How to Stop Your Cat From Waking You Up in the Morning
Your cat may have misled you in the past and then continued to mislead you because you were so easily tricked. If your cat persists on waking you up at 4 a.m. every day, it is most likely because they have tricked you before. The animal that comes up to your shins and poops in a box in the corner has outwitted you, and you should be pleased with yourself. The good news is that you are not alone in your feelings. Cats are cunning creatures who are adept at manipulating their owners into doing what they want, such as waking them up in the morning and pestering them for food and attention.
Why Cats Annoy Their People in the Morning
For example, if your cat insists on waking you up every morning at 4 a.m., it’s likely that they deceived you at some point in the past and then continued to mislead you since you were such an easy target. The animal that comes up to your shins and poops in a box in the corner has outsmarted you, and you should be pleased with yourself. However, you are not alone in your feelings. Ingenious creatures, cats are adept at convincing their owners to do what they want, such as waking them up in the morning and pestering them for food or attention.
- Your kitty is in need of food
- Your cat had woken you up earlier, and you had fed them before that.
Let us concentrate on the latter. A strong likelihood that your cat jumped on you in the morning, pawed at your face, or started knocking stuff from your shelves has occurred at some time. It’s also possible that you fed them in order to put them to sleep so that you could get back to sleep. There is no doubt in my mind that your cat was aware of the link and saved the knowledge for subsequent use. An obnoxious human in the morning = breakfast. Your cat is effectively playing second fiddle to you during this process.
It’s possible that they didn’t want food the first few times — perhaps they were bored and wanted to play — but after they saw that bothering you resulted in food, they discovered a new technique to get a mid-morning snack.
In the words of Dr.
Even if cats insist on having breakfast at four in the morning, they will have no reason to believe otherwise if you give in and feed them when they meow, swat objects off shelves, and otherwise irritate the living daylights out of you.
It will take some time and patience, as well as a few specialized equipment, but you can train your cat to quit bothering you while you sleep.
Training Your Cat to Stop Waking You Up in the Morning
“If you want to see a change in your cat’s behavior, you must take some action to bring about that change,” Dr. Koski advises. “You can’t just lock your door and expect your cat to do anything else – you have to provide your cat with an alternate pastime that they will like,” says the author. To put it another way, you can’t just ignore your cat and expect that it would go away. Obviously, this does not imply that you should give in and encourage your cat’s unpleasant behavior with food or attention; nonetheless, you cannot expect your cat to quit waking you up until you provide them with an alternative source of attention.
Use an Automatic Feeder to Recondition Your Cat’s Morning Mealtime
To educate your cat to get up later in the morning — or at the very least, to not wake you up before the sun rises — you’ll need a technique to reward them with food that doesn’t need you to get out of bed, which will simply reinforce the unpleasant behavior you’re attempting to correct. Here’s where an automated feeder comes in to help out. With the help of an automated feeder, you may gradually retrain your cat to expect meals later in the day.
- Start Early: Set the feeder to distribute food at a time that is little earlier than the time that your cat generally wakes you up in the morning. This manner, they won’t have an opportunity to repeat the conduct that previously earned them a reward
- For example, they won’t be able to irritate you in order to get fed. Afterwards, set the feeder to go off a few minutes later. After a few days, you may remove the feeder. Then, every few days, move the timing of the feeder later and later in the day. If your cat begins to bother you in the mornings again, try setting the timer a few minutes earlier for a few days and then returning to the earlier timings.
Eventually, your cat will come to anticipate food later and later in the morning (cats are creatures of ritual and have quite consistent internal clocks), and they will no longer feel the need to wake you up in the morning. When choosing a feeder, look for one that is simple to clean, dependable, and (ideally) capable of distributing both wet and dry food. (Because dry food has less moisture than wet food, it increases the likelihood of a cat developing bladder irritation, stones, constipation, and urinary blockage.) It is not necessarily required to get a wet-food automated feeder, but it may prove to be more beneficial in the long term.
With that stated, here are some of our favorite automated feeders to get you started.
What to Do If Your Cat Doesn’t Respond to Training
If, despite your reconditioning training, your cat continues to wake you up and appears to be continuously hungry, it is possible that he has a medical issue that has to be addressed. Cats with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and other medical conditions may have ravenous appetites, according to the ASPCA. Consequently, if your training doesn’t appear to be having much of an impact on your cat’s early morning wake-ups, your veterinarian can assist you in getting to the bottom of the problem. More information on these disorders may be found in the articles ” Your Cat and Diabetes: Everything You Need to Know ” and ” Hyperthyroidism in Cats.”
Leave Out Toys and Food Puzzles for Your Cat at Night
If, despite your reconditioning training, your cat continues to wake you up and appears to be continuously hungry, it is possible that he has a medical issue that has to be attended to. Extreme appetites in cats can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes and hyperthyroidism.
So, if your cat’s early morning wake-ups don’t seem to be influenced by your training, your veterinarian can assist you in determining the cause. Read “Your Cat with Diabetes: Everything You Need to Know” and “Hyperthyroidism in Cats” for additional information on these illnesses.
- Food Puzzles: Hide food puzzles about the home so that your cat may “hunt” for them at night to keep them entertained. One of the most appealing aspects of a food puzzle is that it provides your cat with an additional source of fun once they’ve sniffed out their “prey.”
