Discover Do Cats Sleep at Night? How Can I Give My Cat to Sleep: Know how to get a cat to sleep at night: Maybe if you are considering adopting a cat or have recently done it, do not know how to get a kitten to sleep through the night, but the favorite time of games for many cats is at night.
Highlights:
- Cats are naturally active at night due to their evolutionary history as nocturnal hunters.
- Ensure your cat has a cozy bed and access to elevated places for resting.
- Regular playtime during the day can help tire your cat out, reducing nighttime activity.
- If possible, adopt another cat as a playmate to keep each other entertained.
- Resist the urge to feed or engage with your cat when they act out at night to discourage the behavior.
Cats are nocturnal by nature because wild cats hunt at night, and domestic cats still retain this tendency to be night owls. Which makes them very active at night and costs them sleep at this time.
These cats, if they get bored, do not mind jumping on you at four in the morning or meowing incessantly until you pay attention.
Do Cats Sleep at Night?
Yes, cats do sleep at night, but they also sleep during the day. Cats typically sleep around 18 hours a day, taking short naps throughout.
Sometimes, they may become active at night and in the early morning, which can be challenging for their owners’ sleep schedules.
What Can I Give My Cat to Sleep at Night? – (8 Reasons)
Your cat may not sleep at night primarily because they are naturally nocturnal and may not get enough exercise. Other factors like the environment and health can also play a role. Pay attention to their behavior to understand the cause and find solutions.
However, they are not the only causes that explain why they remain more active at night, since environmental or health factors may also come into play.
In general, this behavior is usually accompanied by other signs that can help us better identify the cause and find out if it is a problem or part of its nature.
In this way, paying attention to all your reactions is essential to understand the animal and help it.
If you have just adopted a feline that does not let you sleep, or suddenly appears restless at the end of the day, in this article of The Pets Aid, we will answer the question of why your cat does not sleep at night detailing the most common causes.
We will help you solve the problem with our advice.
1. The Cat, a Nocturnal Animal
By nature, the cat is a nocturnal animal that prefers the dark night to go hunting, feed, and perform its daily activity.
- Exceptional Night Vision: Their evolution in the wild has equipped them with remarkable night vision, allowing them to see exceptionally well in dimly lit environments, surpassing their daytime vision capabilities.
- Tapetum Lucidum: This extraordinary night vision is thanks to their eye’s specialized anatomy, featuring a tissue known as tapetum lucidum. This tissue absorbs and reflects light before it reaches the retina, enhancing their vision in the dark.
- Adaptation Varies: While some domestic cats have adjusted their sleep patterns to align somewhat with their human companions, many others maintain their natural nocturnal behavior.
- Nighttime Activity: This innate nocturnal activity, combined with various factors we’ll explore below, can result in your cat staying awake at night and sleeping during the day.
2. The Importance of a Suitable Bed
It is no secret to anyone that cats are much more exquisite animals than dogs, and not having a comfortable and safe bed can be the reason that explains why your cat does not sleep at night.
However, choosing the ideal cat bed may not be so simple since we must first meet our furry companion and discover their tastes in terms of shape, size, and structure.
Today we have endless beds and mattresses for pets, and to select the perfect product, it is essential to observe the animal and pay attention to their preferences.
In general, cats prefer beds that provide warmth and security, with just the right size to go around in it, since those of larger dimensions are not so cozy for them.
So, if you notice that your cat has a certain preference for your bed or sofa, and never lies in his, it is probably because he doesn’t like it and you should change it.
3. He Doesn’t Like to Sleep on the Floor
Many cats prefer heights to sleep, and if at night you forbid access to the highest places in the home, the animal will choose to rest in your absence.
Thus, if you suspect that this may be a reason that explains why your cat does not sleep at night, place shelves with enough size to place one of them in his bed, or get a structure for cats with several levels and observe their behavior.
4. Lack of Activity and Exercise
Cats that do not usually do any type of exercise have a greater predisposition to be active at night due to the accumulation of energy.
