How many hours a day should a kitten sleep?

Very young kittens can sleep 18 to 20 hours a day or more, gradually decreasing towards the 12 to 16 hours typical of an adult cat as they grow over the following months.

Should I wake my kitten up to eat?

Very young kittens need frequent feeding and may need waking for meals if advised by a vet, particularly in the first few weeks of life, but an older, weaned kitten sleeping normally between meals doesn't usually need waking.

Is it normal for my kitten to sleep more after playing hard?

Yes, very much so — kittens typically play in short, intense bursts and then sleep deeply to recover, which is a completely normal and healthy pattern rather than a sign of a problem.

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

A sleeping kitten wakes readily and responds normally when roused — stretching, showing interest in food or play. A kitten who is very difficult to wake, unresponsive, or limp when handled needs urgent veterinary attention rather than being left to sleep.

Could my kitten's excessive sleepiness be low blood sugar?

It's a genuine possibility in very young or small kittens, especially if they've gone a while without eating, and can look like extreme lethargy rather than normal sleep. This needs urgent veterinary attention rather than waiting to see if it passes.

Why is my kitten sleeping so much?

It's normal for kittens to sleep a great deal — commonly 16 to 20 hours a day, with very young kittens at the higher end of that range. Growth and development take a lot of energy, and sleep is a big part of how kittens support both, so heavy sleeping on its own is rarely something to worry about.

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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Why kittens sleep so much

A kitten's brain and body are developing rapidly in the first weeks and months, and much of that development happens during sleep, which is why they need so much more of it than an adult cat. Play sessions tend to be short and intense, followed by a kitten dropping into a deep sleep almost immediately afterwards — that pattern of short bursts of activity and long recovery sleep is completely typical.

As kittens get a little older, moving from very young to a few months old, total sleep time gradually decreases and settles closer to the roughly 12 to 16 hours a day typical of an adult cat, though the exact amount varies between individuals.

What normal kitten sleep looks like

A kitten who sleeps a lot but wakes readily, eats and drinks normally when awake, plays with enthusiasm even if briefly, and has normal energy during those active periods is showing the typical pattern. Waking a sleeping kitten should result in a fairly quick, alert response — a stretch, a look around, interest in food or play — rather than a slow, groggy or unresponsive one.

Kittens also sleep in odd places and positions that can look uncomfortable to us but are entirely normal for them, and interrupted sleep — a kitten waking, playing briefly, then sleeping again — throughout the day and night is typical rather than a sign of a disrupted sleep problem.

The signs that mean it's not just normal tiredness

Get a vet to check your kitten if the sleepiness comes with reduced interest in food, a kitten who is difficult to rouse or seems unusually unresponsive rather than simply asleep, pale or very pale gums, vomiting or diarrhoea, or any weight loss or failure to gain weight as expected for their age. Very young kittens are particularly vulnerable to low blood sugar, which can look like extreme lethargy rather than normal sleep, and needs urgent attention.

A kitten who has gone from their normal playful self to noticeably more withdrawn and sleepy over a short period, without an obvious explanation like a recent vaccination or a busy day, is also worth having checked rather than assuming it will pass on its own.

What helps day to day

Make sure your kitten has a warm, quiet, comfortable place to sleep undisturbed, since kittens do genuinely need those long stretches of rest and constant disturbance isn't good for them. Keep feeding little and often as advised for their age, since young kittens can become unwell quickly if they go too long without eating.

If you're ever unsure whether your kitten's sleep pattern is normal for their age, a quick call to your vet practice for reassurance is always a reasonable thing to do, particularly for a very young or newly homed kitten you're still getting to know.

Settling a newly homed kitten

A kitten who has just moved to a new home often sleeps even more heavily than usual for the first few days, which is a normal response to the tiredness of a big change combined with a still-developing need for rest. Give them a quiet, enclosed space of their own to retreat to rather than a wide-open room, since feeling secure tends to help a nervous or overwhelmed kitten settle into a normal rhythm faster.

Try not to compare a newly homed kitten's sleep pattern too closely to one who has been settled in the same home for months — some initial extra sleepiness during the adjustment period is expected, and it should ease within the first week or two as they become confident in their new surroundings.

What can help

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

Window-Mounted Sisal Cat Scratching Post

A suction-mounted pair of sisal columns that gives a cat a proper vertical scratch and stretch on a window or smooth wall, with no drilling and no floor space used.

From£52.99

Wall-Mounted Jute Cat Climbing Step

A wall-mounted cat climbing step wrapped in natural jute rope, giving grip underfoot and a scratching surface at height while leaving your floor space entirely free.

From£23.99

Window Suction Cat Hammock Bed

A space-saving window perch that fixes to the glass with strong suction cups, giving your cat a sunny spot to nap. The reversible plush checked cover is removable and machine washable, over a breathable mesh base.

From£24.99

Natural Sisal Rope for Cat Scratchers

A coil of strong natural sisal rope for re-wrapping cat scratching posts and DIY scratcher repairs.

From£11.99

Common questions

How many hours a day should a kitten sleep?: Very young kittens can sleep 18 to 20 hours a day or more, gradually decreasing towards the 12 to 16 hours typical of an adult cat as they grow over the following months.
Should I wake my kitten up to eat?: Very young kittens need frequent feeding and may need waking for meals if advised by a vet, particularly in the first few weeks of life, but an older, weaned kitten sleeping normally between meals doesn't usually need waking.
Is it normal for my kitten to sleep more after playing hard?: Yes, very much so — kittens typically play in short, intense bursts and then sleep deeply to recover, which is a completely normal and healthy pattern rather than a sign of a problem.
How can I tell if my kitten is just asleep or actually unwell?: A sleeping kitten wakes readily and responds normally when roused — stretching, showing interest in food or play. A kitten who is very difficult to wake, unresponsive, or limp when handled needs urgent veterinary attention rather than being left to sleep.
Could my kitten's excessive sleepiness be low blood sugar?: It's a genuine possibility in very young or small kittens, especially if they've gone a while without eating, and can look like extreme lethargy rather than normal sleep. This needs urgent veterinary attention rather than waiting to see if it passes.

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.