Deep Sleep in Cats

Question
Hi Ali,

Please can you tell me if it normal for cats to go into a really deep sleep? My cat keeps freaking me out by sleeping so deeply she does not respond to anything. I can even move her and still she does not wake. Is this normal or is something wrong?

Gaynor


Answer
Gaynor,

It is important to realize that like people cats are all individuals. Not every cat will do everything quite the same way....If your kitty has routine vet care at least once a year and is not showing any other signs that are concerning it is possible that she is just a deep sleeper...If there have been changes in her level of responsiveness it is a good idea to run them by your vet. Your vet can draw blood work and make sure that there isn't anything more serious going on in terms of organ function. Age can certainly be a contributing factor in situations where a cat is harder to wake, senior cats slow down much the same way that senior people do. If you instinctively feel that there is something wrong with your cat follow your instincts, you are the person that knows your cat best....If your cat has started being harder to wake recently and your vet has recently given boosters of her vaccines it would be a good idea to report the change to your vet because it could indicate that your kitty is having a reaction to a vaccine. If your cat is an outdoor cat you have to be willing to consider that injuries inflicted by cars, people and larger animals could be playing a part in this situation...It is a good idea to make sure that you have kept household chemicals and medications out of reach because many of these substances are toxic to cats. I would recommend that you try to use natural based cleaning products when cleaning places that your cat has regular contact with (floor, carpeting, etc) to avoid potential health issues later....And as I have mentioned previously, if you feel that there is something wrong (if you can't put your finger on it my vet calls it ADR or ain't doing right) be sure to have your vet check your little one over to make sure that there isn't anything immediately concerning in terms of her health....I hope that this information helps. If you have any further questions or concerns, or you would simply like to send some pictures or an update my way, please don't hesitate to contact me again.