Kittens not sleeping enough?

jp12

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We have two kittens. Sisters who are almost 12 weeks old. I worry they aren't sleeping enough! I heard they should sleep between 16 and 20 hours a day, but they seem to sleep less. We have a consistent feeding schedule and I believe they are use to us now. We have had one for six weeks, the other for four. How much is too little sleep?
 

tabbytom

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jp12,

They are only 12 weeks old and they have endless energy. They'll play lots while awake and also will sleep often after play. Are they being fed enough? Kittens need more proteins and not carbohydrates while growing up and they eat often too.
Cats sleep more as they gets older and more if they are spayed or neutered. Are yours indoors only cats or indoors and outdoors? Which ever it is, get them spayed or neutered when they are at the right age of around 6 months old. This will help them tremendously in their health.

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jp12

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Both will get spayed :-)

They are indoor cats and they eat tons! They get fed at the same time everyday. Wet food at 6:45am then dry food available from 8:30 to 3pm while I'm at work. Wet foodvwhen I get home and again around 6 and 10:30 right before bed. They currently weigh roughly 2-2.5 lbs.

I am more worried because they seem to play constantly or want to cuddle (which I'm happy to do). From the time I get home until bed, they only nap for a few hours. They play for most of the night too (or so it seems). Is sleeping 16 hours a day a myth???
 

tabbytom

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Yes, they eat tons. Feed ad much as they want. Make sure they have fresh water every day.
They have been napping while you are at work.

Kittens play a lot, so please spend time playing and bonding with them. Get toys, balls, wands and play with them but not with your hands. Spend at least a good 1/2 hour of play session each time. Especially in the night before bed time. Get them pumped out do that they sleep longer through the night.

You can help them form a habit of going to bed when you go to bed. Usually if they are not sleeping with you in the bed, they tend to be awake and play in the night while you are asleep.

My boy sleeps on the bed with me. Each night I play with him till he gets tired and when it's time to sleep, he'll be on his pillow next to me and only the night light is on. He'll wake up at around 4am and ask to be let out of the room and only will come back in around 5am and ask to be fed. He is 10 months old now and was neutered at 6 months old and he sleeps a lot. But he is very active when he is awake running all over the house. He is totally on canned food. Till now, he eats a lot too but he is neither fat nor thin.

Cats are most active at dusk and dawn. Sleeping 16 hours is normal, they don't sleep 16 hours straight but it's accumulative through the 24 hours. Now they are still kittens, young and active. Once spayed, they'll be less active yand sleep more and this is the part they get to put on weight. So have to watch their intake of dry food as dry food is carbo loaded.

So enjoy them while they are still kittens and give them all your love and attention throughout their whole cat's life.
 

LTS3

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My Aby never ever slept as a kitten
He was literally bouncing off the walls 24/7. He did have short periods where he would lie down and close his eyes but he would immediately pop his eyes open the second you even glanced at him. He's 6 years old now and still does not sleep like a normal cat


Your kittens are likely getting enough sleep in between their active times. Adult cats sleep for 16 or more hours.
 
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jp12

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Thank you!
 

elliesvictim

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My 9 month old female often goes through phases of sleeping in different places. Sometimes a box at ground level, sometimes on my bed, sometimes on the couch, sometimes under the bed, sometimes on my legs. Find a couple of new places for the to sleep and see if they take to it.
 
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