Is it normal for a cat to sleep all day?

[Aerows]

It's nasty outside, and she has no desire to go out, and she has eaten and used the litter box, but she's just piled up asleep.

It's like she's depressed or something. Usually, she will play a little bit, but all she wants to do is stay in the blanket on my bed. She's alert and responds when I pet her, but then she just wants to sleep again.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Cats sleep a lot. If she's eating and using the litter box normally

she's probably fine. You might watch her closely for another day or so and if she doesn't perk up, give the vet a call. Maybe she just wants to sleep because the weather sucks; I feel the same way right now.

[Aerows]

3. I've never seen her this lazy

But then again, she is migrating to being a house cat after being an outdoor wafer-thin being. She's about six years old now. I found her, or rather she found me about 4 1/2 years ago. She's slowly been transitioning to being inside, I've just never seen her so not wanting to go outside at all. She went out for about ten minutes and then was back by the door wanting to come in and piled up asleep again.

[Auntie Bush]

4. That sounds like good advice.

If it was a beautiful sunny day with chirping birds and she just wanted to sleep...then call/see the vet.

[Aerows]

7. It's crappy out.

I don't blame her for wanting to stay inside, but she's been out in worse. Maybe she's just getting used to having a nice warm place to be.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I think you have it figured out.

Since she was living a tough life, out in all kinds of terrible weather, getting wet and cold, nothing will be as fine as a warm blanket to curl up with. Some cats truly appreciate the pampered feeling of being indoor cats.

As long as this is just for a day or so, and the weather is crappy, I wouldn't worry about it. Eating, drinking, using the litter box, and sleeping...all those are normal for a cat. I have read that cats sleep about 20 hours a day.

[Aerows]

11. Mine ran out for about 20 minutes tonight, but she wanted to come back in

Then she curled up in the blankets, so maybe she just likes being in when it is terrible outside?

She's so shy about the litter box. If we could overcome that, she'll be a permanent inside cat. How do I do that?

I adore her, want to protect her, and want to train her to use the litterbox I have instead of outside.

I have another cat.

[MADem]

14. Find a giant box, cut a 'cat hole' of generous size in it, and put that over the litter box.

Some cats like to poop in secret places--they don't like all that "sky" over their heads.

You don't want the cat to have to struggle to get into the "litter box box" but it needs to be big enough so they can stroll in and small enough so that they feel kind of sheltered....

[Aerows]

16. Well, when I first found her, I built her a house outside to sleep in, so that

wouldn't be a challenge for me. I've had her for four years now. I still adore her as much as the day she jumped into my lap because she knew I was feeding her.

I built her a styrofoam and insulated house under the porch near the house and got her a blanket laden cat bed so that she could stand winter. It was easily 40 degrees warmer in there in winter than outside.

[MADem]

17. Oh my--I wasn't suggesting such fanciness, at least not at first.

If you have a big old cardboard box, just cut off the flaps, chop out a big hole so she can go in/out, and put it over the litter box and see if that works.

I had cats who used to yell at me if I walked in on them while they were crapping! They liked a "private" litter box!

[Aerows]

18. I updated my post

I built her a house for the winter. I insulated it, got a blanket filled bed for her, and it was 40 degrees warmer in there than outside. I love her dearly.

That would be small change LOL.

[MADem]

20. Hee hee....try the cardboard box over the litter tray, see if she bites!

That's one lucky cat, having an owner who will build her a house to keep her happy!

[Aerows]

22. I adore her

She's very special to me.

[BainsBane]

2. sometimes, sure

if the weather is bad, they either sleep or go stir crazy. The former is easier on everyone.

My dog literally had Seasonal Affective Disorder after the first snow the year I got her. She didn't even want to go out to pee. It went on for a couple of weeks. I would make her go out and walk anyway. I took her to the vet and there was nothing physically wrong. The vet said they get depressed sometimes when the weather changes. She hasn't gone through that again, but there are days she doesn't want to do anything. If she was particular busy the day before and/or the weather is really lousy, she just sleeps in for a day.

[Aerows]

5. The weather is terrible

I guess that's why she just wants to stay inside.

[Auntie Bush]

6. "she just sleeps in for a day." Wish I could do that too!

[MADem]

9. My cat, as he aged, would sleep eighteen hours a day.

He had arthritis, so he appreciated a warming pad, set on low. It seemed to help with his aches and pains.

[Aerows]

10. She went out for about 20 minutes again, and she is sound asleep

I think she may hate the weather. She ate but she didn't use the litter box, but she's shy about that.

[MADem]

12. If it's damp with that miserable barometric pressure, she just might feel like crap.

Does she have a good warm bed to snuggle in? If she seems to be sleeping comfortably, let her. Sleep knits up that raveled sleeve of care, after all!

[Aerows]

13. It's my bed, at the foot of it

She purrs at the end of it. I absolutely adore her.

[MADem]

15. Try a wee kitty massage--that may perk her up! nt

[Ednahilda]

19. My kitty baby is 1 1/2 years old

and she was acting just a little odd for several days, but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was wrong. She just wasn't 'right'. I thought about taking her to the vet, but imagined trying to explain to him why I thought something was amiss since there weren't any real symptoms that I could list. On day 5 (the weekend, of course!) she had a high fever - finally something concrete! - so I brought her to the veterinary hospital in town; turns out she had a massive urinary tract infection. Unlike every other cat I've ever had, she never peed outside the litter box and didn't do any of the other things that cats generally do when they've got a UTI. If it had been caught earlier I could have saved a bundle of money on the extra antibiotics and the extra-expensive Saturday visit. Besides, I feel badly that she had to suffer those extra days.

Keep an eye on your kitty and if this continues, take her to the vet just for a once-over. Your vet may see something that you've missed.

[Aerows]

24. I will

I think she might just be upset because she can't go outside without the rain, wind and cold. I've let her out twice, and both times she went out for a few minutes and then whined to get back it. I just got scared because she was sitting in the same damn spot for so long - like hours. She's like the Sphinx sitting there barely blinking, or sleeping.

[ginnyinWI]

21. Cloudy rainy weather

Will turn my cats into sleeping lumps. Unless it is dinner time.

[Aerows]

23. Mine ate

That's about all she's done. She's exactly that, a big ole lump.

[ginnyinWI]

26. kitties don't eat if they feel sick, usually

So as long as they are eating, not to worry.

[blondie58]

25. I want to say you are a good.hooman!

I am a late blooming cat addict. Grew up with dogs and I still love them, but I am definitely a cat person now. Smartest animal ever. Only animal that is self domesticated per National Geographic.
I don't think the sleeping is too much to worry about. Cats DO sleep I think I've heard up to 18 hours per day. And they tend to be active at night, so perhaps she is awake when you're asleep.

I adopted a cat 13 years ago and she is still alive today. Acts like a kitten. She lives to play. I thought perhaps she was a little feral. She has a tail that has some trauma to it, probably caused by a human.

She tried to escape whenever she could and she didn't care for my other cats. I had a lot of problems with her using the kitty box, mostly I think because she was afraid to leave her sanctuary. I have been helping a cat rescue and have picked up several tips from them. They suggest an individual box per cat. Some cats like covered, some not.

Does she get along with your other cat?
Sometimes there are cat communication that we don't realize. My girl now lives with a younger alpha female who just has to give her a look to scare her enough to make her stay off the bed or jump on the table. Although she is older, she can jump much better than her younger sister.
It is really important to.play with her. She won't even want to go outside.

Good luck. Do you have any pictures of her?