Contrary to the anxiety that a blaring alarm clock may bring, mornings are supposed to be peaceful – providing time for you to gradually ease into the day before diving into the chaos of work, errands, and endless to-do lists.
But for many cat owners, mornings start with a more familiar and unwelcome routine. I’m talking about your feline friend waking you up at the crack of dawn.
Whether it’s the incessant meowing, the pawing at your face, or the persistent kneading on your chest, cats have a knack for making sure you’re awake when they are.
If you’ve ever wondered about this frustrating habit, here’s why cats are such early risers and how you can reclaim your morning peace once and for all.
Why Cats Get Up So Early
Cats are natural hunters, and despite years of domestication, their instincts haven’t changed much.
In the wild, the early morning hours are prime hunting time since small prey, like birds and rodents, are most active at dawn. Even though your house cat doesn’t actually need to hunt for food, those instincts are still very much alive.
That’s why countless cats are naturally inclined to be more active in the early morning, which unfortunately coincides with the time most humans are still asleep in bed.
Additionally, your cat might wake you up because of its internal body clock. Keep in mind that felines tend to adapt to their owners’ schedules.
Syda Productions – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person or cat
So, if you’ve been feeding or playing with your cat early in the morning (even unintentionally), you might have reinforced the idea that mornings are time for food or attention.
How To Teach Your Cat To Let You Sleep In
Aside from instincts, one of the main reasons cats wake their owners up early is because they’re hungry. To prevent this, you should try feeding your cat consistently every single day.
At the same time, it’s best to avoid feeding your pet as soon as you wake up. This will help your cat understand that breakfast isn’t tied to the moment you get out of bed.
Automatic feeders are great solutions for this problem, too, allowing your feline friend to eat breakfast at a designated time without requiring you to provide it.
Next, a tired cat is a sleepy cat – so make sure to engage in active play sessions with your pet each evening to help burn off some of their energy. You can use interactive toys such as feather wands to encourage your cat to chase, pounce, and jump.
The goal is to mimic the hunting activity they might do in the wild, which can help satisfy their instincts and leave them more inclined to sleep through the night.
After playtime, you can then offer your cat a small snack – just enough to mimic the reward they’d get after a successful hunt.
This combo of physical activity and food can help reset your pet’s internal clock, making them less likely to wake you up too early.
Now, sometimes, the problem is more environmental, and cats wake their owners up simply because they’re bored or uncomfortable.
Do your best to ensure your pet has a cozy sleeping area of their own, preferably somewhere that’s quiet and away from your bedroom.
This could be a comfy bed, a perch near a window, or even a designated cat tree where they can relax. Plus, you can consider leaving out some quiet toys or treat puzzles that your cat can play with if they still rise before you do.
Last but not least, when the early-morning wake-up calls occur throughout this training process, make sure to ignore them. It can be tough, but it’s crucial.
If you immediately give your cat attention after they wake you up – whether it’s positive or negative – all you’re doing is reinforcing that behavior. Rather, ignore your pet’s antics completely.
Consistency is key here, and your cat’s behavior may get worse before it gets better. But, over time, your feline will learn that their attempts to wake you up are unsuccessful, and they’ll eventually stop trying.
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