Is Your Cat Keeping You Up At Night?
As adorable and lovable as they are, cats appear to be scheming animals that plan out their nightly activities far in advance of you falling into bed sleepily at the end of the day.
Feline nocturnal activity can be the bane of a cat owner's life. Soon after falling into a deep sleep, your 5-15lb cat jumps heavily onto your chest, or perhaps she stealthily climbs under the bed covers and violently attacks your feet, awakening you with a start! Some cat owners are serenaded awake by their cat's insistent cries to be fed at exactly 3am.
In their sleepy haze most cat owners inevitably end up rewarding their cat's night time antics by either giving their cat they attention they crave or by simply feeding them.
However, instead of rewarding your cat, try to understand why your cat is keeping you up at night.
Nocturnal Creatures
Wild cats are nocturnal creatures that hunt at night. Domesticated cats have simply kept this natural habit and adapted it to indoor life.
Most house cats literally sleep away their days whilst their owners are away at school or work, but when you arrive back home you cat's day truly begins as you give her food and attention. By the time you go to bed in the evening, your cat is midway through her 'day'.
Although you might be enticed by the idea of locking your cat out of your bedroom at night, this is not the best course of action to take, as most cats will scratch at the bedroom door until they are let back in.
Rather, the best thing to do is to enhance your cat's daytime activity level so much so that she will sleep during the night. Although this may seem easier said than done, there are a few tricks that you can try.
Increase Playtime
Try to play with your cat a few hours before bedtime. Use toys that will encourage your cat to jump up and run about, such as a laser toy.
Give Your Cat Her Own Bed
Provide your cat with a warm, soft and comfortable bed all her own - preferably in another room. Choose a cat bed that has rounded edges or has a cave type appearance. Another option is to purchase a self-heating cat bed.
Feeding Times
Adjusting the times at which you feed your cat can also help in keeping out of attack mode at night. The easiest change to make is to feed your cat her evening meal later so that it will cause her to be lethargic and more willing to sleep. Another option is provide your cat with an automatic feeder so that she always has access to food.
Adopt A Friend
If you only have one cat, you may want to consider getting her a live-in friend. Another cat in the house will help to increase your cat's daytime activity level, whilst simultaneously decreasing her need to want to play with you at nighttime.
Get A Window Perch
Installing a window perch for your cat will allow her to look outside and keep watch. This will help keep her focused so that she may be too tired to play at night.
You can even install a birdfeeder right outside the window. The birdfeeder will attract birds and keep your cats attention.
Ignore the Behavior
As hard as it may be, do not reward your cat's nighttime antics. Try to ignore them instead. Otherwise you cat may be lead to believe that her behavior is allowed and she will continue to keep you up at night.
If all else fails, buy yourself a pair of good pair of earplugs and keep your bedroom door closed. As soon as she realizes that you won't be tending to her every whim, she'll eventually leave you alone to sleep through the night.
Photo Credit: MartinSiefke
Feline nocturnal activity can be the bane of a cat owner's life. Soon after falling into a deep sleep, your 5-15lb cat jumps heavily onto your chest, or perhaps she stealthily climbs under the bed covers and violently attacks your feet, awakening you with a start! Some cat owners are serenaded awake by their cat's insistent cries to be fed at exactly 3am.
In their sleepy haze most cat owners inevitably end up rewarding their cat's night time antics by either giving their cat they attention they crave or by simply feeding them.
However, instead of rewarding your cat, try to understand why your cat is keeping you up at night.
Nocturnal Creatures
Wild cats are nocturnal creatures that hunt at night. Domesticated cats have simply kept this natural habit and adapted it to indoor life.
Most house cats literally sleep away their days whilst their owners are away at school or work, but when you arrive back home you cat's day truly begins as you give her food and attention. By the time you go to bed in the evening, your cat is midway through her 'day'.
Although you might be enticed by the idea of locking your cat out of your bedroom at night, this is not the best course of action to take, as most cats will scratch at the bedroom door until they are let back in.
Rather, the best thing to do is to enhance your cat's daytime activity level so much so that she will sleep during the night. Although this may seem easier said than done, there are a few tricks that you can try.
Increase Playtime
Try to play with your cat a few hours before bedtime. Use toys that will encourage your cat to jump up and run about, such as a laser toy.
Give Your Cat Her Own Bed
Provide your cat with a warm, soft and comfortable bed all her own - preferably in another room. Choose a cat bed that has rounded edges or has a cave type appearance. Another option is to purchase a self-heating cat bed.
Feeding Times
Adjusting the times at which you feed your cat can also help in keeping out of attack mode at night. The easiest change to make is to feed your cat her evening meal later so that it will cause her to be lethargic and more willing to sleep. Another option is provide your cat with an automatic feeder so that she always has access to food.
Adopt A Friend
If you only have one cat, you may want to consider getting her a live-in friend. Another cat in the house will help to increase your cat's daytime activity level, whilst simultaneously decreasing her need to want to play with you at nighttime.
Get A Window Perch
Installing a window perch for your cat will allow her to look outside and keep watch. This will help keep her focused so that she may be too tired to play at night.
You can even install a birdfeeder right outside the window. The birdfeeder will attract birds and keep your cats attention.
Ignore the Behavior
As hard as it may be, do not reward your cat's nighttime antics. Try to ignore them instead. Otherwise you cat may be lead to believe that her behavior is allowed and she will continue to keep you up at night.
If all else fails, buy yourself a pair of good pair of earplugs and keep your bedroom door closed. As soon as she realizes that you won't be tending to her every whim, she'll eventually leave you alone to sleep through the night.
Photo Credit: MartinSiefke
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