A cat behaviorist explains why your cat wakes you up early and what you can do about it. Cats have different sleep cycles than humans and often wake at dawn to hunt. The video covers genetics, behavior patterns, and practical strategies to help your cat sleep later.
Your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night and you don't know what to do. Don't worry. In this animal expert video, we'll see why it behaves like an alarm clock on legs. And most importantly, what can you do to get back to sleeping soundly? Shall we begin? Before we look at the three main reasons why your cat wakes you up every morning without failing, there's something you should know. Cats are crepuscular animals. What does that mean? Well, they're much more active at dawn and dusk than during the rest of the day or night. This behavior is a legacy of their wild past. Cats ancestors hunted at these times because that's when they would hunt their prey. Now, you may be wondering, if my cat always has food in its bowl, why does it still do this? The answer lies in its genetics. Even though it no longer needs to hunt to eat, this behavior is still ingrained in its instincts. So yes, genetics are a big reason why your cat wakes you up so early. But they're not the only ones. Now let's look at three other reasons that could also be behind this habit. 1. He's hungry. Well, it's no surprise that cats are creatures of habit, right? If you feed them right before you go to bed, it makes sense that they'll ask for food early or even as soon as the sun comes up. Also in the if they're used to eating early from Monday to Friday because you get up to go to work, it's normal for them to expect the same on Saturdays and Sundays. Yes, unfortunately, cats still don't understand the concept of the weekend. 2. He could be sick. Although this isn't usually the main reason for his behavior, you should always consider this possibility, especially if your cat has started waking you up every morning when he didn't before. In this case, don't hesitate for a second to take him to the vet to make sure that this behavior isn't caused by a health problem. Find out in the video that we've included in the card and description how to tell if your cat is sick. 3. Does he want your attention? Does your cat manage to capture your attention every time he maul you? Many cats meow to ask for food, affection, or just to play for a bit. Your cat may have learned that their meows are followed by a reward such as food play, petting, or even just your attention. And when they wake you up meowing in the morning, even if you don't react positively because you're upset, they they've actually gotten what they wanted to get your attention. Even if you grumble or wake up irritated, keep reinforcing this behavior. If you're not home during the day, your cat is likely to spend most of their time sleeping, and when you come home, they'll want to be with you. This can manifest in the form of meowing. Plus, the morning is one of the most active times of the day for cats, so it's not uncommon for them to vocalize at that time. But don't worry, we're also going to share some tips for surviving morning meows. First, close the blinds or use blackout curtains to block out the daylight. This will help your cat not realize as easily that it's time to wake up. Second, if your cat wakes up because it's bored, try spending more time playing with it. If you don't have time, you can enrich its environment with interactive toys, intelligence games, or catnip. We've left a video on Environmental Enrichment above and in the description. Third, feed it right before bed, and if you wake up very early during the week, wait a while before filling its bowl to gradually get it used to eating later. This process may take a few weeks, but over time your cat will adjust its schedule and ask for its food later. And fourth, use positive reinforcement at the right time. If your cat tries to wake you up, don't react. Don't push it away, don't pet it, don't say shish or pay attention to it. If you respond to its meows, you you'll be reinforcing the behavior and encouraging it to repeat it. And that's it. Now you know why your cat behaves like an alarm clock on legs. And why do you think yours wakes you up in the morning? Let us know in the comments. Until next time, experts.