Organize food puzzles throughout the home so that your cat can “search” for them at night to keep them entertained. The most appealing aspect of a food puzzle is that it provides your cat with an extra source of fun once they’ve located their “prey.”
- Food Puzzles: Hide food puzzles about the home so that your cat may amuse himself by “searching” for them at night. One of the most appealing aspects of a food puzzle is that it provides your cat with an additional source of fun once they’ve sniffed out the “prey.”
KONG Refillable Beaver Catnip Toy is a catnip toy made by Kong. KONG Hedgehog Catnip Toy with Refillable Bag
- Pet:If your cat is an only kid, you might want to explore bringing in an additional animal companion to play with them.
Play With Your Cat Before Bed
You must return an obnoxious cat to its usual cycle if you want to keep them from frightening you first thing in the morning when you awake. Hunt, groom, and sleep are the three phases of a cat’s day. Dr. Koski offers the following activities to ensure that your cat gets the most out of playing and sleeps through the night.
- You must return an obnoxious cat to its usual cycle if you want to keep them from frightening you in the morning. Hunting, grooming, and sleeping are the three phases of a cat’s day. If you want your cat to sleep through the night, Dr. Koski offers the following tips to make the most of playing with him.
- You must return an obnoxious cat to its usual cycle if you want to keep them from harassing you first thing in the morning. Hunt, groom, and sleep are the three stages of a cat’s day. Dr. Koski suggests the following tips to help your cat get the most out of playtime and sleep through the night.
- Make them go through the prey process numerous times to get their attention. Give your cat a high-protein supper after they’ve finished their hunt and caught their prey so that they feel like they’ve had a successful hunt
Da Bird is a cat wand that comes with a number of adjustable “lures,” making it a fantastic play choice. Because no two cats are alike, you shouldn’t expect your cat to be interested in whatever toy you put in front of them for hunting or playing. Da Bird is useful because it allows you to change out lures to identify what your cat is most interested in “hunting,” utilizing a variety of lures such as feathers, toy mice, insects, and other natural objects to attract his attention. Experiment with different lures until you find one that works best for your individual cat’s preferences.
Should You Ignore Your Cat or Lock Them Out of the Room at Night?
This is a little more difficult. In other words, you shouldn’t simply ignore your cat; you shouldn’t also not ignore your cat. The simple act of closing the door and keeping your cat out of the bedroom may be effective, though they will likely protest for a few of nights by yowling outside the door and scratching at it. However, closing the door will not alleviate their ennui. You can close the door, but make certain that you’ve offered your cat with alternate types of fun, such as those listed above, before doing so.
The fact that you have locked a hungry cat away will not make them any less hungry, and they will come up with new tactics to grab your attention in order to acquire food.
In other words, they will believe that if they disturb you, you will kick them out and lock the door, and then they will be fed.
(Can you see why it’s critical to provide them with something to do?) You might also experiment with installing blackout curtains on your windows (not just in the bedroom, but throughout your home).
By using blackout curtains, you may keep your cat from seeing the sunrise and, as a result, from assuming it is time for feeding or play. However, just as closing the door and ignoring your cat would not fix the problem, closing the curtains will not solve the problem either.
Cat Yowling at Night: Should You Be Concerned?
When it comes to waking you up in the morning, there is a difference between a cat who is restless and yowling in the middle of the night. However, it is possible that there is an underlying medical condition that is causing the behavior problem. Here are some of the most prevalent reasons why cats yowl at night, according to experts.
- Yawling in senior cats might be caused by Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (also known as feline dementia), which is a neurological condition. Excessive yowling may be caused by boredom in an indoor cat that does not have much chance for exercise or play. Cats can become stressed by sudden changes in their routine, such as the arrival of a new infant or a recent move. They will vocalize as a result of this stress. When all other possible reasons of your cat’s yowling have been eliminated, it’s time to take your cat to the veterinarian for an examination. Furthermore, if your cat is vocalizing while using the litter box, take them to the veterinarian right away. If this occurs, it might indicate the presence of a potentially lethal urinary blockage.
Help With Other Common Cat Issues
Feeders for Multi-Cat Households, as well as Feeding Instructions for Multiple Cats The Best Cat Food Bowls and Interactive Feeders to Delight Your Kitty Scratch This, Not That! The Best Cat Food Bowls and Interactive Feeders to Delight Your Kitty Scratch This, Not That! Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. How to Keep Your Furniture in Good Condition The Best Way to Acquaint Your New Dog with Your Other Pets
How to Stop Your Cat From Waking You Up at Night
When you’re trying to sleep, does your cat keep you awake by playing on the bed, begging to be fed, or begging for cuddling time when all you want is to sleep? Your ability to get a good night’s sleep is vitally crucial to your health and should not be disturbed by your cat. It can be much more difficult for persons who suffer from sleep disorders, who may have difficulty falling back to sleep after being roused by a demanding cat. There is no need to suffer from sleep loss caused by cats, on the other hand.
Why Does Your Cat Wake You at Night?
Adrienne Legault’s The Spruce is a novel about a young woman who falls in love with her best friend. When it comes to their natural environment, cats are nocturnal creatures. They sleep virtually the whole day and play or hunt almost the entire night. You may be woken up in the middle of the night for a variety of reasons, including your cat’s behavior.
