It’s that amazing rejuvenating thing we all used to do every night. Not anymore. An increasing amount of us struggle to sleep. The statistics are telling, one third of the American population now regularly gets less than the doctor recommended eight hours of sleep a night.
Such is the proliferation of sleeping disorders that the Centre for Disease Control recently declared the country’s lack of sleep constitutes a public health epidemic. Yikes!
So, what has this got to do with cats I hear you ask? Well, unfortunately many of us struggle to get back to sleep when awoken and many cat owners have problems with their feline friends waking them up in the night.
Whether this is our furry companions demanding a feed, simply jumping into bed for a cuddle or fighting loudly with the neighbour’s cat, the result is the same – you end up with bags under your eyes and a heavy head in the morning.
So what can’t cat owners do to prevent their moggies from getting upto midnight mischief? Well, read on below and I’ll let you on a few tried and tested tips.
Close the door and use earplugs
This may sound like super obvious advice but if your cat is causing you nighttime problems then it could be time to simply sleep with the door closed.
Now I know this can seem a little bit cruel, after all sleeping with a cat curled up and purring on your toes is one of the most pleasant sensations I know. However if their nighttime antics are causing you sleep woes it could be time to banish the little whisker wearers from the bedroom entirely.
Top tip, if you’re planning to try this eviction method then invest in a good pair of earplugs as your feline friend is going to make their absence known, audibly. And while you’re at it, maybe get yourself an eye mask. Otherwise you might be seeing some sad little eyes peeking in at you from the window ledge. Heartbreaking yes but stay strong people!
Give your pussycat some attention before bed
One of the main reasons cats tend to play up during the night is that they are traditionally nocturnal animals. That means they come out to hunt and play when the sunsets and us humans are heading off to our bed. Incidentally, this is the reason our furballs snooze so much during the day.
Unless you diligently hit the hay as soon as the sun goes down the likelihood is you will have a crossover period in the evening when your cat is a little bit more alert. Take this opportunity to interact as much as possible with them. This is the time to get the ball of string out and go mad. Why not try a little cat yoga at home and you can both burn off some calories. Yes, cat yoga, it’s a thing!
Your aim with this evening playtime session is to tire your cat out as much as possible before you yourself head to bed. This is especially important if you have a house cat, or if your walls are thin and your feline friend will be able to make themselves heard during the night.
Remember who is the boss
You have a cat therefore you’re a nice person. This is science fact, well at least it is as far as I am concerned. As much as we love our feline friends, they are master manipulators, this is also science fact, really it is. Check out the findings of this study. Like children, they have an ability to identify your soft spots and take advantage of them.
If your cat out of curiosity woke you up one evening, made a little fuss and for whatever reason you rewarded this bad behaviour with food, then guess what? They are going to try it again. And again. It’s up to you to be strong and ignore them, simply tell them politely to ‘go away’ and roll over. Overtime they will learn you aren’t such a soft touch and they will give up.
Remember you’re the boss. Your cat eats when you are ready for them to eat. If they want a midnight snack they can go out and catch a mouse.
Establishing healthy routines is key
Cats, like humans, enjoy routine. If you go to bed and get up at roughly predictable times they are going to learn what to expect from and when. By this I mean they will learn when to expect breakfast time, when to expect their dinner and when they can expect a little play or a cuddle.
Now that’s not to say to you can’t go out and enjoy your own life every once in a while, but for your sake and theirs try not to mix up their mealtimes too much. If they become suspicious they might not be getting fed in the morning, it’s more likely they are going to bust into your room at odd hours in the search for snacks.
Plus, for your the sake of your own sleep the experts suggest that nothing will help you nod off quicker and stay awake than going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time. Yep, bedtimes are not just for kids, they are for adults – and cats – too!
Thanks for reading!