 Cats exhibit plenty of weird behaviors, such as kneading, hiding in small places, and hanging out in boxes, all of which are motivated by their instincts. Despite the long hours she spends curled up in dreamland, your fur baby is anything but lazy, she's resting up in preparation for the big hunt. Hunting requires energy and then you add the stress factor of cats being both predator and prey. Just like her big cat counterparts, your little kitty adheres to this schedule of hunting, feasting and sleeping. Energy conservation is one of the main reasons for your cat's long periods of sleep, which is where the term cat nap originates.