- It’s possible that your cat isn’t getting enough stimulation, enrichment, and exercise during its active times, which means that when you’re starting to drift off, your cat may be wide awake and ready to play. The fact that your cat spends most of its active time in the house while you are at work or away suggests that it is bored and in need of companionship. It’s midnight and your cat is hungry and thirsty, perhaps it’s time for a midnight snack or a special treat
- Your cat’s schedule is no longer in sync with yours
- Instead, it is several hours behind. Something has gotten into your kitty’s bedding or litterpan
- While you’re starting to drift off to sleep, your cat may be wide awake and seeking for something to do
- This might be because it isn’t getting enough stimulation and enrichment during its active times. The fact that your cat spends most of its active time in the house while you are at work or elsewhere suggests that it is bored and in search of friendship. Your kitten is hungry, thirsty, or needs a midnight snack or a special treat, and you want to provide it. Because of this, your cat’s routine is no longer in sync with yours. Something has gotten into your cat’s bedding or litterpan.
How to Stop Your Cat From Waking You
Adrienne Legault’s The Spruce is a novel about a young woman who falls in love with her best friend. It is possible to train (or retrain) your cat not to wake you up in the middle of the night using a variety of ways. Some will necessitate some behavioral alterations on the part of the pet owner, so be certain that all members of the household are on board with the changes. Make a decision on how you will react to your cat before you go to bed. Making a choice in the middle of the night is not the greatest time to do it.
- Schedule an involved hour-long play session with your cat about an hour before night to assist it in resetting its internal clock. Immediately after the play session, give your cat something light and kitty-appropriate to nibble on, such as a little treat. This should prevent your cat from angling for food in the middle of the night
- If your cat wakes you up nonetheless, ignore it. After a few attempts, your cat will realize that it is not receiving the attention it desires from you and may decide to leave you alone. If you suffer from a sleep condition, it’s best not to let your cat to sleep on your bed at any point. In order to accomplish this, you must make your bedroom off limits at all times. Set up a comfy cat bed in a spare room, corner of the living room (with a screen for privacy), or even the bathroom for your cat to sleep in during the day. When doing so, make sure the cat has access to water and a litterpan wherever it is kept at night while you are not home. Initially, try rubbing a small amount of catnip into the bed to entice the cat to use it. When a solitary cat is left alone at home all day, it is likely to get bored and to anticipate its human companion to offer attention in the evening hours. A second cat may provide company during the day and may reduce the number of nocturnal cravings to wake you up for play in the middle of the night. This is especially true for kittens, who have a tremendous amount of energy to expend throughout their first year of development. Two kittens are nearly always preferable than one, and this is a particularly good time to bring cats into a household. A second adult cat for your house that will get along with your first adult cat might be tough to find and should be done with care to ensure that your original cat has a friend that will not give it stress or vice versa. If your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night in search of breakfast, avoid feeding it at the time of its demand, or it will continue to wake you up at this time of day. Possessing a safe, designated location, such as a spare bedroom, where your cat may sleep, eat and drink, and pee without disturbing your sleep routine and disrupting your bond with your cat can be beneficial. Kittens dislike surprises and are best content when their household revolves around a routine that they can foresee. Maintaining the well-being of your cat and ensuring that you get a good night’s sleep every night will go a long way toward ensuring that it is happy and healthy.
Next Steps
Adrienne Legault’s The Spruce is a novel about a young woman who falls in love with her best friend. You should strive to establish a tranquil atmosphere to assist you (and your cat) obtain some restorative sleep if you find yourself woken by a loud or bothersome cat. Again, be certain that all members of your family are informed of the actions you are doing. Someone else may feed your cat in the middle of the night if you ignore your cat. In this case, the ignoring is for naught.
- No matter how tightly you seal your bedroom door, a determined cat will claw at the door for a while before giving up and either going to sleep or finding another activity to occupy his or her time. By installing a vertical scratch pad on your door, cutting your cat’s nails on a regular basis, or having your veterinarian fit your cat with plastic nail caps such as Soft Claws, you may help avoid damage to your door. There are a variety of commercial goods available that play relaxing sounds that may aid in your sleep (with your cat on the other side of the door). You may choose from a variety of sounds such as bird songs, ocean or waterfall noises, or just white noise. Earphones or earbuds will aid in amplifying and enhancing the sleep-inducing effects
- But, they are not required. When you go to bed at night, use room-darkening shades to totally darken your room in order to avoid those pouncing, biting assaults on your toes. To save energy, replace any digital or fluorescent-dial clocks beside your nightstand with non-illuminated models or just use your phone
- Swimmers’ earplugs can be used if all else fails and your cat’s sounds or scratching at the door keeps you awake. They efficiently block the ear canal and should provide you with some respite.
If you have any reason to believe your pet is unwell, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Always consult your veterinarian for health-related inquiries, since they have evaluated your pet and are familiar with the pet’s medical history, and they can provide the most appropriate suggestions for your pet.
Cats and the 4 am Wake-Up Call
The 22nd of October, 2013 It’s 4 a.m., do you know where your cat has disappeared to? If you are like many individuals who wake up at 4 a.m. to a meowing, pawing, walking on you, or knocking your belongings off the dresser, your cat is likely sitting on or near your bed meowing, pawing, walking on you, or knocking your belongings off the dresser. But don’t get discouraged if this describes your morning! There’s still hope for a restful night’s rest. But first, it’s important to grasp a few fundamental principles of human behavior:
- On the 22nd of October in the year 2013. Is your cat anywhere in the house at 4 a.m.? If you are like many individuals who wake up at 4 a.m. to a meowing, pawing, walking on you, or knocking your things off the dresser, your cat is likely sitting on or near your bed meowing, pawing, or walking on you. But don’t get discouraged if this describes your morning. A nice night’s sleep is still a possibility. Before anything else, it’s a good idea to be familiar with a few basic behavioral rules.
