How to Support Healthy Sleep Patterns for Your Cat

Bed Styles, Naps and Catification

Healthy Cats |  March 1, 2023

Cat owners often work to support the play, eat and groom parts of their cat’s daily cycle, but what about sleep? You may think that your cat spends most of their time sleeping, but you may also be confused as to where and why they’re choosing the particular places they do to rest. Understanding your cat’s preferences can help you achieve better catification and make your cat an even happier and more well-rested animal.

Why Your Cat’s Cat Naps Matter

While cats may be built to sleep a lot more than humans, they also sleep in shorter segments of time. Disrupting these cat naps can through your whole cat’s rhythm off for the day—and encourage them to want to play during the middle of the night when their humans are sleeping.

Finding the right space to place cat beds for your cat’s preferences can encourage optimal sleep in areas that you’d prefer. That means the days of your cat clearing your bookshelf or digging underneath your sofa before sleeping could be over.

Height of Your Cat’s Sleeping Places

When you pay attention to your cat’s sleeping and playing, a pattern often emerges. We’ve found that cats often prefer the floor (or ground), high shelving (or trees), or middle distances (or bushes). If you’ve often wondered why your cat ignores the cat tree but sleeps under your bed, you might have a cat who’s hardwired to prefer the ground. Similarly, if your cat won’t leave the tops of your bookshelves alone, your cat may have been born to prefer a life in the metaphorical trees.

So, whenever possible, place your cat’s bed in a location that meets these height preferences. A shelf for sunning at the top of a window, a cat bed in a floor height cubby, or a cat cave on your desk will appeal to different cats.

Bed Warmth

Your cat may be a sun seeker who constantly loves to soak up the rays, especially in the often-grey Pacific Northwest. While we’ve known people who turn on a sunlamp for their cats, many cats will be satisfied with a bed in a particularly warm location of their home or a heated cat bed (which is often more convenient and safer)

Security and Privacy

When your cat is sleeping, they are at their most vulnerable. For this reason, many cats prefer a covered cat bed or an enclosed area that allows them to be protected on most sides. If you often find your cat hiding away somewhere for naps, you might want to consider a cat cave bed or other enclosed sleeping bed. Enclosed beds can also prevent cats from digging into the bottom of a box spring or sofa, attempting to create their own cat beds from the furniture in your home.

Traffic Patterns

Your cat’s vulnerability while resting may also make them cautious about sleeping in certain high-traffic areas of your home. Or, your cat’s natural curiosity might make them want to stay closer to their humans, even when sleeping. Take note of the natural rhythms of your household, and look to see where your cat is choosing to nap during them. You can then make an educated guess about where they’d like to nap during the average day.

Catifying for Sleep

Now that you know what your cat likes, you can then look for a few cat beds or soft spots for your cat to sleep. Three spots in the house will give your cat some variety, but don’t think that means that you need three cat beds. If your cat has claimed the corner of the sofa that gets morning sun, that’s a perfect napping spot for your cat. However, if your cat has claimed a few spots in the house that cause chaos, try tempting them with a newly located covered, heated or otherwise appealing bed. You may find that everyone rests better when these new beds are in place.

Furvor bone 🦴  broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine. 
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
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It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
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Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
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Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass. 
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
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Need to keep your dog engaged while you work, host, or help them burn energy? 
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The Woof LickMat and LickMix make enrichment easy.
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A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
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🎉 New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are now available in-store and online at Mud Bay!
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We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs. 
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We visited the local dog park today to share a fun spring surprise 👀🎉 
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The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
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We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
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Two new formulas are coming soon, and you’ll find them both in stores and online. They’ll be available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce bags.
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Just like our current toppers, these new formulas give both cats and dogs complete and balanced nutrition. You can serve them as a full meal, sprinkle them on top of their food, or offer them as a treat.
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Thank you to all the pups who came by to try them today.🐾🎉 
Check back next week because we have a giveaway coming up. Stay tuned and have a great spring!🌈 💐 🌷 ☀️ ☔ 
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Stock up on your dog’s favorite Bulk Biscuits and make every refill count.
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