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2. Provide Suitable Bedding for Your Cat:
Cats have a preference for elevated resting places, unlike dogs. They enjoy nooks and hideaways for uninterrupted rest. Ensure your cat has a variety of bedding options around the house, away from the litter box, food, and water. For anxious or fearful cats, offer hiding spots like igloo-type beds with high sides.
In cases of temperature regulation issues or illness, consider a cat-safe heated bed or pad.
3. Respect the Importance of the Cat’s Sense of Smell and Pheromones:
Cats heavily rely on olfactory and pheromone signals for communication and environmental assessment. Use feline synthetic pheromone products like Feliway in the areas your cat frequents or during transitions to new environments. This can enhance their sense of security.
Avoid cleaning areas that bear your cat’s facial marks, provide plenty of horizontal and vertical scratching options, and sprinkle dried catnip as an attractant.
4. Establish a Sanctuary Room and Set Routines from Day One for Your Kitten:
While many cat owners believe kittens should sleep close at night, doing so can set a precedent for nocturnal play and disrupt sleep. Cats are naturally active at dawn and dusk, but with guidance, your kitten can adapt to your schedule. It’s perfectly acceptable to put a kitten to bed in a cozy, secure environment until morning, ensuring essential needs like a comfortable bed are met.
5. Incorporate Interactive Playtime and Hunting Games into Your Daily Routine, Especially Before Bed:
Dedicate a specific area for your cat’s rest to encourage better sleep patterns. Engage in play that mimics predatory behavior, including stalking, chasing, pouncing, and manipulating “prey.” Cat toys like DaBird or Cat Catcher are highly tactile and exciting. Implement a weekly enrichment schedule with novel experiences to help your cat remain calm and prevent nighttime zoomies or bursts of energy at inappropriate times.
6. Diversify Your Cat’s Food Sources:
Make food more engaging by hiding it in various locations around the house or near new objects, turning mealtime into a “hunt.” Products like Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder can increase the challenge and enhance your cat’s investigative skills. Create DIY food puzzles from items like egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, or cardboard boxes. Cat treat dispensing balls with openings for dry food can also offer a stimulating challenge, especially during nighttime hours. Additionally, consider using timed automated feeders to distribute your cat’s meals throughout the day and dispense breakfast while you’re still asleep.
7. Cat Enclosures:
If feasible, consider providing outdoor access by either purchasing or constructing a purpose-built outdoor enclosure. This enclosure can also be attached to an existing structure. This solution helps prevent misplaced play and reduces the likelihood of your assertive cat engaging in predatory attention-seeking behavior.
8. Clicker Training:
Clicker training, particularly for indoor cats, offers an exciting and engaging alternative to eating and catnip. It can enhance your cat’s interest in you and unveil previously unseen facets of your cat’s personality, leaving a positive impression on both family and friends. Primarily, clicker training can lead to significant improvements in your cat’s behavior and daily routines, reducing the need for constant attention.
9. Hire a Cat Sitter:
Engaging in outdoor activities can provide physical and mental stimulation while offering alternative interests that may help modify certain behaviors. If you work long hours and your cat remains indoors, consider hiring a cat sitter for a few days a week. They can spend quality time with your feline friend, playing games, teaching new tricks, and even embarking on adventurous leash walks. Plan these visits based on your cat’s circadian rhythm, taking into account that most cats are crepuscular. Some, however, may have diurnal patterns. Companion cats can adapt their activity schedules to fit your presence and lifestyle during the day.
10. Train Your Cat for Quietness:
If your cat tends to caterwaul (emit loud, howling noises), it’s possible they’ve learned that vocalizing leads to attention or food. This behavior is learned, and it’s essential to train your cat by ignoring the caterwauling and rewarding silence. While it may require time and patience, this approach can be effective.
11. Cat Massage:
Cats that enjoy being touched and stroked can benefit from a relaxing therapeutic massage before bedtime. This can help them unwind and ease into a restful night’s sleep.
In Conclusion:
Cats often adapt their activity patterns to the presence of humans. However, some cats exhibit problematic nocturnal activity. Cat owners must assess whether their feline companions have unmet natural or social needs and take steps to address the issue. It’s essential to recognize that a cat’s biological clock may not always align with their owner’s schedule, and accommodating the cat’s preferences may be necessary.
If your cat’s sleep issues become overwhelming and you’ve exhausted all other options, consider reaching out to a Cat Behaviorist or an Applied Animal Behaviorist in your area for professional assistance.