Despite having a reputation for being calm and sedentary, cats are also animals that need to exercise and stay physically and mentally stimulated through play.
Unfortunately, myths about the species have led many cat tutors to believe that they do not need to receive so much attention from them, and nothing is further from reality.
These animals also need to spend hours with their human companions, play and exercise, as well as receive affection and feel properly cared for.
The lack of play, also, produces in the cats a high state of boredom, which can lead to these animals, even, to become destroyers with the furniture, household objects, etc.
Therefore, it is also possible that the cat does not sleep at night and meow to get your attention. Discover how to play with your cat and start having fun with him.
5. Do You Spend Many Hours Alone During the Day?
About the previous point, cats that spend many hours alone during the day and do not have proper environmental enrichment take the opportunity to sleep.
In this way, when the night comes, they are totally rested and willing to enjoy your company, trying to play with you or, if they don’t get it, running around the house, jumping, meowing.
On the other hand, as we said, the lack of mental stimulation can also develop boredom in cats, as well as stress and frustration.
All this translates not only in that the cat does not sleep at night. But also in a series of symptoms such as the mentioned destruction of the furniture. It is not using the litter box and even showing some aggressiveness.
6. Is He Hungry?
If your cat does not sleep at night and, besides, go to your bedroom to meow at your side and get your attention, I may be asking for food.
And if when you do you get up to provide what you want, the animal understands that that way, you get what you want. He does not do it to annoy your sleep hours.
He simply does not know that it is something negative for you, and yes, something positive for him. Without realizing it, you reinforce his behavior instead of guiding him to the most appropriate for both.
This is possibly the most natural cause to check and combat since it is as simple as modifying cat food schedules.
So, before going to bed, make sure you feed the animal correctly and see if it comes to you or not once asleep.
Another option for cats that tend to ask for food late in the morning may be the use of an automatic food dispenser since it is also not advisable to let the animal go hungry for not disturbing our sleep.
7. Is in Heat?
The zeal in cats is much more intense than in dogs, leading them to despair if they fail to mate. During this period, both females and males are more active at night, producing large groans and meows that disturb the sleep of their tutors.
Their suffering is such that their instinct can lead them to try to flee the home to find a partner.
Thus, if your cat does not stop meowing at night, does not let you sleep, is restless, and is more than six months old, he is likely in heat. T
herefore, and to avoid unwanted pregnant women, sterilizing the animal in time is the most recommended solution.
8. Is Sick or Sore?
If you have already ruled out the above causes and keep wondering why your cat does not sleep at night and constantly meow, do not hesitate to go to the veterinarian to see if it is a health problem.
Although usually excessive meowing is usually related to emotional pain, they can also emit them to let us know that they feel physical pain or something in their body is not going well.
Like everything else in life, the longer someone or an animal is allowed a behavior, the harder it is to take it away.
How to get cat to sleep at night? – (12 Ways)
To help your cat sleep at night, engage them in daytime activities and play. Consider adopting a playmate if they’re lonely. At night, create a quiet sleeping environment, avoid rewarding nighttime behavior, and provide a comfortable bed.
Here, we are going to give you the keys about how to get a cat to sleep at night. And some guidelines that you must follow to understand the psyche of your animal and thus get to modify this annoying behavior in felines.
As you have seen, several causes explain why your cat does not let you sleep at night; it is even possible that the answer is found in more than one. Thus, your cat may prefer to sleep during the day for several of the reasons mentioned, and not for a single idea.
Therefore, the first recommendation is to find the cause or causes to combat them and help your furry partner to have a better quality of life. That said, check the following tips:
1. Tire It During the Day
If you want your cat to sleep at night, the first thing you should do is tire him during the day. For this, there are several ways.
Also, if you do not have much time to play with your cat because you work, do it at night when you return from working with him because when doing this activity at night, you can tire him at the moment when he is more active.
