Your cat wakes you up at 4 a.m., and you have an important meeting in the morning. Why? What can you do to prevent this from happening again? Although cats originated for nighttime activities, they have adapted to human lives throughout domestication.
Domestic cats are most active in the morning and evening, rather than in the middle of the night. In order to blend in with their human housemates, they also adjust their activity patterns. This implies that if you sleep at night, so should your cat. Many individuals do, in fact, sleep with their cats. Around 30% of women in a poll in the United States said they slept with at least one cat.
So, what makes some cats want to play in the middle of the night? Understanding why your cat is waking you up can often help you figure out how to put a stop to it. Here are three reasons why your cat may be waking you up and what you can do about it.
THEY ARE STARVING, This is one of the most prevalent explanations. Unfortunately, feeding a tired person’s cat is one of the first things they’ll do. This reinforces the behavior and encourages the cat to repeat it. Make sure your cat is getting enough food throughout the day to begin addressing this issue. Just before you go to bed, serve them a meal or a fulfilling snack.
If you feed your cat first thing in the morning, be sure he isn’t connecting wake-up time with meal time. Allow at least half an hour between when you get out of bed and when you feed kitten breakfast. You may also teach your cat to link getting fed with something else, such saying “breakfast time!”
2. THEY DON’T HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE. Predictability appeals to cats. Keeping a consistent schedule has also been linked to lower stress levels in cats. Keep mealtimes, playtimes, and any grooming near to the same time each day to establish a schedule? Empty the litter box at predetermined times (dirty or disturbed litter may also be a reason your cat is waking you up). If at all possible, avoid moving litter trays, bowls, or scratch posts unless absolutely necessary.
Your cat may resume early morning wake-up calls if anything changes in their surroundings, such as when you go on vacation, move furniture, or have a new home visitor or pet. This is a common occurrence in cats. Keep the pattern as steady as possible, and your cat will ultimately adjust to the new normal.
3. THEY DO NOT EXERCISE ALL OF THEIR ENERGY DURING THE DAY. Cats, like humans, like sleeping, but they also enjoy playing and moving their bodies. It’s crucial to provide your cat with a range of toys and materials to play with throughout the house, especially if you’re not home regularly.
Scratch posts provide an area for cats to stretch and climb. They can play and exercise with balls, soft toys, and motorized toys. When you go home, play a game of chase around the house with your cat using an interactive toy (such a cat wand). You may even invent a game that your cat would like. Cats are easily bored. Maintain variation in your play sessions. Also, don’t play with your cat within an hour of going to bed. A play session before you go out and when you return home should help your kitten sleep through the night.
