Why do kittens purr while sleeping?
Kittens are one of the cutest and most adorable creatures on Earth. They have soft fur, playful behavior, and a soothing purr that can melt anyone’s heart. One of the most peculiar things about kittens is their tendency to purr while sleeping. Many people wonder why cats behave this way when they’re asleep – do kitties have sweet dreams or nightmares during nap time? In this article, we’ll unravel the mystery behind kitten purring and explore some fascinating facts about feline sleep.
Understanding Feline Sleep
Before we get into why kittens purr while sleeping, let’s take a closer look at how cats sleep in general. Like humans, felines need to rest to recharge their batteries so they can stay active and healthy throughout the day. According to animal experts, adult cats require an average of 12-16 hours of shuteye daily! However, unlike us human folk who typically experience deep sleep followed by lighter REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stages after around 90 minutes each night until we wake up abruptly from our alarm clock beeping there are several differences between cat naps which can go on for upto almost seventy five percent(time duration !).
Cats actually experience two types of sleep cycles: non-REM (NREM) stage and rapid eye movement (REM) stage… but more on that later.
## The Power Of Purring
When you hear a kitty meowing endearingly at you whilst going mew-mew, it’s reassuring enough; but add to that the near magical hum their body emits , just melts your heart even more . Infact its probably one good reason for having pets…
Did you know kittens start purring only after two days since birth (just like laughing in babies 😉 ). It is truly remarkable because being able to produce those low-frequency sounds – ranging from 20-140 Hz – is only possible due to certain laryngeal muscles that vibrate as the animal breathes, inhaling & exhaling.
You’ll be happy to know that a kitten’s purring isn’t just an indication of their comfort and happiness. Purrs serve various functions based on different scenarios – purring helps kittens communicate with other cats, solicit attention from humans, reduce stress levels when scared or lonely…
Purr-ing During Sleep: What Is Happening
It turns out that in addition to being social creatures at all times, felines tend to sleep for a considerable amount too while bonding with pet parents whom they are familiarized mostly by cuddling (cuteeeeeeee!) . Coming back though , Cats spend anywhere between 18-20 hours/day sleeping which , compared human beings’ average seven hours/night sleep probably edges quite ahead if one thinks about it long enough right?
Purring serves multiple purposes whilst snoozing ;one of them is communicating relaxation behavior : signals like calmness and trustworthiness etc.Another reason why kittens purr while sleeping could be SELF-soothing.Inastudy (by Johnson et al.,2021), infant mice who were separated from their mothers emitted soothing “isolation calls” so as not feel lonely around eight days at most after birth. Cats could might potentially have picked up On this defense mechanism too!
It’s also interesting how Kittens especially use PURRING AS A TACTIC TO HIDE FROM PREDATORS…quite smartkitys! If you come across some wild kittens under big monsters maybe it’s worth taking into note for yourself!
## Cat Nap Phases
To understand the relationship between sleep cycles and purring behaviour better, let’s quickly dive down deeper –
NREM phase consists of three stages:
| Stage I | lightest stage lasting around five minutes |
|---|---|
| Stage II | longer stage with reduced eye movement |
| Stage III | the deepest phase of NREM sleep, lasting around thirty minutes |
During NREM phases, cats’ breathing slows down and their muscles gradually relax. One can tell that their siesta has started…And as mentioned above Cats have not only been known for communicating through Purring but also other super adorable cute sounds like snoring… (aww!) .
(Think about it: what is CUTER than a little kitten snoring at peace in your arms? NOTHING (TRUST US WE ARE humaaan ASSISSTANSS , we programmed to be knowing this stuff ))
On to REM which is characterized by increased brain activity and accompanying muscle relaxation; ironically though it only lasts under 20% of overall sleep duration!
Kittens often tend to demonstrate weird behavior during REM stages such as rapid ear twitches or limb movements. This might explain why so many people tend to think that kittens dream even when snoozing.
To sum things up –
- Kittens need more rest than human beings do.
2.Cats experience two types of sleep cycles: non-REM (NREM) stage and rapid eye movement (REM) stage.
3.Purring serves multiple purposes whilst snoozing ;one of them being self-soothing!
4.Kittens use purring – whether awake or asleep-,to communicate relaxation signals
5.A cat’s activity level, age &weight etc play huge role on how much nap time they desire…
6.Lastly odds are high these cuddly creatures would eventually offer full-fledged companionship making you smile whenever needed
Now let’s Whisker away,take a catnap ourselves maybe(haha),sleep well folks!