You may have questions about kittens’ growth and development if you have new kittens in your family. One of these might be, “how much do 5-week-old kittens sleep?” This question, as well as many others regarding the sleeping habits of 5-week-old kittens, will be addressed in this article. Continue reading to find out more!
Learning about a kitten’s sleeping arrangements and schedules is an excellent way to help them adjust to their new life and home. Kittens have a reputation for being energetic and playful. This is true for kittens when they get older, but it is not always the case for kittens who have just arrived in the world.
Kittens, like human babies, will spend more time asleep than awake. Cats, in general, are known to prefer sleeping to other pets, thus the term “catnap.” Kittens, on the other hand, sleep even more than adult cats. Kittens are capable of sleeping for up to 20 hours per day! So, don’t be alarmed if you notice your kitten sleeping throughout the day.
Remember, the younger a kitten is, the more sleep they’ll need to grow into healthy cats. Kittens will begin to sleep less as they mature beyond the newborn stage. Even at six months of age, kittens can spend up to 16 hours per day in dreamland.
While most kittens sleep for most of the day, some kittens tend to wake up during the dawn and dusk hours – when cats are most active. Kittens are prone to being awake during the first few nights as they adjust to their new surroundings. However, you must monitor your kitten’s sleeping habits because you do not want them to be awake for too long.
Along with sleep schedule, you should also regularly monitor your kittens weight.
How much does a newborn kitten sleep?
A kitten will sleep for approximately 22 hours from birth to two weeks of age. They use the time they are awake to nurse from their mothers. They will develop their senses and become more active between three weeks and two months.
How Much Do 5 Week Old Kittens Sleep?
5 week old kittens will sleep for approximately 16 to 18 hours per day. Most of their sleep will be light, and they might twitch or wake up easily.
Why do kittens sleep so much?
Though it sounds strange, your kitten’s excessive sleeping aids in their development. The amount of sleep they get affects their central nervous systems and brain development. Sleeping also helps strengthen your kitten’s muscles and bones, as well as keep its immune system in top shape. Without sleep, your kitten is more likely to contract infections and illnesses, which I’m sure you don’t want.
How to help a kitten sleep more?
If you believe your kitten is not getting enough sleep, there are some strategies you can use to help improve their sleeping habits. However, before you go through these strategies, you should have your kittens checked out by a vet to ensure that their lack of sleep is not caused by anything physically wrong with their health. The following are some strategies for improving your kittens’ sleeping habits:
- Make sure they have a comfortable place to sleep. If it helps your cat sleep through the night, a cat bed is well worth the money. There are various cat beds available, and it can be difficult to find the perfect one, but you’ll notice that when your kitten is on a cozy and warm cat bed, they will naturally gravitate to it and sleep off to dreamland.
- Feed at a later time. Like many other animals, Kittens will become sleepy after a large meal. They may be awake at night because they’re hungry. By feeding your kittens later in the evening, you eliminate the need for them to be awake during the night.
- Keep your kitten away from dogs or other pets you might have. The presence of other pets (besides the kittens mother and siblings) can cause a lot of anxiety for a kitten and prevent them from sleeping. It is completely normal if you notice your kittens sleeping on top of each other.
- Play with them to exhaust them. This works exceptionally well with kittens. Playing with kittens is the best way to tire them out, which will result in them sleeping more. It is worth-noting, however, that you should not overplay with them as this may cause them to become stressed, agitated, or overstimulated. For kittens who are still growing, four to six 10-minute play sessions per day is ideal.
Medical conditions that cause your kitten not to sleep
When your kittens awaken from a nap, you must observe their behavior. If your kitten still appears to be lacking in energy, or if it sleeps more than 20 hours per day, this could be an indication of a medical problem, such as Anemia.
Anemia is a condition in which a kitten’s red blood cells are insufficient. It is extremely dangerous for kittens, and if you suspect your kitten has it, you should immediately have it checked by a veterinarian. At the same time, your kitten sleeping too little can be a source of concern. Kittens who have difficulty sleeping may suffer from rare cases of seizures and sleep disorders. These usually have other symptoms such as causing your kitten to breath fast while sleeping.
This will prevent your kitten from growing and developing typically, so have it checked immediately.
Conclusion
Kittens are lovely creatures that require a lot of time in dreamland to develop into healthy and wonderful feline companions. Hopefully, this article answered the question “how much do 5-week-old kittens sleep?” as well as other questions related to kitten sleeping habits. Good luck on your journey!