Houses where cats can sleep soundly share common characteristics.

Do you ever feel like your cat might not be getting enough rest, even though they sleep so much? While cats spend most of their day asleep, we've come to understand that their home environment significantly impacts how "deeply" they're able to sleep.

Adult cats generally sleep for 12 to 16 hours, and some, depending on their age and health, may sleep for up to 20 hours. With so much sleep, it's easy to assume "my cat must be getting enough rest," but looking closer at the breakdown changes the picture a bit. One study found that cats are awake for approximately 35% of the time, in light sleep for 50%, and in deep sleep (REM sleep) for only about 15%. Another survey also showed that deep sleep only accounts for 20-30%. Furthermore, REM sleep is said to be very delicate, occurring only in short bursts of 5 to 7 minutes at a time.

When in deep sleep, cats become less responsive to outside noises and presences. Just like us, this is an essential time for true physical and mental rest, but conversely, it is also "the most vulnerable time." The Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative lists the conditions required for a cat's resting area as "quiet, away from family traffic, and a place where they can maintain distance." It seems the number of places in the home that meet these conditions directly correlates with the amount of deep sleep a cat gets.

Research on the African wildcat, the ancestor of domestic cats, reports that they rest during the day in tree hollows, rock crevices, or deep within thickets. They prefer locations close to the ground, out of sight from the outside, yet where they can observe their surroundings. I believe this instinct still remains in cats living in our homes today.

Have you ever bought a plush bed for your cat, only for them not to use it? The reason is likely that it's "too open." For a cat to sleep soundly, they need both a sense of being enclosed and small windows through which they can check their surroundings.

The Cat Cellar is designed with thin cardboard walls that moderately block out external presences, while multiple holes allow the cat to peek outside. It's also designed to be lower than typical cat towers, so your cat can enjoy a feeling close to the "ground-level hideout" favored by the African wildcat.

While many choose the Cat Cellar for its scratching post function, it's not uncommon for owners to find that "the longest time they spend inside is when they're sleeping." Since it combines a scratching post, hideaway, and resting spot in one, it can be a worthwhile option for those who don't want to clutter their room with too much furniture.

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※References:
・Ursin, R. (1968) The two stages of slow wave sleep in the cat and their relation to REM sleep. Brain Research, 11(2): 347-356.
・The Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative "Resting Areas"
・Sleep Foundation "How Much Do Cats Sleep?"
・African wildcat (Felis lybica) — From ecological literature