8 tips to prevent your cat from waking you up at night!
Every night, it’s the same thing: your cat wakes you up. Sometimes he wants to go out, sometimes he’s hungry and sometimes he’s just looking for you. These nightly awakenings are detrimental to your well-being and cause a lot of fatigue. Is it possible to reduce or even stop these night wakings? The answer is yes! Here are 8 tips to prevent your cat from waking you up at night.
Feed your cat well in the evening
Cats are felines that are very active at night. In fact, during the day, you’ll notice that your pet sleeps for long hours. Also, by instinct, your cat may wake you up at night. He doesn’t want to bother you, he wants to go out to hunt! Because he spends his time at night, your cat is hungry. To reduce the risk of waking up at night, it is highly recommended to feed your cat in the evening. Don’t hesitate to give him a substantial meal. You can choose wet food (pâté, mousse, minced food) or dry food such as kibble. Home-cooked meals and mixed meals can be offered. If you have a gluttonous cat, don’t hesitate to add cooked zucchini to its meal. At night, make sure your cat has kibble and water available.
Close the doors
This is a simple but very effective tip. At night, close all doors between your cat’s sleeping area and your bedroom. This way, he won’t be able to wake you up by scratching at the door or meowing. Be careful! If you can’t protect yourself from nighttime awakenings in this way, don’t make the mistake of locking your cat in a small room. Your pet needs space and can develop a lot of stress if it is regularly locked up.
Make sure your cat gets enough exercise during the day
In order for a cat to be calm at night, it needs to exercise during the day. If you have an outdoor space or if your cat is used to exploring your neighborhood, try to keep her outside as much as possible during the day. She will instinctively defend her territory and chase small animals. If you have an indoor cat, you should take the time to play with him. There are plenty of toys to keep him moving around your home. You can also use a cat tree.
Ignore the meowing
As difficult as it may be, you should ignore your cat’s meowing at night. If you get up every time he asks, you’ll have a hard time stopping the wakings. Just ignore your cat’s calls several nights in a row and she will stop bothering you. Of course, before you make this decision, you need to make sure he has everything he needs.
Establish a routine
As with children, it’s important to establish a routine for cats in the evening. Take time to cuddle or play with your cat, feed her a hearty meal, fill her food and water bowls and then go to bed. If your cat hasn’t been meowing, give her a treat in the morning. This way, she’ll associate her good behavior with the reward. Even if you have less time, don’t neglect your cat’s routine. If you do, you may wake up more than once!
Make sure the cat has the opportunity to go outside
Because cats, like many felines, are nocturnal animals, you need to consider their need to go out in the evening and at night. To avoid waking up, it may be a good idea to install a cat flap. This equipment allows the cat to enter and leave the house at will. It is of course possible to install the cat flap on the garage door. Be aware that there are different types of cat flaps. If you’re worried about other cats getting into your home, you can choose a cat flap with a chip that will only open for your cat.
Give the cat something to wear with your scent
Your cat may be suffering from an emotional addiction. Perhaps he or she suffers from hypersensitivity syndrome. In this case, your cat is a real glue pot. It seeks contact and especially your presence at all times. In addition to reassuring him, it is wise to leave him a piece of clothing with your scent on it for the night. By simulating your presence with him, you reduce night-time awakenings.
Leave toys
For a good night’s sleep, it’s essential that your cat has access to his bowls. As a reminder, he should have kibble and water. His basket or pillow should always be in the same place. Slightly away from the places where people pass by. You must also make sure that the litter box is accessible. Finally, think of leaving him toys. Thanks to them, he will be able to occupy himself during his nocturnal activities. Some toys are very playful. When handled, they release kibble or treats.
When should I be concerned?
If your cat meows regularly at night and despite everything you do, the nighttime wakings don’t stop, it may be a good idea to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Your cat may be in pain. If your cat is a female, she may be pregnant.
If there have been recent changes in your life, your cat may need time to recover. This may be the case if you’ve just moved, if you’ve taken in another pet, whether it’s a cat or a dog, if you’ve just lost a loved one or an animal…