March 2-8, 2015 is Sleep Week. You hopefully get your 8 hours a night, but how much sleep does your pet need?
Cats sleep an average of 15 hours a day. Cats are most active at night, so they will likely sleep during the day and become active around twilight. Why so much sleep? Cats have the physiology of a predator, and hunting takes a great deal of energy. Even domestic cats are programmed to sleep enough to reserve plenty of energy for stalking, pouncing, and climbing.
Dogs sleep an average of 12 to 18 hours a day, though every breed and every dog is different. How much a dog sleeps will depends on its age, diet, and activity level as well. Unlike humans, dogs do not have a regular sleep cycle and have only 2 stages of sleep: Slow-wave sleep, lighter sleep with lower levels of brain activity, and REM sleep, deeper sleep with higher levels of brain activity.
Sleep well!
Sources:
http://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/evr_ct_why_do_cats_sleep_so_much#
