My pet sleeps all day and all night. Is that normal?

Understanding pet sleep can help us support our furry family and create a more restful home for everyone

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The pets I’ve known all had their quirks – including when it came to sleep. Patches the cat would sleep on my head. Sammy the dog would rest on the couch, only to wake herself with a fart. And Macaroni likes to sleep upside down, his corgi legs aimed at the ceiling.

But what they have all had in common was this passion for napping – seemingly, all the time. This is to be expected: pet dogs and cats typically cycle through daily periods of sleep and rest, explains veterinary behaviorist and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr Carlo Siracusa. Some pets might spend 40% to 80% of their time resting, he says, especially dogs.