Apr 20, 2022 23:00:00

Why do cats wake their owners up so early in the morning?

Living with a cute cat is wonderful, but sometimes cats wake you up early in the morning, such as at 4 a.m., and disturb your peaceful sleep. 'Why do cats wake their owners up early in the morning? How can we stop them?' Susan Hazel, a senior lecturer at

the University of Adelaide 's School of Veterinary Medicine, Australia, explains the question.

Why does my cat wake me up so early, and what can I do about it?
https://theconversation.com/why-does-my-cat-wake-me-up-so-early-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-180959

Cats are crepuscular animals that are active at dawn and dusk, but they are also known to adapt to the life cycle of the humans they live with. Some cats even sleep when humans fall asleep, and a survey of American women found that about 30% of women sleep with their cats.

However, for some reason, cats sometimes wake up early in the morning when humans are still asleep and come to wake their owners up. Hazel and his colleagues give the following three reasons why cats wake up their owners early in the morning:

◆1: I'm hungry
This is one of the most common reasons why cats wake people up early in the morning, and many owners have had the experience of getting out of bed to feed their cats when they begged for food early in the morning. However, Hazel and his colleagues say that feeding a cat rewards the behavior, making it more likely that the cat will repeat it, and that if the cat learns that it will be fed, it will wake people up early in the morning again.

To address this issue, you should first make sure your cat stays hungry throughout the day - for example, giving your cat food and treats before bed will prevent it from waking up hungry in the middle of the night.

Also, if you feed your cat in the morning, you should stagger the time you wake up and the time you feed it so that your cat doesn't learn that you get food when you wake up. 'You should leave at least 30 minutes between the time you get out of bed and the time you feed your cat. You can also train your cat to associate feeding with something else, such as telling your cat that it's time for breakfast,' Hazel said.

2. Your cat doesn't have a routine
Cats love predictability, and

some research has shown that maintaining a regular routine is associated with lower stress levels in cats. Therefore, owners should maintain their cat's routine by keeping feeding time, play time, and grooming time the same every day. In addition, cat litter boxes and drinking bowls should be cleaned according to a regular routine, and it is better not to move them around unnecessarily.

If you can't maintain your cat's routine, stressed cats may wake you up early in the morning, Hazel and colleagues point out. For example, if you go on a trip, move furniture, move house, or get another pet, your cat will be confused by the change in environment. Therefore, it is important to maintain a consistent routine as much as possible, Hazel and colleagues said.

◆3: The cat has too much energy
It's a well-known fact that cats love to sleep, but they also like to move their bodies, just like humans. For this reason, it's a good idea to get your cat to exercise by installing

scratching posts and cat towers in the house where they can scratch their claws, or by playing with balls and electric toys .

Hazel and her team also point out that cats get bored easily, so it's important to provide variety in the play they do. In addition, it's not good to play with your cat right before you go to sleep, so it's best to play with your cat before you go out and when you get home.

Even if you follow the advice above, your cat won't stop waking you up early in the morning, and it may get worse in the short term until your cat adapts to the routine. Still, Hazel and others say, 'The key is to ignore your cat's nighttime or early morning behavior. Don't get up, and if possible, don't talk to them when they wake you up.' Also, if you continue to follow the advice above but your cat still wakes you up early in the morning, it's best to consult a veterinarian, as some health problem may be causing it.

'Hopefully, you and your cat can come to an agreement about sleep and wake times, so you can love your cat and still get some sleep,' Hazel and colleagues said.