Your Cat Is Keeping You Up At Night: How To Stop It
You most likely wake up your cat by yelling, chasing them around, or simply being bored. If they are really hungry, you should be able to adjust their morning mealtime by using an automatic feeder. You can, however, provide alternatives if the real problem is that they are bored, are constantly in motion at night, or simply have no time to entertain themselves. You can assist your cat in this effort by providing it with a playpen or another location where it can run and play. There are also cat trees and toy dispensers that you can set up to keep your cats busy. Try playing with your cat yourself if everything else fails, or you may need to feed him.
How Cats Choose Who To Sleep With
by Union Lake Pet Services | Apr 8, 2020 | Blog
Many cats are particular about their behaviors. They have specific ways they groom themselves, what they like to do for entertainment and yes, where they like to snooze. Cats are infamous for napping and you may have noticed that there are many rituals about how they do it. One of the more common questions we get from cat lovers is how do cats choose who to sleep with.
There are a few reasons why cats choose specific people to slumber with. Your friends at Union Lake Pet Services are here to tell you all about it.
Does Your Cat Tend To Make A Fuss
Is your kitty a talker? Does he meow, scratch, or spray if he doesnt get his way? A lot of times we let our pets dictate our lives, but we need to stand firm and decide whats best for us, too. You might determine that you need to close your pet off from the bedroom if hes making too much noise. Or, you might argue that its easier to keep him happy and allow full bedroom privileges.
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Don’t Let Your Cat Sleep In Your Bed
If you have a sleep disorder, it’s best never to encourage your cat to sleep on your bed. This means making your bedroom off-limits at all times. Give your cat a comfortable cat bed in a spare room, a corner of the living room , or even a bathroom. If you do this, make sure wherever the cat is kept at night that it has access to water and litterpan. Try rubbing a bit of catnip on the bed initially to encourage the cat to use it.
Favorite Cat Sleeping Positions
Cats always sleep in the same position, says Holland. Some sleep on their backs with their feet in the air. Some curl up. Some cover their faces.
Cats tend to curl up in the following spots:
- Between your legs
- On your head
- Right next to you in bed
While experts dont know exactly why these cat sleeping positions and spots are popular, Holland thinks it ties back to cats wanting warmth. When you think about it, cats tend to gravitate towards warm spots. Napping in the summer sun, curling up next to the fireplace in winter, or lounging on a pile of clean laundry are all warm spots where cat parents often find their pets snoozing.
While your cat may find warmth and comfort from sleeping on or next to you, this behavior could interrupt your own sleep patterns. If thats the case, read on for some tips on how to fix the problem.
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Theyre Marking Their Territory
Cats are territorial in nature. In the home setting, they release pheromones produced by their scent glands to claim their territory. So when they sleep on top of you, they are indeed marking their scent on you. This is actually a compliment.
Its a way for them to say that youre a part of their tribe, similar to how cats in the wild mark cats of the same group. The act of your cat rubbing their heads or bodies on you is also a part of this process of marking their scent.
Do Cats Sleep On Their Favorite Person
Do cats sleep with their owners? In general, cats gravitate towards people who spend the majority of their time sitting on a couch. It is only natural for a cat to sleep with its preferred person when bedtime arrives. How does a cat choose its partner? Some cats choose to spend time with only one person while others spend time with all family members. All cats will have some kind of contact with them, in some cases. The individuals experiences, as well as the breed of the cat, can help determine this. Do cats ever bond with humans? You are helping your cat feel secure around you if you sleep by yourself. Cats, like humans, sleep during the day as a way of bonding.
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How To Put A Cat To Sleep Instantly
There are a few ways to put a cat to sleep instantly. One way is to use a gas like carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. Another way is to use a drug like pentobarbital. Pentobarbital is a barbiturate that is commonly used to euthanize animals. It works by depressing the central nervous system and causing death.
Even though we may believe that cats do not need much play time, the importance of playtime for them continues to grow. Playing with your cat at least 30 minutes each day before going to work and at least 15 minutes before going to bed is recommended. Bored or ignored cats have a wide range of behavioral issues to deal with. Feeding your pet or having his or her litter box cleaned at the same time every day will help him or her perform better. When you brush your teeth or put on your pyjamas, you can tell your cat that its time for bed. Cats spend minutes or hours sleeping during the course of a day. Sprays and diffusers containing pheromones can be useful for calming a cat down.