As a result, now that we understand how it might occur, what should we do if it does occur? It is beneficial to bear in mind a third guiding principle of conduct: When we attempt to ignore a behavior that we have previously praised, it is common for it to become worse for a period of time before finally disappearing. An “extinction explosion” is what is referred to as this. It is possible to combat this sort of behavior by just ignoring it if you have the necessary time and patience; however, you must be exceedingly persistent and refuse to give in even one single time, or you will rapidly find yourself back at square one.
- Indeed, if two minutes of meowing two days ago and five minutes yesterday were effective, why shouldn’t fifteen minutes of meowing be effective today as well?
- Adding “feeding the cat” to your daily routine at a later point in the day is an easy approach to accomplish this goal.
- It is possible that if feeding the cat is the fourth or fifth item you do in the morning, something else (for example, cleaning your teeth) will serve as a trigger for getting the cat fed.
- As in: get up, feed the cat when it wakes us up, get out of bed quietly and with as little contact as possible, place the cat in the bathroom or another room separate from the bedroom (ensure there is a litter box accessible), and return to bed.
- In the event that you have not yet been woken up at 4 a.m.
- (If you want to sleep in on days when you want to, simply turn it on after you wake up but before you get up.) The cat will learn that the alarm is a signal to eat, and he or she will not be rewarded for attempting to wake us up in the morning.
These approaches are effective for the vast majority of cats, however as we all know, cats are tenacious creatures that will not give up. If you attempt these suggestions and they do not work, please do not hesitate to phone the clinic and chat with one of our physicians for more suggestions.
How To Stop Your Cat From Waking You Up at 4am!
Is your cat meowing in the middle of the night? Here’s how to put an end to your cat’s meowing at night. Is your cat waking you awake at 4 a.m.? You are not alone in your feelings. Many cat owners do not use alarm clocks since their cats will wake them up in the middle of the night, begging to be fed, making them entirely superfluous. When there is already food in the dish, this ritual becomes much more aggravating to go through. If you can rely on your cat to wake you up at the crack of dawn, I am here to assist you in sleeping in.
- Because nature has programmed them to be this way in order to live.
- That implies they are inherently driven to hunt at times of day when their prey is most abundant, such as dawn and twilight.
- Why does your cat feel the need to wake you up in the middle of the night to ask for more food?
- In order to survive in the wild, one cat must hunt, catch, kill, and consume eight to twelve mice or other tiny prey every single day.
- As a result, when the predawn call to go hunting comes, the kibble in the dish is of little interest to him.
- Only then is the dinner considered to be worthwhile.
- Liz Bales explains why your cat is meowing—and how to put a stop to this behavior.
Please let me know how things are going for you.
What you can do is present them with a method to satisfy their impulses while also allowing you to satisfy yours!
Then, before retiring for the evening, take the feeders out of sight around your home.
Finally, your cat will be able to seek for its food sources rather than you!
Cats eight years of age and older are susceptible to developing hyperthyroidism.
Consider taking your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup and, if necessary, bloodwork to rule out any medical problems.
Liz Bales, VMD, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and serves as the Chief Veterinary Advisor for Modern Cat.
She is also the creator of Doc and Phoebe’s Cat Company and the developer of The Indoor Hunting Feeder*for cats*, which she developed in her spare time.
Modern Cat is made possible by contributions from readers. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission. Thank you very much for your help!
Cat waking you up at 4am, yeah that’s normal. Wanna fix it?
Your REM sleep is keeping you up till 4 a.m., and you are totally loving it. till your cat begins nibbling at your toes or putting his or her nose in your direction. Get up and go! It’s time to eat something! Seriously? Seriously. This tedious aspect of cat ownership is affectionately referred to as Night Nudging by me. As a matter of fact, Night Nudging is so widespread that cat owners have come to embrace it as part of the package. Cats are so amazing that it is worth getting out of bed to see them.
- What causes cats to Night Nudge?
- This hunting is not restricted to the daylight hours.
- Because there are no mice or birds running around your house in the tiny hours of the morning, your cat will hunt you while you are asleep!
- During the night, utilize a feeding device to conceal food about your home.
- Dr.
- It was created with the goal of recreating the natural Seeking Circuit of the feline hunter and allowing them to realize their inherent desires.
- Finally, your cat will be able to seek for its food sources rather than you!
- Meow.
How to Keep a Cat from Waking You Up
Documentation Download Documentation Download Documentation Is it possible that your cat brought in mice through the cat flap at 3 a.m.? Does it appear that she has taken a flying jump upon your most sensitive and fragile areas? Is she simply meowing at you to get you out of bed, or is she anything more? Cats are experts at planning their actions and following through on them. This can frequently interfere with getting a decent night’s sleep. It is possible to bring your troubles under control if you find yourself experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.
- 1 Do not pay attention to her meowing. When your cat first begins meowing in the middle of the night, you want to make sure she is all right. If you determine that she is not unwell and that she has plenty of water and food, she may simply be requesting your attention. If the inappropriate conduct continues every night, you must ignore her. At first, it may seem challenging, but perseverance will eventually pay off. Every time she meows, you will reinforce her negative behavior by coming to her every time she meows.
