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If you’ve been imagining your kitty nestled in some hidden corner, dreaming away the winter months like a pint-sized bear, it’s time to wake up to reality. Although they do adapt their behavior to the weather conditions and experience changes in colder seasons, cats do not hibernate.
Yours might be sleeping more when the temperature drops, but don’t mistake that for the big winter snooze reserved for some other members of the animal kingdom. But why the extra naps and reduced activity? Let’s get to the bottom of it.
What’s the Deal With Increased Cat Naps?
If you’re like many cat owners, you’ve probably noticed a trend: your cat sleeps more during winter. So, if they’re not hibernating, what are they doing? Simply put, most cats behave a bit less actively during the winter. Their activity levels dip, and they sleep more, but this isn’t hibernation.
It’s just the feline way of dealing with less daylight and lower temperatures. In actual hibernation, metabolic processes slow to a crawl, but your cat is still very much aware of its surroundings and can spring to action when needed.
Reduced Activity: The Closest Cats Get to Hibernation
Cats don’t hibernate, but a 2025 study explored how seasonal and weather variations influence domestic cat behaviors. The study found that factors like temperature, humidity, and day length significantly affected behaviors such as eating, grooming, and lying down, indicating that cats adjust their activity levels in response to environmental changes.
This probably helps them preserve energy for their usual prowling and prancing because hunting for food during winter is a bit like shopping on Christmas Eve—limited options and high competition. In a household setting, however, you’re more likely to see your cat camping out by the heater than engaging in any type of hibernation.
Feline Moods and Winter Blues
Some owners report that their cats get what’s called “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” This is not officially recognized, of course, but observations suggest that some cats do show a dip in mood during the dreary winter months. They might be eating more, playing less, or showing a lack of interest in activities they usually enjoy.
How to Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy in Winter
Want to turn your cat’s frown upside-down? We have the vital tips you need to know.
Engage in Activity
Whether it’s investing in a new puzzle feeder or setting up a DIY obstacle course, keep that kitty moving! This will fend off boredom and help maintain a healthy weight, for starters. But keeping your cat occupied can make the cold months more closely reflect the activity-filled days of the summer months.
Soak Up the Sun
Though you can’t bring the sun indoors, you can at least position your cat’s favorite resting spots near windows. Pets in general enjoy sitting in sunlight beaming through the windows and on the floor. You might as well make it easy for your cat to access it.
Mind the Diet
With less activity, your cat won’t require as many calories. Be vigilant with portions to avoid unnecessary weight gain, as it can happen easily over the winter. The rare fluctuation in weight isn’t necessarily something to worry about. But if it puts your cat on the path to frequent weight gain, you’ll have a problem on your hands. Consult your vet on what would be the best diet option for your cat and about the proper portioning.
Winter Wonderland Indoors
Provide plenty of cozy blankets or a heated cat bed to keep your feline friend warm and snug. Even though you may keep the heat cranked up, pets like to nestle where they can. You don’t have to go overboard, either. Just a single blanket can make all the difference.
Conclusion
While cats don’t hibernate in the truest sense of the word, they do have their own “winter mode,” so to speak. It’s like a cozy, lazy weekend that lasts an entire season. But just as you shouldn’t spend your whole weekend on the couch, neither should your cat.
The winter months are an essential time to pay attention to your pet’s health and provide adequate mental and physical stimulation, ensuring they’re as sprightly in the snow as they are in the sunshine.
Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
2 Responses
My female cat is in good health except for mild kidney disease, she is on prescription cat food. After she eats and some other times she goes down the hall to the spare bedroom and sits just inside the door and meows very loudly. She won’t come out until I call her name e few times, when she is out she is okay. It’s almost as though she goes in the room and then doesn’t know where she is. I’ll mention it to the vet next month at her check up.
One thing I worry about for cats or dogs in general, is that with so many rescue animals and the rising costs of food, especially prescription food and vet care, that they won’t get adopted or if they do they won’t get adequate vet care.
Hello Sarah,
Thanks for reading us and sharing your story. Felines may sometimes display behavior that could be viewed as quirky, but there’s always a reason for this. I would like to recommend you reading these articles that you might find helpful:
– Why Does My Cat Go into Another Room and Meow? 9 Interesting Reasons
– Why Is My Cat Suddenly Meowing a Lot? 11 Vet-Reviewed Reasons
– Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease (Low Phosphorus) – Reviews & Top Picks
– Kidney Disease in Cats: Our Vet Explains Signs, Causes & Treatment
If you are concerned for your cat’s health, whether physical or mental, you don’t need to wait another month to get an answer from your vet. I would like to suggest you booking a video-call appointment with one of our vets at PangoVet.com. They will be happy to talk your cat’s situation through and give you some care tips.