My Cat Is Very Active At Night And Keeps Waking Me Up What Should I Do
Some cats are active at night, or are awake and raring to go very early in the morning. Since many owners are out at work or school during the day, the cat may spend the daytime hours in rest and relaxation and sleeping, especially if it is the only pet in the household. The cats day then begins when the owner arrives home to provide the cat with feeding, play and social interaction.
Night time is also the most natural time for cats to be active since they normally are most active in exploration at dusk and dawn . Night time activity is quite a common issue for some cat owners and can include cats that nibble or pounce on the owners ears or toes in bed, walk across the sleeping owners, night time vocalisation, or highly energetic play sessions across the furniture and/or owners during the night or early morning.
Play With Your Cat To Burn Off Her Energy
Cats tend to wake up at night since they like to play and have much energy to spare. This is because they sleep for most of the day, especially if they are alone at home. Felines are crepuscular creatures and they sleep for 16 hours or more and they are awake and alert from dusk to early dawn.
Schedule playtime with her especially during the day to burn off her energy and provide her with the needed exercise. Cats tend to be less needy and clingy if they are given attention through playtime. Provide interactive toys that your cat will truly enjoy and help stimulate her mental abilities.
How To Get Your Cat To Let You Sleep Through The Night
One of the best ways to get your cat to let you sleep overnight without interruption is to align your sleep schedules. This can take some time, and your cat will probably still spend part of the day asleep, but it can also help get him to sleep through part, if not all, of the night.
Retraining your cats sleep schedule takes consistency and time, and there will certainly be nights when he still wakes you up. The more consistent you can stay, though, the better the results youre likely to have. If your cat remains restless at night, it might be worth taking him to your vet to have him evaluated for any potential health issues. Increasing his playtime frequency and intensity may also help. You may need to experiment with your routines and timing, but you can teach your cat to sleep through the night, or at least to interrupt you less so you can get a good nights sleep.
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Do They Interrupt Your Sleep
Do they wake you up with incessant meowing or movements? While cats are known for being independent, some are high maintenance and bossy. Again, if youre able to stay asleep through their nocturnal activities, then your bedtime is likely unaffected. However, if youre waking up frequently during the night because of your furry friend, you may need to establish some new ground rules.
Sleeping Arrangements For A Kittens First Night Home Teaser: A Kittens First Night In A New Home Is Likely One Of The Biggest Challenges They Have Ever Faced Here Are A Few Things To Know And What You Can Do To Help Your New Kitten Sleep Peacefully Through The Night
Welcoming a new kitten home can be nerve-wracking for both the owners and the felines involved. While were fretting over which cupboard is best for keeping the cat food and which local veterinary practice to choose, the kitten has a whole set of different concerns to deal with. There are new people to meet and new sights and smells everywhere. Their new home looks nothing like the one they lived in until not so long ago and theres no sight of their mum and littermates. In short, everything is different and a bit scary.
Then just as theyre getting settled, night time arrives and they are left to sleep all alone in this new, strange house. A kittens first night home can be challenging but there are plenty of things a cat owner can do to help your little ball of fur settle in quickly.
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Q Our Young Cat Is Keeping Us Up All Night I Think He Sleeps All Day When Were At Work And All Night He Wants To Play What Can We Do
A. Cats have night vision that puts any man-made invention to shame. When you think about that, its not surprising that a lot of cats, especially young ones, love prowling about in the dark. If you have other plans they really dont care. Its showtime at the Cat Cabaret!
The solution to this problem used to be to put the cat outside, turn out the lights and go to sleep. But these days we know that remedy isnt the best. Free-roaming cats generally dont live anywhere near as long as indoor cats, because of the hazards of life outside. From cars and coyotes to cat-hating neighbors, there are plenty of dangers for a cat outside. And, of course, theres an argument to be made that these cats cause problems just by doing what comes naturally, including hunting and burying their feces in the neighbors gardens. Keeping your cat inside is safer for your cat and more considerate of your neighbors.