- Never discipline her or pay her any attention at all while she is in your care. It doesn’t matter whether you are disciplining her, she is searching for some kind of recognition from you. Instead of allowing her to annoy you, place a toy hanging from a scratch post at the end of your bed for her to play with instead of troubling you
- If your cat refuses to comply, you might purchase earplugs or headphones to prevent you from hearing her until she gets the message.
- 2 Give them something to eat before bed. If your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night and demands to be fed, you can feed her immediately before you go to bed. Don’t worry about serving her a complete dinner, but make it substantial enough so she feels like she is getting more than just a treat. This corresponds to the natural beat of a cat. They hunt, eat, groom, and then sleep in order to regain energy for the following day’s hunting expedition. If you feed your cat before bed, she will be satisfied and eager to sleep so that she may restore her energy for her next hunt the next morning. It will also teach your cat that eating late in the evening means it is time to sleep.
- Another option is to purchase a timed feeder, which will automatically release food for them at various times during the night. It is likely that your cat will learn to go to her food bowl on her own, rather than waking you up
- 3 Have fun with them. One of the most common reasons your cat may be up at night is that she is bored with her surroundings. If your cat has been left alone all day, she will be eager to play and burn off some energy when you get home from work. Every day, try to set aside some time to play with your cat. Allow them to chase after a toy that you have dragged across the floor. You may even offer them something to play with on their own to keep them occupied. It is more probable that she will be able to sleep well at night if she expends some of the energy she has accumulated.
- Toys that imitate the movements of animals such as birds or mice are available. Play fetch with ping pong balls or fuzzy mouse toys to keep the kids entertained. It’s also possible to keep toys out with catnip in them during the day so she can entertain herself while you aren’t there. Play with your cat until she appears to be completely exhausted. This will ensure that she has a better night’s sleep every night
- If your cat is outgoing, consider introducing playing with other cats into your routine. Additionally, you may acquire her a second cat to assist her be more active during the day.
- 4 Prevent them from biting you. If your cat has a penchant for biting your fingers or toes, try to keep this behavior from occurring at night. To sleep, wrap oneself entirely in a sheet or blanket before retiring for the evening. Additionally, you can put socks on your feet to prevent your cat from seeing your toes moving and mistaking them for prey. Alternatively, give her something else to gnaw on.
- Allow her to have access to catnip toys, sisal balls, scratching posts, or anything else she enjoys chewing on
- Ensure that she has access to catnip toys, sisal balls, scratching posts, and anything else she enjoys chewing on.
- 1 Recognize the reasons why your cat keeps you up at night. The majority of cats have simple, understandable reasons for staying up late at night. Your cat is probably bored or hungry, or she may want your assistance in cleaning the litter box.
- Your cat is frequently left alone in the house all day while you are at work or school, with little opportunity for social interaction. She sleeps all day and may become bored at night since she has no one to play with
- She may also be depressed.
- 2Do not give her anything to eat. It is one of the worst things you can do to a cat is to get up and feed her as soon as she meows or jumps on you. She will believe that this is the most effective method of obtaining more food and will continue in this manner. Holding out for an extended period of time before giving in is likewise a poor decision. This may perhaps be more motivating for her than simply giving in straight away. She will believe that you are playing a game with her to see how long it takes you to ultimately wake up and feed her. A pursuit, rather than delayed pleasure, appeals to her natural inclinations, and she is drawn in by it. It’s preferable not to give in at all if possible. 3 Take away the temptation. Taking use of their height advantage, cats prefer to jump and pounce on things. When you’re asleep, you’re the perfect prey for criminals. Consider looking around your room to see if there are any common areas that your cat likes to pounce from. Identify any high shelves, headboards, or dressers where she might be able to climb to come to you in the middle of the night. It is feasible for you to remove them from your room or reposition them so that she will not be able to leap on you. If it isn’t possible, cover them with slippery material or cover them with stuff that she will not be able to knock off. Her leaping up to such spots and pouncing on you will be discouraged as a result of this. 4 Reduce your cat’s exposure to pests as much as possible. If your cat wakes you up by bringing you vermin, you need to put a stop to this habit immediately. If your cat is an indoor/outdoor kitty, bring her in at night to keep her safe. As a result, her power to deliver you kills in the middle of the night will be removed. If your cat prefers to utilize a cat flap to get access to the outside world rather than a litter box, this may not be an option for you. If this is the case, keep the cat in the room that has the cat flap closed and locked. This will enable her to get out, but will keep her away from your bedroom, preventing her from bringing you mice in the middle of the night if she does. 5 If at all possible, keep your cat out of your bedroom. You can attempt to offer her access to a secure room at night if you have the opportunity. Please place her in an appropriate warm environment with food, drink, and a comfy place to sleep. Then you’ll be able to sleep better at night because she won’t be in your room as often.
