?

A food formulated for senior cats can suit changing nutritional needs as a cat ages, and is worth discussing with a vet alongside any other age-related changes. It is not a fix for sleepiness caused by an underlying illness, which needs to be identified separately.

Should I wake my cat up if they seem to be sleeping too much?

There is no need to disturb normal, peaceful sleep. Focus on whether they are behaving normally when awake — eating, using the litter tray, interested in you — rather than trying to reduce how much they sleep.

Why is my cat sleeping so much?

Most cats sleep 12 to 16 hours a day, more as kittens or seniors, so sleeping a lot is usually completely normal. It is a change in that pattern, not the total hours, that is actually worth watching for and mentioning to a vet.

Usually not urgent

This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.

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What normal cat sleep actually looks like

Cats are naturally built to sleep far more than people do, typically somewhere between 12 and 16 hours a day, with kittens and older cats often sleeping even more than that. This is normal feline biology rather than a sign of anything wrong, and it surprises a lot of new cat owners who expect a pet to be awake and active for most of the day the way a dog often is.

Weather, shorter daylight hours in winter, and simply having a quiet, comfortable home to settle in can all increase how much a cat sleeps, without any of it meaning anything is wrong. A cat curled up asleep for most of the day, who is still eating, using the litter tray normally and interested in you when awake, is very likely just being a cat.

Why older cats sleep even more

Senior cats naturally sleep more than younger adults, partly because they are simply less active day to day, and partly because joint stiffness or mild discomfort can make a comfortable, warm resting spot more appealing than moving around. This is a normal part of ageing rather than something to be alarmed by on its own.

A soft, supportive bed placed somewhere warm becomes more valuable to an older cat for exactly this reason, and a cat who has started avoiding jumping up to a previously favourite spot may simply need an easier, lower option nearby rather than being unwell.

What actually counts as a change worth noticing

The genuinely useful signal is not the total number of hours but a real change from your own cat's normal pattern — sleeping in unusual or hidden places rather than their usual spots, reluctance to move or jump, a reduced interest in food, or seeming hard to rouse rather than simply settled and relaxed. A cat who is difficult to wake, or who seems dull and unresponsive rather than peacefully asleep, is showing something different to normal sleep.

It is also worth knowing that some illnesses in cats, like an overactive thyroid, cause the opposite pattern — restlessness and increased activity rather than more sleep — so "more sleep" being the main change you have noticed is not itself a specific diagnosis pointing one particular way.

When to get it checked

See a vet if increased sleepiness comes with a reduced appetite, weight loss or gain, reluctance to move or jump, hiding more than usual, or any change in litter tray habits. On its own, a cat simply sleeping a lot in their usual spots, still eating and greeting you normally, is rarely a reason for concern.

A sudden, marked change — a normally active cat becoming noticeably withdrawn and sleepy within a short space of time — is worth acting on sooner rather than waiting to see if it is a phase, particularly in an older cat.

Making rest more comfortable, if that is all it is

A supportive bed in a warm, quiet spot suits most cats, and older cats in particular benefit from something soft that eases pressure on joints rather than a thin mat on a hard floor. Placing a bed somewhere easily accessible, without needing to jump, matters more as a cat gets older and less inclined to leap up to a high windowsill.

For an older cat whose appetite has naturally reduced alongside more resting, a food formulated for senior cats can be worth discussing with a vet, since nutritional needs do shift somewhat with age even when nothing is actively wrong.

What can help

Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.

Fast UK delivery

Raised Pet Sofa Bed with Wooden Legs

A raised pet sofa on wooden legs with a plush, waterproof cover, keeping cats and smaller dogs off cold hard floors and making an accident a wipe rather than a wash.

From£64.99

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Wooden Cat House Scratcher with Feeder & Water Set

A two-in-one wooden cat house and scratcher lounger with a detachable top, paired with a gravity feeder (approx 1600ml) and water dispenser (approx 800ml). Gives cats a spot to rest, scratch and play alongside automatic food and water.

From£89.99

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Burgess Mature Cat with Turkey & Cranberry

Complete turkey and cranberry dry food for mature cats in a 1.4KG bag

£8.85

Burgess Mature Cat Turkey & Cranberry

Complete turkey and cranberry dry food for mature cats in a 4KG bag

£22.89

Common questions

How many hours a day is normal for a cat to sleep?: Most adult cats sleep somewhere between 12 and 16 hours a day, with kittens and senior cats often sleeping even more. This is entirely normal feline behaviour rather than a sign of illness on its own.
Is it normal for an older cat to sleep more than a younger one?: Yes, senior cats typically become less active and sleep more, partly due to lower energy needs and partly because joint stiffness can make resting more appealing than moving around. It becomes a concern only alongside other changes like reduced appetite or reluctance to move.
How can I tell if my cat is just asleep or actually unwell?: A cat that is easily roused, still interested in food and greets you normally is very likely just resting normally. A cat that seems hard to wake, dull when they do wake, or is sleeping alongside a reduced appetite or reluctance to move needs a vet check.
Can changing my cat's food help if they seem to be sleeping more due to age?: A food formulated for senior cats can suit changing nutritional needs as a cat ages, and is worth discussing with a vet alongside any other age-related changes. It is not a fix for sleepiness caused by an underlying illness, which needs to be identified separately.
Should I wake my cat up if they seem to be sleeping too much?: There is no need to disturb normal, peaceful sleep. Focus on whether they are behaving normally when awake — eating, using the litter tray, interested in you — rather than trying to reduce how much they sleep.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.