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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Health
Sarah Sloat

My pet sleeps all day and all night. Is that normal?

Painting of black and white cat curled up on upholstered blue and white chair.
‘Some estimates suggest cats sleep an average of 12 to 16 hours a day, meaning they spend about 60% of their lifetime napping.’ Photograph: Sei Koyanagui

The pets I’ve known all had their quirks – including when it came to sleep. Patches the cat would sleep on my head. Sammy the dog would rest on the couch, only to wake herself with a fart. And Macaroni likes to sleep upside down, his corgi legs aimed at the ceiling.

But what they have all had in common was this passion for napping – seemingly, all the time. This is to be expected: pet dogs and cats typically cycle through daily periods of sleep and rest, explains veterinary behaviorist and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr Carlo Siracusa. Some pets might spend 40% to 80% of their time resting, he says, especially dogs.

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