When you bring a cat indoors, though, you can’t just shut the door on him and call it a day. You have to provide for a cat’s physical and mental needs by creating an enriched environment for him. Thats the subject of a wonderful new book called Your Home, Their Territory: Creating the Right Habitat for Your Indoor Cats. The author is my friend and colleague Dr. Tony Buffington of The Indoor Pet Initiative at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.
Reward Your Cat For Joining You In Bed
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Daily Play Time Attention And Interaction With Owner
Since night time activity may be a form of social play and attention seeking behaviour, the first consideration is whether the cat is getting sufficient amounts of social interaction and social play during the daytime and earlier evening. This may be particularly problematic for an only cat in the household and an owner who works all day. Offering several social play sessions in the afternoon/earlier evening will help to expend some of their energy and meet some of the cats social and behavioural needs earlier on in the day.
Owners may also provide a variety of safe cat toys. Ensure all toys are safe for cats and avoid string toys or smaller objects that may be swallowed as these can become an intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal. Play time using safe cat toys is a great way to provide daily exercise and to positively enhance the relationship between pet and owner. Cats often have different preferences i.e. some will like toy birds while others prefer toy lizards it is important to remember this when buying toys. Buy a few different varieties and see which ones your cat likes the best. Remember novelty is the key, so its best if you have 10 toys then only have a few out at a time then rotate them every few days.
If an owner happens to be at home for the day, playing and interacting with the cat should also help to expend some of that energy.
Even Small Changes At Home Can Be Stressful For Cats
Has there been a recent change in family members? Have you moved? Are there new people involved in the cats life? What is happening with their vertical space? said Hartstein. Even a change in the scent of a favored human can stimulate or irritate a cats nose and trigger a change in behavior, Hartstein explained. Cats are extremely sensitive to noise and smells, so there are many factors that you need to consider.
Once the potential stressor is discovered and addressed, the cat may stop its nighttime capers.
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Address Any Health Concerns
Before attempting to adjust your cats sleep schedule with behavioral modifications, make sure they dont have an underlying medical problem that causes them to stay awake at night. Painful conditions, hormonal imbalances, flea infestations, eye conditions and deafness can make it difficult for your tired cat to sleep peacefully.
If your cat seems restless during the day, too, take her to the vet to rule out these health concerns. For example, some senior animals lose their hearing, so their loud meowing is to try to hear their own noises, explains Dr. Rachel Barrack, a licensed veterinarian and certified animal acupuncturist. Older cats may also increase their cat sounds at night because they cannot see as well, so consider leaving some lights on when you go to bed.
Also note that at certain life stages, a cat waking up at night is actually to be expected. Kittens, for example, have lots of energy to spare!
How To Set Up A Kitten Bed
Choose a kitten bed that is comfy and has high sides to keep their toys close by. Dont forget to add soft blankets for a great nights sleep. Make sure the litter tray, water and food bowls are not too far away should your kitten need them during the night.
A scratching post nearby will win you extra points with the new feline friend. Your kitten will be able to stretch and scratch to their hearts content as soon as theyre ready to start the new day. What bliss!
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Know When To Ignore Your Cat
This is the hardest part, but also the most important in order for the methods above to really work. If your cat wakes you up during the night, ignore them! Dont feed them, pet them or scold them. Dont even grumble the best thing to do is to completely ignore them! After about 10 days, your cat should get tired of this game and stop bothering you.
Similarly, if your cat starts waking you up looking for food too early, you should adopt the same feline psychology approach. Take your time getting up: have your breakfast and get dressed before you give your cat their first meal. That way, theyll eventually understand that theres no point rushing you to get fed. We know it wont be easy not to give in, but be strong )
Helping Kittens To Settle In
Experiencing a brand new home is daunting for a tiny kitten. Every kitten has a unique personality some are shy while others are confident. Whatever their character, this is potentially a traumatic transition for kittens as they are leaving their mothers and siblings for the first time.
