Thinking about the possibility of adopting a kitten or puppy? Knowing what they need is vital for giving them a safe and healthy home. Just like human infants, puppies and kittens require a great deal of sleep in a 24 hour period.
Both puppies and kittens require more than 16 hours of sleep per day. While they do not sleep this amount of time all at once, they are sleeping for more than 66 percent of their day. So, what does that look like for you, the owner?
How Much Sleep do Puppies Need?
If you are adopting or purchasing a puppy, it is likely that you will take them home at about eight weeks old. Puppies should not leave their mothers or littermates before eight weeks because they learn important lessons from them—like socialization, appropriate play behavior, and communication between themselves and other dogs.
Typically, puppies at eight weeks will sleep for 18 to 20 hours per day.
But, puppies do not sleep that many hours in one go. Most often they will be active and playing for about an hour, followed by a nap for anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. When planning to welcome a new pet into your lives, it might be helpful to have an idea of what your daily routine will be like.
What Is a Puppy’s Daily Routine?
As mentioned above, puppies sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day. While that is a great deal of time, it doesn’t all happen all at once.
According to the American Kennel Club, training and setting a routine for your puppy can help create a cohesive living environment for both you and your new pet.
Your Puppy’s Routine
- As soon as your puppy wakes up, be sure to take them outside to use the bathroom
- Feed your puppy based on your vet’s recommendations
- Bathroom break
- Playtime—puppies have a lot of energy, and this is a great time to bond with you puppy while helping them get their energy out
- Nap time—your puppy will sleep for 30 minutes to two hours
- Feeding time again
You will most likely be repeating steps one through six two more times throughout the day.
Once your pet is out of their puppy stage, they will sleep less. Usually anywhere from eight to 13 hours per day.
How Much Sleep do Kittens Need?
Similar to puppies, kittens need a great deal of sleep—about 18 hours per day, but up to 22 hours. That is 90 percent of their day!
Just like with puppies, kittens do not sleep all these hours in one straight shot. Their day consists of playtime, mealtime, and many naps.
What is a Kitten’s Daily Routine?
Kittens are a bit more self-sufficient than puppies (i.e., you don’t need to housebreak them), but helping them to establish a schedule is a great idea—especially for first time pet owners or people new to caring for kittens and cats.
- As soon as they wake up, encourage them to use the litter box
- Feeding time—you will want to plan on feeding your kitten about every 12 hours
- Play with your kitten
- Nap time
Steps 1, 2, and 4 will be repeated throughout the day. You will just need to be sure to feed your kitten again. It might be a good idea to set an alarm or timer to remind yourself that it is feeding time again.
Just like dogs, as your kitten grows into an adult cat, they will not sleep as much. Adult cats typically sleep for 12 to 18 hours per day.
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Whether you have a kitten, puppy, newborn, or even wondering about yourself—knowing what and how much sleep everyone in your life needs is important. Try using our hours calculator to get the precise amount of hours and minutes you sleep.
Emily is a freelance writer and teacher. Originally from New York, Emily now lives and works in Europe.