2. Play With Your Cat and Have Him Exercise
As we have said, doing physical activity is very important to keep it stimulated and tire it so that, at night, it will fall asleep.
For this, it is best to play at different times of the day. And if it is not possible, carry out the activities during the afternoon.
The first way to tire him (and more obviously) is to play with him.
To tire him more in this activity, try to buy fishing rod type toys because with this toy they will have to take out their hunting skills and this will tire him a lot because they will exercise not only his muscles but also his mental concentration, which It will wear out greatly.
Another thing you can do is consider the possibility of taking a walk on the street with him.
3. Buy Some Toys
Please buy her new toys, so she gets tired during the day. How to trick if you do not spend much time at home, we encourage you to do a kind of game, hiding food in different places and containers throughout the house, this will make you entertained looking for food.
If this idea does not convince you because you fear that it will break something, you can color mobiles that move with the wind next to a window (tightly closed) so that it entertains looking at them.
4. Consider Giving Him a Playmate
If you only have one cat, consider adopting another cat to play as a playmate. If the cause is lack of activity and you cannot provide the hours of play you need, perhaps it would be best to incorporate a new member into the family.
Of course, this must be a thoughtful decision, analyzing the character of the cat, choosing the new tenant thinking precisely about him, and making a correct presentation between them.
This will make him not bored when you’re not at home and spend his energy playing with him.
Likewise, if it is revealed at night, it will direct its need to play towards your partner instead of towards you.
However, you should think about this very well because, although a cat is not a great effort to take care of, as if it were to incorporate a second dog at home.
This can cause anxiety or discomfort to your cat, especially if it is old or not very friendly.
5. Living With a Cat of Nocturnal Habits
Although you already know the tricks to make how to get a cat to sleep at night, this is like a process, and overnight your cat will not stop claiming you at night; this is why we are going to leave some tricks so you can cope better with the situation.
6. Do Not Let Him Enter Your Room at Bedtime
Close the door of your room when you go to sleep: You may think that this is not going to stop your cat, and it is true. Your pet will probably start meowing by demanding your attention so that you open the door.
However, the best thing in these cases is to ignore them, try to buy some earplugs before giving up, over time, the cat will get tired of meowing and get used to the new situation.
But yes, make sure your pet does not make much noise and does not disturb the neighbors.
7. Do Not Give Him Food or Pay Attention to Him at Night
If your cat meats, scratches you, or does anything that bothers you because he is hungry or bored and you give him what he asks, this will only reinforce the attitude of your pet and keep him repeating this behavior.
8. Do Not Let Your Room Relate to Games or Toys
When you play with it, do it in another room of your house, and if by chance you claim to play in your room, ignore it and pay attention once it has returned to the living room or to any other part where you are accustomed to playing.
9. Offer Him a Good Bed
A comfortable, warm, and safe place to sleep is key, so don’t skimp on it and look for the most suitable mattress.
10. Prepare a Correct Environmental Enrichment
Especially if you spend many hours alone during the day, you must-have toys and objects that keep you stimulated and entertained. You can opt for scrapers with different levels, food dispensing toys, intelligence games, and even olfactory stimuli such as placing catnip in different parts of the home.
11. Adapt Your Meal Schedules
As we have indicated, feed it before going to bed to ensure you do not go hungry at night and can sleep.
12. Consider Sterilization
You have already been able to verify that zeal is one of the most common causes, so choosing to sterilize the animal may be the best solution.
In addition to getting you both to sleep at night, especially cats suffer during this process for not being able to do what their instinct dictates.
On the other hand, sterilization has multiple advantages, such as reducing the chances of breast cancer, infection of the uterus, or avoiding marking inside the home.
Conclusion
This is why, for many cat owners, bedtime becomes a real nightmare since their pets wake them up day and day too.
Most people respond to this situation by feeding or caressing them so they can calm down, and the truth is that, with this, they only reinforce the animal’s behavior by causing this problem to continue over time.