Foto: BB.LV
Why They Do This Most often, cats become active in the early morning hours, between 3 and 5 a.m. They may hunt for small objects, their owners' slippers, engage in tail-chasing, and mythical mouse-catching, meow loudly, and even jump into their owner's bed to play with their feet. So why do they disturb our sleep every night? During the day, they can be adorable and affectionate, but at night, the little ones turn into real hunters. Adult cats usually accept that they need to sleep during the dark hours, but sometimes things go awry. One common reason is the lack of a clear daily routine for the animal. This often happens when owners lead a "chaotic" lifestyle, going to bed at 10 p.m. on weekdays and at 3 a.m. on weekends. So your kitty comes to "make friends" at 3 a.m., remembering the past weekend. There may be other reasons as well. Perhaps your cat accidentally got hungry, its water bowl is empty, or it didn't get enough physical activity during the day and decided to exercise at night. More serious reasons may include fear, stress, or illness. What Should We Do About It? Change the Daily Routine Establish a clear sleep and wake schedule. It’s clear that this is difficult, especially if you’re used to partying on weekends. But if you go to bed on time at least 5 days a week, cats can remember this and create a schedule for themselves. Let Them "Tire Out" While you are at work, your pet gets bored. To pass the time, the cat sleeps, and its activity peaks in the evening. If the evening is short, the cat doesn’t manage to expend all its energy. You have two options: Set up a "entertainment center" at home. Install climbing shelves and leave toys so the cat can entertain itself while you are at work. Don’t forget to put away all toys before bedtime. Play with your kitty in the evening. Buy toys, such as a wind-up mouse or a regular ball. If you train your pet to play, it will bring the ball back to you to continue the game. Give Extra Attention A cat that doesn’t receive attention feels unhappy. It needs confirmation of your love. Pet the cat, scratch it behind the ear, and interact with it if it tries to "talk". Feed at Night The cat will demand food as soon as you get home. You can split the evening portion and give part of it before bedtime so the pet knows it can sleep after eating. If the cat does not show signs of obesity, you can give a small portion at night to ensure it is not starving. Take to the Veterinarian If your cat is behaving restlessly, complaining when using the litter box, or meowing day and night, it may have an illness. It’s better to diagnose it in time. Buy Earplugs If all the previous methods have not worked, buy earplugs and sleep peacefully until your cat realizes that waking you up is pointless. What Not to Do Under Any Circumstances Jump out of bed at night to feed the cat Your pet will not starve to death in a few hours. If you respond to its call at night, the next awakening is guaranteed. Lock the cat in a separate room Your pet may think it is unloved and will start meowing even more out of loneliness. This method only works if you train the animal to live separately at night from the very beginning. Yell at the animal or hit it Cats can take revenge. Try to figure out if your pet is just temporarily "broken," and you need to improve your relationship with it and check its health. Natalia Ozhogina.
