If you’ve ever observed your cat twitch, meow, or move their paws while sleeping, you’ve probably wondered if they’re dreaming. Yes, it is true. Cats do have dreams.
If you ever wondered what cats dream about. If so, you are not the only one. Even some experts have been wondering about what cats dream about. Their hypothesis is food, climbing, or playing. They move in their sleep because they are experiencing what they are dreaming that is so real for them.
What Do Cats Dream About?
There are at least three things your cat could be dreaming of, memories or basic needs, or even fantasies.
Memories
Cats can revisit and suffer nightmares about earlier memories.
Your adult cat will have dreams about something that happened years ago, and most cats have excellent long-term memory.
Basic Needs
Indoor cats are entirely dependent on their pet owners’ care.
Even the most indulged and well-cared-for pet will find something new to crave, whether it’s another tasty food or the chance to scratch your new furniture with its nails.
Fantasies
Many animals are intelligent, and some of them can even show creativity.
Felines, contrary to popular belief, are extremely well-organized. When you go to the post office late at night, it’s simple to compare your cat’s brain to a post office that is temporarily shut for guests.
On the other hand, staff members quickly sort mail in the rear to ensure that we give it to him/her on time. The same thing occurs to your kitten companion when it dreams.
While humans have isolated imaginations, our dogs, on the other hand, pull the entire day together to view the larger picture.
Why Do They Move In Their Sleep?
Some scientists believe that while cats are in REM sleep, they move their heads as though they are following or observing something.
They can move their paws, trying to emulate what they are doing in their sleep. It’s probable that when our pets are sleeping, they’re daydreaming about their favorite pastime: hunting.
When Cats Are Twitching In Their Sleep, What Is That For?
If your amusing little cat frequently twitches while sleeping, you may be afraid that the problem is severe. However, many cats twitch while sleeping. They may produce vocal or sucking sounds, wiggle their ears, or knead the air. There are several theories about why cats do this.
Some folks think they’re uncontrollable muscle spasms. However, most scientists believe that cats twitch during sleeping in the rapid eye movement (REM) stage.
Younger cats twitch more than older cats, as you may have seen. Humans and cats have similar neurological systems in their youth.
Their neurological systems are constantly activating and forming neuron connections, which is why newborns move their limbs so much as kittens are so active. Their twitching during sleep aids in their neurological development.
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Twitching when sleeping is a natural and typical characteristic of most cats. If your cat is also lethargic, has a decreased appetite, vomits, their body stiffens or has jerky motions when they twitch, or they are difficult to wake up, you should consult a veterinarian.
These signs and symptoms could be signs of a more severe condition.
Your cat’s whole body stiffness and jerky movements could indicate that he’s having a seizure rather than merely twitching. Seizures don’t just happen when you’re sleeping, so you’ll probably notice them while your cat is up as well.
If your cat is having seizures, you may see that they act strangely while awake, such as having shaky feet or appearing disoriented.
What Do Cats Have Nightmares About?
Cats, it’s possible, sleep more than other pets. They don’t imagine themselves at final exams, realizing they haven’t attended a single math class all semester. Politics, global warming, or the Coronavirus are also absent from their dreams.
Their nightmares are most often reenacting bad events in their lives, such as the stress that comes with being in a shelter, time spent on the streets, or abuse they’ve experienced.
Cats that haven’t had those encounters may develop separation anxiety dreams.
They may also have nightmares about tripping when leaping from one thing to another. It can be about a terrifying encounter with another animal on the other side of the window.
Cats may sleep more than other animals. Adults sleep about 16 hours per day, whereas kittens sleep 20 hours per day on average. They have a lot of room to fantasize as a result of this.
If you dream, you’re more likely to suffer nightmares. Have you ever awoken from a nightmare that seemed all too real? Cats are likely to go through the same thing. “Animals’ dreams, like ours, aren’t always cheerful or realistic.
“Nightmares are thought to be a means for our thoughts to figure out the best course of action if a dream occurs during waking hours.”
Should I Wake My Cat Up From A Dream?
It all depends. You may gently wake it up without causing any long-term bodily, mental, or psychological harm if you approach it softly. It will most likely yawn, stretch, gaze at you accusingly, and then go back to sleep. It’s completely safe and harmless.
All bets are off if you startle a cat awake. They’re deadly killing machines with razor-sharp fangs and claws. Depending on how you wake it, it may go into survival mode, with just one idea in mind: it will survive the next ten seconds, with no promises for anything or anybody else. This is not a good idea in general.
If you’re trying to avoid performing chores, you’ll be relieved to learn that cats can sleep for 20 hours in one day, and a well-trained cat will happily do so on your lap. In this scenario, waking a sleeping cat is highly discouraged.
Cats that don’t get enough of these stages of sleep might become cranky or sluggish. If your cat is in the REM period, you should let them sleep so that their body’s immune system gets restored.
Kittens, in particular, require a lot of sleep to develop their bones and muscles, so if at all possible, avoid awakening them.
What Do Scientists Think Cats Dream About?
Scientists can’t be wholly sure whether cats dream in color, but because they can see colors like their human parents, despite that with limited colors, experts suspect cats do indeed dream in more than black and white.
We can’t directly interact with our feline companions; it’s nearly difficult to figure out what a cat’s dream is about. Some experts state that cats, like humans, will likely dream about events from the recent or distant past. “Perhaps they are pursuing a bird or a mouse. Being petted is one possibility.
Conclusion
Since they are very sleepy, cats tend to experience all kinds of things during their relaxation hours. They can dream as we do, too, and they can also have nightmares, although there is no scientific proof.
Although if they wake up abruptly, it may be due to an external factor, such as a cat wandering nearby.
Remember that a cat’s twitches are usually harmless. Even watching a cat twitch can be amusing if the case just sits back and relaxes and leaves them to have this precious moment. Sleep tight!
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Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
