Though pups will tend to sleep in longer stretches, Werber says cats will go through multiple times a day where they will be asleep in shorter spurts. "These cat naps average an hour and a quarter in length ranging anywhere from 15 to 100 minutes," he explains. Though humans have a circadian rhythm where we sleep at night and stay awake during the day, dogs often match this pattern; cats are the opposite.
Werber says kitties are crepuscular, meaning they have two peaks of activity: One in the early morning before sunrise and one in the evening before sunset, which means they're often up at night. "This is due to their predatory nature—cats would do a lot of hunting in the day and night, and early morning and early evening is when they had a chance to sleep," he adds.
Felines will also catch more Zzz's for the same reason, but also, historically, the cold season meant less hunting, so they start to conserve their energy a little bit, he notes.
Do Cats Get Cold? How to Keep Your Cat Warm This Winter Can Dogs and Cats Get Seasonal Depression or Cabin Fever?
In short, definitely. Animals can grow restless when they're inside more often than other months. After all, during the summer, you may leave the backdoor open for them to explore your fenced-in yard freely. Or the warmer temperatures make it more comfortable for them to do zoomies indoors. Less time chasing balls (or let's be real: squirrels) and going on adventures can make them feel some sort of seasonal depression.
However, what's more important than taking stock of the time of year is keeping a pulse on routine transformations. Keep in mind, sometimes, your pet just feels less energized, and that's okay. "Even though dogs might sleep half of their life, the remaining 50 percent of the day isn't all active. Dogs typically chill 20 to 30 percent of the day when they're awake," Werber says.
The issue comes when dogs can't be motivated to move at all, that's a signal that there may be a problem. As Werber says, when you note that those patterns have changed, it might warrant a thorough exam by your vet.
Generally speaking, dogs' daily schedule will be getting up in the morning and later taking a nap of three to four hours. If you note a consistent increase to five to six hours for the nap, he recommends consulting your dog's veterinarian. "Irregular sleep patterns may be signs of diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or heart disease in which they are not pumping enough oxygen supply to the brain," he continues. "Arthritis could also increase sleep as it makes it painful for pets to move."
For cats, hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid doesn't create and release enough thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, may cause lethargy and increased sleep, Werber warns. Hyperthyroidism is very common in older cats, and they might become excessively excitable. You may notice them eating more but still losing weight.
How to Make Sure Your Dog or Cat Isn't Sleeping Too Much
It's important to remember that as a pet parent, you know your pet the best, so if you notice that their normal activity is being replaced by more sleep, or that they seem less energetic than average, it may be a sign that something is wrong, says Michelle Lugones, DVM, a veterinarian for Best Friends Animal Society. However, this does come with an important caveat: consider the context of the situation.
"If a pet is on a medication that can cause drowsiness, you may see them sleeping more. If your pet has been through a stressful experience such as just returning home from being hospitalized for an illness, your pet likely needs time to recover and gain their strength," she continues. Or, on a less serious note, if your pet had an extensive play or exercise session, they might sleep a little longer than usual after that.
With dogs and cats, restless and decreased sleep can happen when they aren't getting enough stimulation. If you're indulging in Netflix binges rather than taking yourself for a walk (and thus, bringing your dog for the journey), they aren't receiving as much attention as they do when the weather is warmer.
With cats particularly, Werber says they could keep you up at night because you didn't take time to play with them during the day. As much as you can, try to reserve a solid 20 to 30 minutes of active play with your pets indoors during the coldest months of the year. This will help to warm up their muscles and keep them moving.
Vitamin D can also be important. And while vets say a supplement isn't necessary, bundling up to brace the temperatures when the sunshine is out could be helpful to you and your pet. Getting your kitty to lay in the window may take some convincing, but some carefully placed treats can help tremendously.