As you already know, cats spend a lot of their time sleeping (about fifty hours a day or 24 hours if they are really tired) and this behavior is good for their health, but do they dream just like humans? Well, according to animal experts, cats can dream. 

“Research has shown that all mammals dream. During sleep, the mammalian brain needs to organize and arrange images from the day,” 

Dr. Katy Nelson, a senior veterinarian at Chewy, tells Reader’s Digest. “Scientists have concluded through studying rats’ brains that the level of brain activity while doing puzzles or navigating mazes is similar to the activity level measured during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep – the deepest level of sleep–proving that they do dream.”

Read on for more info!

Why do cats sleep?

Sleep is one of the most important things in a person’s life, because, without sleep, human beings could not survive. But according to scientists, sleep is important for animals as well. Humans and animals need to get adequate and quality sleep for a better life and to improve their quality of life and well-being. Of course, every animal sleeps in one way or another – this is a natural phenomenon. 

“Understanding the process of sleep helps to explain dreaming. Sleep is a state of reduced consciousness characterized by reduced sensory and voluntary muscular activity,” says Dr. Nelson. “Sleep aids growth and the repair of body systems. During sleep, the brain seems to process information learned during the day, as well.”

Do cats dream just like humans?

Have you ever wondered if your cat can dream just like you? Or what does your cat think when they are sleeping? How does this process work anyway? Well, the answer is yes, the process is similar to humans. 

“During non-REM sleep, the brain takes images seen throughout the day and rearranges them in dreams to better process and understand what was seen. A similar scenario is how film editors take different video clips and arrange them to create a storyline,” Dr. Nelson explains. 

“When humans and pets actually ‘watch’ the edited footage is during REM sleep when the body’s serotonin system slows down. Serotonin’s primary job is to control large muscle groups, which is why we ‘go limp’ during REM sleep but can still have eyelids fluttering, feet moving, facial twitching, etc., because those are considered fine motor movements,” Dr. Nelson added.

The difference between REM sleep and non-REM sleep

“As discussed above, there are two types of sleep: REM and non-REM,” says Dr. Nelson. The difference between REM sleep and non-REM sleep is that “during REM, the sleeper’s eyes move rapidly and the brain’s activity is similar to an awake state. This is when dreaming occurs. Young animals spend more time in REM than older animals possibly due to the large amount of new information that they encounter each day and the need to process it all.” This is how dreams are formed and developed and your cats can enjoy these experiences just like you.

What do cats dream about?

You are not the only one who has dreams about his or her own life experiences, because it seems that your cat can do the same. It sounds crazy, right? But this is actually true. 

“Well, since we’re unable to ask them what they dream about, we have to deduce that, similar to us, they dream about their day,” says Dr. Nelson.

For instance, “if they went outside and saw a bird and another kitty friend, those images are likely what is playing through their mind during sleep. Perhaps they’re even dreaming about you, their delicious dinner, and the pens and chapstick that they pushed off of your table just so they could watch them fall!” added Dr. Nelson.

Do they dream when they move or make noises while sleeping?

In general, humans dream even when they make noises and move while sleeping, so this can happen to cats as well. The explanation is that their muscles react when their brain analyses those images.

“Scientists believe that they are dreaming during these times,” says Dr. Nelson. “These fine motor muscles are reacting to the images being replayed in their minds.”

In addition, when their movements and noises are accentuated, there is a high possibility that they have nightmares. So, if you notice this sign of nightmares, try to wake them up nicely and lovingly, otherwise, they can become aggressive.

Do cats have nightmares?

As I said before, animals can have nightmares as well, and their dreams may not always be happy or based on their reality. “Just like us, animals’ dreams may not always be happy or based on their reality. Nightmares are suspected to be the way that our minds determine the best course of action in the case that dream experience occurs during waking hours,” says Dr. Nelson. “Our cats aren’t likely to dream of monsters or missing a final exam as we do, but who knows…maybe they dream of oversized mice or seeing the bottom of their food bowl!”

Do cats sleep too much?

People who have ever owned a cat know that they all love their nap time. So, as you already know, cats can sleep between 12-20 hours a day, or even 24 hours when they are extremely tired. So, don’t worry if you are a new pet parent and notice this behavior in your cat.

However, cats can take plenty of naps during the day, but the difference between napping and sleeping is that when they are napping they are simply resting rather than actually being asleep.

So, at this stage, your cat can wake up immediately when food appears around or when you bring them some delicious treats. In other words, when your cat is napping it means that they are more vigilant and move easier than when they are asleep.