Do cats dream?

[Jemisa]

Our cat Ella is about 5 yrs old, we've had her2 yrs now & she's a lovely cat a silver blue tabby.
Recently she's been miowing and howling in her sleep, it worries me as she sounds as if she's in pain. Do cats dream or have nightmeres? After 2yrs why has this suddenly come on? It sounds so eerie.
Has anyone had this prob with your cat? I've had cats for many years and haven't come across it before.

jem

[wildwood]

It is certain that dogs do, and there are heaps of youtube videos where a sleeping cat falls off a ledge or even in a fish tank, so yes, I am pretty confident cats dream too.

[boxtops]

Yes, they do - ours twitch and mutter all the time when they are dreaming. It's not a problem.

[Jemisa]

Yes Boxi cats i've had in the past have twitched and chattered but this one really howls and meowes very loudly. She wakes me up its so loud. When I go to her she glares at me as if to say "Go away woman"
My H thinks it must be bred into her, she's a quarter Persian Blue 1/4 Tabby.
He reckons the P B are very vocal.
Thankyou for your answers Boxi and W W.

jem

[chi-chi66]

I think so....my present cat is 18 this year and 1/4 siamese...when she's awake, non-stop talking..drives me mad...but I love her.
When she's asleep....twitching...whiskers going...then sometimes...as though she's been disturbed..no-one near her....lets out a horrendous squeal..frightens me to death..so I re-assure her and she just goes back to sleep.
She did,nt make a sound until she was 3yrs even during the day' we thought we had a mute cat. By gawd she's made up for it since!!!!