Set A Later Dinner Time
Feeding your cat before bed. Digesting food takes a lot of energy, and you may notice that your cat will sleep through the night more happily. If your bedtime is 11:00 pm, give your cat a meal right before bed – with that playtime we talked about at around 9:30, before the meal. So you tire your cat out, give them a small breather, then feed them their final meal before bedtime. This will encourage your kitty to settle down for the night – after eating, they’ll start grooming. And then they’ll probably cuddle up for a good night’s sleep.
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The Benefits Of Cats Sleeping In Their Owners Bed
Some cats prefer sleeping in their owners beds because they feel more at ease in this position. When a cat sleeps in its owners bed, it communicates to the cat that it is loved and enjoys being close to its owner. When the cat sleeps in the owners bed, he can also stay warm and peaceful. Other cats enjoy the smell of their owners bed as well as the warmth of their beds.
Indoor Vs Outdoor Cats
While some cats are perfectly content with never going outside and reigning supreme over their indoor kingdoms, other cats live duel indoor-outdoor lives. This can pose different threats.
Maniet says outdoor cats are exposed to more disease carriers. This includes other outdoor cats, feral cats, prey, worms, fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and a plethora of other insects.
All of these carriers have the potential to transmit diseases such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and many other infections, Maniet said. Also important to note is that the litter box of indoor cats can also present a risk of disease for humans in the household.
What kinds of diseases? Gastrointestinal worms, giardiasis, ringworm, toxoplasmosis, plague yes, that plague and hantavirus infection, Maniet says. This is on top of typical allergens pet dander can create.
During the summer months, when ticks and other parasites are more active, pet professionals recommend regularly checking your cats fur and skin for potentially disease-spreading piggy-backers. This is good for both feline and human health.
The best way to reduce the risks of contracting these health risks from your cat, the CDC recommends, is for pet owners to regularly take their cats to the vet so theyre up to date on their immunizations.
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Keep Your Cat Entertained While Youre Out
These play sessions also address another common reason cats keep you up at night, which is that they are bored and lonely. If your cat is home alone all day while you are at work, they may be anxious to spend time with you in the evening. Unfortunately, this may conflict with your unwinding time for bed.
Keeping them awake and engaged during the day while youre away may help them settle down in the evening. Here are some techniques you can try:
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Leaving the television on for your cat to watch
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Feeding your cat using a puzzle toy instead of a bowl so your cat needs to work to get their food
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Setting smart bowls to open at certain times to dispense treats
Using food and treats as motivators is great for keeping cats busy and entertained, but its important to not feed your cat too much or give them too many treats.
Divide up a healthy portion recommended by your veterinarian over the course of 24 hours. Canned food has fewer calories per volume than dry food, so using canned food for the bulk of the meals may help balance out any dry food you feed in puzzle toys or as treats.
Helps You Fall Asleep
As long as your kitty settles down at a reasonable hour, it can help you fall asleep. Many animals like to nap near your head or at your feet. If they lie on your legs or torso, then you get the added benefit of having them act like a weighted blanket, which is shown to decrease the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and promote healthy sleep cycles.
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How To Get Your Space Back
It is possible to reclaim your bed and even your bedroom if you dont want your cats interrupting your sleep. It just takes some retraining.
Koski says to set up a nice, warm spot and reward your cat for using it. She suggests a heated cat bed with a blanket that smells like you or that has your cats own scent on it. Praise and pet them when they snuggle down into it, she says. That way, youre reinforcing the behavior.
You can also help your cat calm down for bedtime by recognizing that cats are naturally active at dawn and dusk. Koski explains that if you give your cat a good workout for 15-20 minutes prior to bed followed by a small snack, theyll be more inclined to wind down for the night.
If youre having difficulty with your kitty sleeping on your head, chest, or otherwise disturbing your rest, try talking with your veterinarian or a cat behaviorist for guidance. Every cat is different, but with the right training techniques you can both get back to a restful nights sleep in no time.