- No food should be provided. Immediately feeding her after she meows or pounces on you is one of the most harmful things you can do. She will believe that this is the most effective method of obtaining additional food and will continue in this manner to obtain further food. Long-term defiance before finally giving in is likewise a terrible decision. Instead of immediately giving in, this may even inspire her to do so more. She will believe you are playing a game with her to see how long it takes you to wake up and feed her. A hunt, rather than immediate pleasure, appeals to her natural impulses. To be honest, it’s preferable not to give in. 3 Discourage yourself from succumbing. Taking use of their height advantage, cats prefer to jump and pounce on prey. It’s easy to become a target when you’re asleep. If you have a cat, look around your room to see if there are any frequent spots where it likes to jump. Look for high bookcases, headboards, or dressers that she may use to get to you in the middle of the night. It is feasible for you to remove them from your room or reposition them so that she will not be able to jump on your back. It is possible to cover them with slippery fabric or stuff that she will be unable to remove if this is not feasible. Her climbing up to such spots and pouncing on you will be discouraged as a result of this
- 4 Prevent your cat from coming into contact with pests. In the event that your cat wakes you up by bringing you rodents, you must intervene. Even if your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, bring her in at night. Because of this, she will no longer be able to provide you kills in the middle of the night. The usage of a litter box may not be an option if your cat is accustomed to using a cat flap for outdoor access rather than a litter box. The cat should be kept in a room with a cat flap if this is the case. Allowing her to escape while keeping her away from your bedroom will prevent her from bringing you mice in the middle of the night. 5 Maintain as much separation as possible between you and your cat in your room. Try to provide her with access to a safe place at night if possible. Please place her in an appropriate warm environment with food, drink, and suitable sleeping arrangements. Then you’ll be able to sleep better at night since she won’t be in your room with you.
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- Question Walking on my head, rubbing his face on mine, and meowing loudly at night are all behaviors that my cat exhibits. What can I do to persuade him to leave me alone? A veterinarian with over 30 years of expertise in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice, Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, is a member of the British Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary medicine and surgery were among the subjects she studied when she graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow in 1987. She has been employed at the same animal clinic in her hometown for more than two decades now. Contribute to wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer provided by a veterinarian. Whether he’s an older cat, take him to the doctor to see if he’s suffering from a health condition that’s causing him to wake up. Your attempts to push him away may be rewarding him for his behavior, making him more likely to repeat it if he’s in good shape and not sick or injured. The most important thing is that you completely disregard any and all attempts to grab your attention, which may entail covering your head with a pillow! The cat’s attempts to attract attention will deteriorate before they improve, so be prepared to lie motionless for extended periods of time. My cat goes out for a walk during the day and comes home for dinner late at night. However, he wakes up my lodger, so I can’t ignore him. What can I do to help? A veterinarian with over 30 years of expertise in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice, Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, is a member of the British Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary medicine and surgery were among the subjects she studied when she graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow in 1987. She has been employed at the same animal clinic in her hometown for more than two decades now. Contribute to wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer provided by a veterinarian. If you wake up and pay attention to the cat, the behavior will deteriorate, and it is thus necessary to ignore him. If at all feasible, have the lodger shut the bedroom door so that the cat will not be able to enter. If your cat is scratching at the bedroom door, consider placing a can of compressed air, such as the Petsafe SSScat, next the door to distract him. This is motion-activated and emits a spritz of air anytime the cat approaches the door, so discouraging him from approaching
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Summary of the ArticleXTo avoid being woken up by a cat in the middle of the night, do your best to ignore your cat’s meowing or nudging, since reacting will just reward the behavior. Additionally, begin feeding and playing with your cat immediately before night so that it is less likely to annoy you due to hunger or boredom. You may also spread toys throughout your home and place a scratching post outside so that your cat has something to do to keep himself entertained throughout the night. However, if the problem continues, you may want to consider keeping your cat out of your bed throughout the night.
Continue reading to find out how to prevent your cat from climbing on you while you sleep! Did you find this overview to be helpful? The writers of this page have together authored a page that has been read 234,472 times.
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Summary of the ArticleXIf you want to discourage your cat from waking you up in the middle of the night, do your best to ignore his meowing or pushing. Responding will just promote the behavior. Start feeding and playing with your cat immediately before night, and it will be less likely to trouble you due to hunger or boredom in the morning. You may also spread toys throughout your home and place a scratching post outside so that your cat has something to do to keep himself entertained throughout the day.
Continue reading to find out how to prevent your cat from jumping on you while you sleep.
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How I stopped my cat from waking me up
As briefly noted above, we plan to transition our cat from being nocturnal to being more in tune with our sleep cycle, so that he can sleep through the night like we do! However, it will need time and patience on your side to complete this process, which is rather straightforward. The benefit is that your cat will not wake you up at 3 a.m. as a result of this.
Cat Wakes Me Up for Food – The Morning Solution
If you are anything like me, your cats’ feeding timings are dictated by your work schedule. To get ready for work, I prefer to wake up around 4 a.m., which is when I have to leave for the day. After getting dressed, I feed my kitties some wet food before heading out the door. All in all, everything went swimmingly. Until the first weekend came along, when I was finally able to sleep in. After all was said and done, it wasn’t until 4am that I was startled awake by a very familiar “Meow” followed by yowling!
- Because it was feeding time, of course!
- dinner was not being served.
- This is a habit that you and I both designed.
- Our first step is to decondition your cat to eating wet food in the morning at obscene hours of the morning.
- Allow for a two-week break from this.
- But keep your chin up!
- Once a few weeks have passed, or when you reach the weekend, you might start thinking about it.
- Because I am always up by 9 a.m., I like times around that time of day.
