Most people associate cats with sleep, but do not give these purring creatures credit for their soft, closed eyes while sleeping. On average, domestic housecats spend around one third of each night asleep with their eyes open!
Many believe that this habit helps keep predators away by creating more light exposure or because it is just too difficult to close those bright cat eyes. This article will explore why your cat may be choosing to stay awake when he/she sleeps and what you can do to help him/her get some better quality shut-eye.
Why does my cat wake up during the night?
Sleep is a very natural state for animals. For example, dogs need about eight hours of sleep every day, which makes sense since they are mostly lean muscles that use energy heavily.
Cats are no different! They also need an adequate amount of rest in order to function properly both physically and mentally. When they are tired, your cat may become less attentive towards other things (like toys or food) and possibly even aggressive towards other animals or humans.
It is important for your cat to receive enough sleep so that his body can restore and recycle itself between nights. A healthy weight will probably indicate how much sleep your cat needs at any given time.
What are the most common reasons that your cat wakes up during the night?
Interrupting naps is the number one reason that your cat gets out of bed.
Some cats sleep with their eyes open
Although this is not common, some breeds of cat do growl and howl at night or have other types of sleeping patterns that include keeping their eyelids slightly up. These are known as “sleepy” or “grouchy” cats!
Many people consider it to be a habit they will never get rid of when they find their dog doing it, so why should your cat?
It can sometimes indicate health problems such as eye disease in certain breeds like Persian or Siamese. It can also show stress or anxiety. If you notice this pattern in your cat, take them to the doctor for check-ups.
Also make sure their food is okay before trying to help them fall asleep. Sometimes dogs who are hungry may wake up more frequently during the night, which could contribute to the sleepy cat.
Some cats sleep with their eyes closed
Most dogs wake up each night by opening their eyes and looking around, to check for any signs of danger or need. If they find that need addressed, then they will close their eye and go back to sleep.
Some cats do not follow this rule. A few sleeping cats will drop one eyelid as if to say “good morning”, but soon after they shut both eyes. They may even get right out of bed and begin exploring away from the wall where they were previously laying down before falling asleep!
This can be very frustrating for owners who want to help their cat feel more secure in the room she is staying in. It also makes it hard to put her back into her crate or other safe place when you have to leave home early in the morning.
Why does this happen? Scientists still seem to disagree on the exact reason, but here are some theories.
Your cat may or may not be sleeping with their eyes open
Sometimes, your cat will close his/her eye at night while he is asleep. This is called “eye-closing” or “sleepy closing of an eye.”
This can sometimes look very funny to watch because it looks like your cat has a lot in his head so that he cannot fall sleep!
If this happens frequently, then perhaps you should talk to your doctor about whether there are any underlying health conditions causing your dog to have trouble falling asleep.
However, for most cats this does not seem related to anything other than personal preference.
There are many reasons your cat may sleep with their eyes open
Certain behaviors like yawning, scratching, or looking around frequently can cause her to close her eye lids when sleeping.
Many cats spend time grooming themselves while resting which can also contribute to closed eyelid sleep. Some individuals believe that this is a comforting behavior for their pet, but it can be frustrating for those who want their dog or cat to sleep more deeply.
Some owners of awake-sleepy cats find it easier to put up with the sleep surface than make changes that could possibly hurt their relationship. This includes giving them lower quality foods or finding other ways to soothe them.
Some cats like to watch their surroundings
Many people associate sleep with closed eyes, but this is not true for all animals. In fact, some animals need their eyelids open to enjoy sleeping.
Some cats like to watch their surroundings while they sleep. This is one of the reasons why your cat may look sleepy and have droopy eyes when she is awake.
She can also get up very quickly if something wakes her up or scares her during sleep.
This article will discuss what happens to most dogs’ bodies as they go into natural sleep mode and what makes different species sleep differently.
Some cats like to play with their paws
Many people assume that all cats sleep with their eyes closed, but this is not always the case! Certain breeds of cat are known for sleeping with one eye opened or even both eyes open. This can be confusing because it looks like they are awake and aware of their surroundings, so how do they fall asleep?
It has been documented that some types of thick fur prevent the animal from feeling cold while they sleep. By having one side of their body exposed, their own heat keeps them warm enough until they wake up. This also helps explain why many breeders choose to coat certain animals in a fluffy, wool-like material.
However, this does not answer what happens when there is a change in temperature. For example, if your kitty was sitting outside during winter time, then when spring comes around she will need to adjust and learn how to regulate her body temperature again.
Some cats like to groom themselves
While some cats love to spend time grooming themselves, others prefer to do so while keeping their eyes closed. This is called “eye-closure grooming” or ocular ritualizing.
Many breedists refer to this as “sleepy” grooming because it seems that these specific breeds enjoy doing it when they are asleep.
This can be done at any stage of sleep for your cat. The only difference is how you determine if she/he is awake or not!
Some owners claim that their cat sleeps with its mouth open, which would suggest that he/she is still awake. However, most cats have a relatively closed jaw which makes them look more asleep than awake. Therefore, we must evaluate other signs such as body position, snoring, etc. to confirm whether or not your cat is sleeping.
If you notice that your cat has his/her eyes tightly shut during a short period of time, then it may just be an ocular ritualization behavior.
Some cats like to do things in their dreams
Many people believe that your cat is awake and sleeping at all times, but this isn’t true. When they are asleep, their eyes may be closed, or they could be dreaming and have their eyes open.
Some individuals say that when their cat seems less interested in sleep and more active during these times, it indicates that he/she must be feeling sick or injured and so they wake them up to make sure they are okay. This doesn’t seem like the best way to check if your pet is healthy!
If you notice that your cat has trouble falling asleep and sleeps very little, perhaps due to health issues, it would be better to talk to him about his symptoms than to assume he is not sleeping well.