Why You Should Snuggle Your Cat
When we show our affection to our cats, they respond by purrs and headbutts. Purring is a method of expressing cats feelings and happiness to us. Our goal is to provide physical and emotional security to our cats by hugging them. Cuddling with our cats can help alleviate symptoms such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress.
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How Do I Get My Cat To Sleep In Bed With Me
During the day, if a predator seeks shelter, a sleeping partner provides them with protection and an extra defense. They sleep with you because they believe in you, they know you are not a threat to them, and you provide extra protection in case something goes wrong.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of American pet parents allow their dogs to spend time in bed. Cats can lower blood pressure and heart rate when we pet and cuddle them. Your cat may not want to sleep in bed with you, which is one of a number of reasons. Because catnip stimulates and encourages your cat to play instead of sitting around all day, you can give him catnip-filled toys. It is recommended that you feed your cat before bed to help them sleep better at night. If you go to bed at 11:00 p.m., give your cat a treat right before he or she goes to bed. When your cat is ready, sprinkle some catnip on a towel or blanket to make him feel at ease. It will encourage them to roll around and get up in the morning to sleep peacefully. Fresh laundry, a drop of detergent, or even laying on the floor is all cats like.
How Do I Get My Cat To Stop Sleeping In Bed With Me
Last month, one of my cats hurt his paw. I felt sorry for him so I let him sleep in bed with me. Now, he won’t go back to his pet bed at night. And I’m so worried about rolling over on him that I can’t sleep well at night! I think it’s time for him to get out of my bed, but how do I do that? I don’t want to be mean and push him off the bed every time, and I don’t want to shut my bedroom door because it gets too hot in my room. Help!
Hi Holly!
You are so sweet! I promise you that you won’t roll over on your kitty! If you do happen to roll over in your sleep and he’s on your bed, he’ll move and you won’t hurt him. If you don’t want him to sleep with you, you may want to put in his bed at night and then go to your bed. If he tries to come in, just pick him up and put him back in his little pet bed.
Good answer. Cats have been doing this for ages! They know how to share a bed with any kind of sleeper!
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In addition to what everyone else said, I suggest you get a humidifier with cool mist you can also pair it with a fan.That way, you can keep your door closed when you are sleeping till your cat gets into the habit of sleeping in his own bed again.
Cats are always alert …Soon as you move, he/she will move quickly and most likely jump down and go back to their kitty bed !
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How To Get My Cat To Sleep With Me
Cats are independent creatures, but they enjoy sleeping with their humans. Its a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your cat, and it can help your cat feel safe in their home.
Move His Cat Bed To Your Bed
Ideally, you should set up your cats bed or favorite sleeping blanket in your room, preferably on the floor near your bed. Once hes gotten in the habit of sleeping in that area, you can try moving the bed or blanket up to your bed. The familiar smell and object can encourage your cat to curl up for a nap on your bed.
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What To Do If Your Cat Isnt Sleeping Through The Night
When co-sleeping with your furry feline, you might have noticed that your pet isnt sleeping through the night properly.
While this could indicate that your sleeping arrangement might be affecting your cat, its also possible this sleeplessness is a sign of more serious medical issues.
Cats sleep a lot approximately 50 to 70 percent of the day, according to Village West Veterinary, and that can be even longer for senior cats. The opposite too little sleep or restlessness sleeping may indicate heart disease or other ailments.
If you notice your cat having trouble getting to sleep, consult a veterinarian for a medical evaluation of your feline.
But in a 2015 post, veterinarian Eric Barchas also notes that cats tend to be crepuscular, meaning they are active for several hours before sunset and sunrise. If you notice your cat running around like a madman during the early morning hours, you can probably rest easy knowing your cat is just doing its thing.
The Inverse analysis At the end of the day, the benefits of co-sleeping with a cat likely outweigh the cons.
But like humans, each cat is unique. Co-sleeping with a cat may work for some pet owners, but not others. Dont force the habit if its not working for you and your kitty.
It depends on a case by case basis on what the cat and the owner each want out of the sleeping arrangement, Pankratz says.