Cats

do cats have nightmares


Do Cats Have Nightmares?

It may be hard for us to tell whether our feline friends experience the same kind of dreams and nightmares we do, but recent research is beginning to shed some light on the matter. Here’s what we know about cats and nightmares—and whether or not they experience them.

Do Cats Dream?

Determining whether cats have nightmares starts with asking whether they dream in the first place. While we can’t know conclusively, there’s evidence that cats may have the same kind of dream cycle as humans.

For example, cats’ brain activity during sleep has been observed to be strikingly similar to that of humans, with periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep patterned similarly. In other words, cats appear to have a normal sleep-wake cycle with a similarly complex mix of sleep stages, suggesting that cats may be dreaming in both light and deep sleep.

Cats and Nightmares

Given cats’ capacity for dreaming, it stands to reason that cats can also experience nightmares. If cats do dream and enter the REM stage of sleep, it’s likely that they experience a mix of both positive and negative dreams that could resemble those that humans experience—including potentially even nightmares.

There are some behaviors that suggest cats may dream in a more graphic way than humans. For instance, cats may let out vocalizations—meows, purrs, chirps—or make facial expressions during their periods of REM sleep. This could be a sign that cats experience a more graphic suite of dreams than we do as humans.

Signs Thatcats May Be Experiencing Nightmares

There are some signs that suggest cats may be having nightmares.

Some of these signs include:

  • Mewing or vocalizing during sleep
  • Twitching or jerking of the paws or limbs
  • Rapid movement of the eyeballs behind closed eyelids.
  • A sudden increase in respiration.

If your cat often exhibits any of these behaviors during sleep, it could be a sign that they are having nightmares.

Are Nightmares Bad For Cats?

While it’s not possible to know whether cats do have nightmares, if they do have them, they likely don’t have a negative impact on them. Cats are resilient creatures and have likely been having nightmares sapciesionally throughout their evolutionary history.

It’s important to note that nightmares can occur both in cats and humans due to a variety of underlying issues, including stress, fear, and underlying health issues. If your cat has been exhibiting signs of nightmares, it may be a good idea to check for any underlying issues and work to address these potential causes.

Conclusion

It’s not yet clear whether cats have nightmares, but research suggests that cats do dream and enter into the REM stage of sleep—suggesting that it’s not impossible for cats to experience nightmares. If your cat has been displaying signs of nightmares, there may be an underlying health issue to consider. Otherwise, it’s likely that your cat is just experiencing a normal suite of dreams—positive and negative alike.

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