- It took roughly three days for my cats, but it might take a little longer for yours.
So just hang in there with me! And that concludes the morning routine! Your cat will no longer wake you up in the middle of the night to ask for food. However, we still need to make some adjustments to their daily routine.
Keep your cat from waking you up at night – The Playtime Solution
Cats are excellent hunters! It accounts for a significant portion of the reason why they are keeping you up all night. They are preoccupied with hunting prey, or in the case of domestic cats, they are engaged in playful activities. They manage to make a sound like stampeding elephants even when they are running about at 3 a.m., which is amazing! This can be resolved in a very straightforward manner, and it is essential if you want to keep your cat sleeping through the night, and hence keep you sleeping through the night as well!
- Please read this carefully since it is necessary for the subsequent steps to function properly.
- You should spend at least one hour playing with your cat in a serious and engaged manner before you go to bed, ideally.
- This is referred to as lemur time in our household since it is the time of day when our son Mr.
- Alternatively, he may choose to lie down on the side of the bed and embrace his toy.
- However, locate your cat’s favorite toy.
- That one!
- Whether it’s five minutes or thirty, time will tell.
He has gone on a hunt.
Yes, there will be a FEAST!
You’re acting in the manner of a hunter.
It’s time to eat!
Not only does this provide a prize for participating in the game session.
Following your cat’s nighttime play session and triumph feast, you may reward them with a victory feast.
Free Feeding So My Cat Doesn’t Wake Me Up
Fortunately, there is another feeding method you may use if you do not want your cat to be on a feeding schedule that could wake you up in the middle of the night. And that is absolutely free feeding! With Free Feeding, your cat will no longer feel the need to wake you up in the middle of the night to get food. Because, after all, he already has a full bowl of food in front of him that he can nibble on whenever he wants. My specific scenario necessitates a combination of this and the other solutions listed above.
However, we have certain periods throughout the day when they will be able to consume a wet meal alternative!
Cats get the best of both worlds, I believe, in this situation. It also keeps my cat from waking me up in the middle of the night because he or she wants anything to eat or drink. They are aware of when the wet food will be delivered, and they have kibble to munch on in the meanwhile.
Additional Questions
What causes my cat to wake me up in the middle of the night to be petted? Your cat will wake you up in the middle of the night because he has been trained to do so. If your cat has woken you up with meowing in the past and you have gotten up to give him attention, this is what you should do this time. By doing so, you are praising him for his misbehavior. Furthermore, you are effectively satisfying his need. When your cat meows at the top of his lungs, you should not train him to do so unless you really have to.
- It’s not clear why cats walk on you as you sleep.
- The majority of the time, cats are up and about at night, and you are simply getting in their way of their activities.
- Is your cat the one that wakes you up?
- In the event that they require feeding or entertainment, your sleep will be of little concern to your cat.
- To avoid being awakened up by your cat in the middle of the night, simply follow the instructions in this article.
How to stop your cat from waking you up. How to stop a cat from waking you up
You are currently browsing the archives for the category “Cat Behavior.” How to prevent a cat from waking you up in the middle of the night Do you have a cat that keeps you up at night? We understand what you’re saying. It’s been a while since our cat used to wake us up at 4 a.m. every night, but it used to happen. At precisely the same moment. We also did precisely the same thing every night without giving it any consideration – we fed her canned food — without thinking about it. It was a simple remedy, and we were able to return to sleep only a few minutes later as well.
If your cat wakes you up in the morning, you’re familiar with this expression.
It is possible that the specifics will differ.
Whichever scenario you find yourself in, this article will teach you how to stop your cat from waking you up at night or meowing in the middle of the night.
1. Make sure your cat is all right
Home/Cats/Cat Behaviour/You are here: Getting your cat to not wake you up in the middle of the night Is your cat a nighttime waking companion? What you’re saying makes sense to us. We used to get up at 4 a.m. every night to feed our cat, but that was a while ago. Exactly at the same moment, to be exact. We also did precisely the same thing every night without giving it any consideration — we gave her canned food, which we did without thinking. Given the fact that we were able to fall asleep again a few minutes later, it was an excellent option.
If your cat wakes you up in the morning, you’ll recognize this expression.
Do you recognize this?
Your cat may wake you up because he wants to go outdoors; he may wake you up early in the morning because the night is too long to wait; or he may wake you up just by getting into mischief around the home without any specific request from you.
However, no matter what your situation is, the following essay will teach you how to prevent your cat from waking you up at night or meowing in the morning.
