Two Very Different Kinds of Fluff Found the Same Box of Hay at the Same Time
Golden hay fills a shallow wooden box by the window, and two very different kinds of fluff have found it at the same time. A long-haired brown tabby Norwegian Forest Cat lies across most of it, eyes squeezed shut, ear tufts poking up, and one striped paw resting in the straw. Three tiny chicks have pressed themselves into the corner beside his face, so close their down blends into his whiskers. All four are asleep. Behind them, a chunky knit blanket, a woven basket, and a small potted plant soften the sunlit room.
If it seems like cats spend most of their lives asleep, that is not far off. Adult cats commonly sleep somewhere in the range of twelve to sixteen hours a day, and kittens and older cats often sleep even more. Cats are naturally most active around dawn and dusk, which explains the early morning zoomies many owners know well. Much of their rest is light dozing, with ears still swiveling toward sounds, broken up by shorter periods of deeper sleep. A sudden change in sleep habits, such as hiding more, sleeping far more than usual, or seeming restless at night, can be worth mentioning to your vet.
For this big, shaggy cat and his tiny companions, though, this is just a perfectly ordinary nap. The hay is warm, the window is bright, and there is nothing at all on the schedule.
