Do Cats Dream? What Cats and Kittens Dream About

Every cat owner has spent time oohing and aahing at their cat while it sleeps. Cats and kittens enjoy their sleep as much as people (if not more) and get real cozy while snoozing. But do cats dream while they sleep? And if they do, what are they dreaming about?

Do Cats Dream?

Cats, just like people and all other mammals, dream while they’re in deep sleep. While a light rest won’t lead to dreams, your cat is likely dreaming during a long sleep, whether during the day or at night.

Dreaming is a perfectly normal function for all mammals, so even if your cat is twitching while it dreams, there’s nothing to be concerned about.

How to Tell Your Cat Is Dreaming

There are a few ways to tell that cats are dreaming:

• Twitching, especially from your cat’s paws.
• Face movements such as twitching whiskers or eyelids, opening their mouth, or lip smacking.
• Heavier breathing, specifically when paired with twitching movements.
• Meowing, which is basically your cat talking in its sleep!

There are other ways to tell that your cat is dreaming, and some may be more specific to your cat than others. Observing your cat while it sleeps and looking out for these clear signs of dreaming will help you recognize when your cat is dreaming.

What Do Cats Dream About?

Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing exactly what cats and kittens dream about. However, we can make some educated guesses based on what people dream about, based on what we dream about.

Activities and Playing

Twitching paws while sleeping could be a reaction to dreams involving playing with toys, running, climbing, and just about everything your cat loves to do! Cats can only dream about things they know, and active cats likely dream about having fun.

Friends and Other Animals

Just like people dream of other people, cats probably dream of other creatures. If you have a second cat, there’s a chance that your cats dream of each other. Or, if you have a dog, your cat could be dreaming about them. Maybe your cat is dreaming about a squirrel it saw outside!

Events from During the Day

People often go through some of the things they saw or did during the day in their dreams. Cats are probably doing the same! If your cat had a particularly interesting event during the day — maybe they were watching a bird or had a tasty treat — then they could dream about it at night

You!

You’re an important part of your cat’s life, so there’s a good chance they dream about you! 

Do Cats Have Nightmares?

Yes, cats can have nightmares. However, don’t bother your sleeping cat if it looks like it’s having a nightmare. You have no way of telling whether your cat’s dream is good or bad, and you would just be waking them up from a deep sleep.

FAQs

What are cats dreaming about when they twitch?

Cats can be dreaming about anything while they twitch, from playing with toys to running around. Twitches around the mouth could mean they’re smelling or eating in their dream, while tail twitches could be a reaction to seeing something in their dream.

Do cats really dream about their owners?

Cats likely dream about their owners. You’re an important part of your cat’s life, and while they might not dream about you every night, they probably dream about you from time to time.

Why do cats smile when they sleep?

Cats don’t smile while they sleep, but any physical reaction while sleeping is probably the result of a dream or nightmare.