With this in mind, its best to choose a room where it can be kept for the first few weeks to adjust gradually to its new surroundings. This confinement also aids toilet training and avoids the risk of accidents elsewhere in the house. Careful selection of the appropriate room should take the following into consideration:
You might want to purchase, borrow or hire a kitten pen . A kitten pen is a large metal cage with a solid floor that is normally used for kittening queens or cats after surgery that need to be confined. You could also use one which goes in the back of a car for dogs. It is quite large with plenty of room for a bed, toys, food, water and a litter tray. Many are easily collapsible to enable the pen to be moved from room to room. It is an invaluable asset when you have a new kitten. You can start with it in a quiet room and move it more into the centre of activity as the kitten settles in. It gives you somewhere to put the kitten safely at night or when you are not around to watch it .
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There Are Two Different Categories Of Nocturnal Behaviors In The Cat:
This handout will hopefully provide you and your cat with a better nights sleep.
Train Your Cat To Be Quiet
If your cat inclines to caterwaul , its possible that at some stage your cat has learned that if it vocalises, you will provide food or attention. This type of caterwauling is a learned behaviour. You will need to train your cat by ignoring the behaviour when it takes place by offering rewards when the cat is quiet .
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Managing Nocturnal Behavior In Cats
You may feel that getting up and calming or feeding your cat will help, but its best to ignore your cats behavior as much as possible. Attention in the night rewards the behavior and your cat may learn to stay awake for food and attention.
Even though you may feel tired or frustrated, remember that night activity is natural for your cat. Avoid punishing your cat for this normal behavior as it may create more stress. If your cat wont let you sleep, its best to change your daytime schedule to give your cat more exercise and play.
The Benefits Of Sleeping With A Cat In Bed
âFor healthy cats and owners, the benefits outweigh the potential risks.â
Many cat owners report immense mental health benefits from co-sleeping with their pet, stressing how their pet helps them sleep more soundly.
âI recommend co-sleeping with a cat because doing it makes me happy. I feel sad when I fall asleep without my kitty near me,â a Redditor who goes by hunxie tells Inverse. âMine could fall asleep on my face and Iâd prefer it to sleeping without her.â
Others report that co-sleeping with their cats has benefited them in other surprising ways. Far from disrupting their sleep, these felines have helped their owners adhere to a routine sleep schedule.
Redditor LiteralHatCS tells Inverse:
â… it has made my actual sleep cycle much better because she waits on my bed when itâs time to sleep and I feel bad if I don’t join her. I tend to have a messed up sleep cycle and the routine of just having a cat in general has improved it drastically.â
âFor healthy cats and owners, the benefits outweigh the potential risks,â Pankratz states.
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Provide Appropriate Bedding For Your Cat
Unlike dogs, cats do not like to nap at ground level, even if offered comfortable beds in baskets on the floor. They like to embrace hideaways and occupy nooks as places for concealing themselves for uninterrupted rest.
Your cat should have varied bedding areas around the house but away from the litter box, food, and water. For anxious/fearful cats, provide additional hiding opportunities with igloo-type beds or those with high sides.
A cat-safe heated bed or pad may be required when temperature regulation is diminished as the cat ages or during illness/recovery.
If your cat insists on sleeping in your bedroom, place a cuddler, blanket, or your scented shirt close to your bed.
Parasites And Fungal Infections
Fleas, mites, roundworms, and hookworms are just some of the nasty parasites that you could be exposing yourself to by sleeping with your pet. That being said, we suggest taking diligent care of your cat and taking him in for regular visits to the vets office. That way, you wont have to deal with these parasites.
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Should I Let The Kitten Sleep In My Bed
You may want to wait a while before sharing your bed with the new kitten. It takes time for kittens to be litter trained so if you want to keep your sheets in mint condition its best to invest in a separate kitten bed. If they are really young, they might even have trouble negotiating their way out of your bed without hurting themselves. Plus, your kitten might even prefer to have their own space to sprawl as they please.
Many owners do allow their cats to sleep in their bed, but its important to give your kitten their own space to spend the night.