- Is your cat in pain or suffering as a result of a medical condition? Your cat’s discomfort might be indicated by a variety of indications and symptoms. If in doubt, a trip to the veterinarian may be in order
- Is your cat’s litter box in good condition? Ideally, one check should be done in the evening so that the box is clean for the night
- Nonetheless, you should check the box at least twice daily. Is there any liquid in the bowl? And how fresh is the water? Water should be replenished in the bowl as soon as possible before retiring for the night. Is your cat in need of a snack? The majority of cats wake their owners in order to be fed, however this is not always due to a need for food. Nonetheless, to be certain, check to see whether your cat is receiving enough food during the day. However, even if your cat does not appear to be overweight (see how to examine your cat’s physical condition), you should still check the manufacturer’s requirements on the food box to ensure that you are providing adequate food. It’s important to remember, though, that your cat may be hungry even if he consumes more than the suggested quantity of food due to the possibility of worms, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or another medical condition. If any of these problems appear to be a possibility, we urge that you consult a veterinarian. If your cat is constantly hungry, please see this page for additional information. Were you able to ensure that your cat had adequate exercise during the day? Unfortunately, if your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night, it is quite unlikely that he did so on purpose. The good news is that it is not difficult to break this bad behavior. Below, we’ll go into further detail regarding this topic. Is your cat being bothered by something? Is it the light from the street, the television, or a night lamp? Cats squabbling or straying near the widow’s house? Is there music coming from the outside? While cats most commonly wake their owners because they are bored, there are occasions when they may be unable to sleep due to other factors. Check to see what is generating the disruption and do everything you can to keep it under control
2. Ignore your cat when he wakes you up at night
You must ignore your cat, no matter how noisy he is, if you want to keep him from waking you up at night. If you checked on your cat in the evening to make sure he was okay, you shouldn’t be concerned about anything bad happening to him during the night; as a result, you should feel fine without paying attention to your cat’s behavior during the night. What would be the point of doing so? In the event that your cat meows to get your attention and you do indeed wake up and feed him (or let him out, or grant him whatever request your cat makes), you are simply enticing him to do the same thing again and again, and you will not be able to sleep tonight, tomorrow night, or any other night.
- However, if your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night and you want to put a stop to it, you will have to give up some sleep.
- IMPORTANT: The advice given above is applicable not just to giving your cat what he wants, but also to any interaction with him in general.
- Any of those things garners attention, and attention is a form of compensation.
- Pretend you’re dead in your bed for a few minutes.
- Learn how to keep your cat from scratching at it by reading this article.
3. Play with and feed your cat right before you go to sleep
You must ignore your cat at all times during the night in order to prevent him from waking you up. It’s safe to assume that if you checked on your cat in the evening to make sure he was okay, nothing bad could have happened. It’s also safe to assume that your cat’s repertoire will be unaffected throughout the night. What is the reason behind this? If your cat meows to wake you up and you do indeed wake up and feed him (or let him out, or grant whatever request your cat makes), you are only encouraging him to do the same thing again and again; as a result, you will not be able to sleep tonight, the next night, or on any other night for that matter.
- It is necessary to give up certain nights if your cat is waking you up in the middle of the night and you’d like to put an end to it.
- IMPORTANT: The advice given above applies not just to giving your cat what he wants, but also to each encounter you have with him in the future.
- Those are all examples of attracting people’s attention, which is a reward.
- Pretend you’re dead in your bed for a while.
In addition, you might want to think about locking the door to your bedroom completely. You may learn how to keep your cat from clawing at it by reading this article: The procedures outlined below will restore your sleep in as little as a few days—it really is that quick.
4. Do NOT feed your cat upon awakening
If you want to keep your cat from waking you up in the morning, do not feed him right after you wake up. Another ace up our sleeves is that we have a plan B. Is your cat waking you up in the middle of the night to eat? If this is the case, you must refrain from feeding your cat when you first wake up. You don’t want your cat to make the connection between the two occurrences — you wake up and the food appears — that happened. You give your cat no option if he connects the two items; the sooner your cat wakes you up, the sooner your cat will receive the food.
Brush your teeth, make a cup of tea, have breakfast, and then take a bath.
If you are staying home, spend a few minutes playing with your cat (optional) immediately before you depart, and only then will you be able to offer breakfast to your guests.
And that’s exactly what you’re looking for.
5. Create a strict schedule for your cat’s meals
If you want to prevent your cat from waking you up in the middle of the night, do not feed him right away. Another ace up our sleeves is that we have another plan. You’re up at 3 a.m. because your cat wants to eat! Afterwards, you must refrain from feeding your cat when you awaken the next morning. When you wake up and food comes, you don’t want your cat to make the connection between them. However, if he does link them, you are denying your cat any option; the sooner your cat wakes you awake, the sooner he will get his meal.
Prepare tea, have breakfast, and then take a shower.
Continue with your morning routine if applicable.
Your cat will quickly learn that getting you up earlier does not result in the food being delivered sooner.
6. Increase playing time during the day
Whether your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night for food, to be let outdoors, or simply because he wants to have fun, increasing playtime will assist you in solving the problem you are experiencing. If you believe that you are too busy to play with your cat, consider the following suggestions. How often should you engage in cat-to-cat play? It varies, but in most situations, three or four 5- to 10-minute play sessions each day are the very bare minimum. As is generally the case, the more the merrier.
Cats have a natural tendency to engage in brief hunting or playing bouts every once in awhile.
An ideal technique to conclude each play session is to leave the toy at his disposal while also providing him with a tiny portion of food.
Additionally, try providing your cat with opportunities for individual play.
Check out our post, “11 Exciting Activities to Do with Your Cat,” for more information. And, gradually, your cat will be able to sleep through the night without being disturbed.
Every part is essential to stop your cat from waking you at night
Some of the material listed above has been labeled as “IMPORTANT.” In fact, though, each and every component is critical. Their activities are linked together to produce a chain of events. If you don’t forget any, the evenings when your cat wakes you up will come to an end nearly immediately, practically without fail. Is it a trick of the light? No, this is normal cat behavior, and it is effective. Stop expecting your cat to behave in a human-like manner; instead, acknowledge that he is a cat and adapt your and his routines accordingly.
Is your cat’s attitude causing you to lose your mind?