# DO ANIMALS DREAM? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485 "2000-04-16T23:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Proffessor\_Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Proffessor\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proffessor_Pete)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/1 "2000-04-16T23:35:00Z")
Hi all, Just wanted to know, if animals dream when they are sleeping - thanks in advance =) ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/2 "2000-04-16T23:55:00Z")
I believe they do. My dog does a lot of running in his sleep if his leg movements are any indication. * * * \*\* _Sigh_. So many men, so few who can afford me \*\* _Original by Wally_ _I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it._ ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/3 "2000-04-16T23:58:00Z")
Why the curious spelling in your name Pete? Inadvertant? ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2000, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/4 "2000-04-17T00:53:00Z")
I used to have a cat that dreamed all the time. And I don’t think it’s that unusual either. Dude, I know what it’s like to have a misspelling of your name mess you up. I mean, I wanted to sign on as Satin, and look what happened! :eek: * * * Yer pal, Satan [http://www.raleighmusic.com/board/Images/devil.gif](http://www.raleighmusic.com/board/Images/devil.gif) _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: One week, 22 hours, 45 minutes and 29 seconds. 317 cigarettes not smoked, saving $39.74. Life saved: 1 day, 2 hours, 25 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2000, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/5 "2000-04-17T01:29:00Z")
I’ve read that while no one knows for sure if animals dream, they all (except the spiny anteater. No idea why) have REM sleep as part of their sleep cycles, to a greater or lesser degree. Since REM is when dreaming occurs in humans, the inference is that animals do dream. * * * Drink up, dear. I made it just for you. _sig by_ **WallyM7** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@The\_Raven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/6 "2000-04-17T01:44:00Z")
Well, just from observation, I would say that yes, some animals seem to be capable of dreaming. I’ve seen dogs, cats, and even hamsters appear to twitch and make noises in their sleep, so I always assumed that they could and were dreaming. The question I want to know is, if animals do dream, what do they dream of? ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2000, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-dream/10485/7 "2000-04-17T02:05:00Z")
When one of my dogs was a pup it used to make suckling noises in its sleep - I guessed the pup was missing MAMA and I felt guilty. Now I’m pretty sure it has to be about dreaming about other dogs and supper and telling me to get that food in the bowl faster. Did y ou know we have something in the brain that turns off our motor activities so we don’t carry out the activities we are dreaming about? Same must be wired into dogs. Dogs feet make running motions during some dreams but I suspect the action we see is only 1/100th of what they dream they are doing. * * * Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley